The regularly scheduled meeting of the Norton City Council was held Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., in the Municipal Council Chambers with Mayor Joseph Fawbush presiding. Present: Chris Jones, Stacy Salyers, Robert Fultz, Jr., and Joseph Fawbush Absent: Mark Caruso Also Present: Jeffery A. Shupe, City Manager and Clerk, Stephen McElroy, Assistant City Manager and City Engineer, Treavor Calhoun, City Director of Finance, and Matthew R. Dotson, City Attorney The invocation was given by Rev. Gary Hill and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Norton Police Chief James Lane. Upon a motion by Councilman Salyers, seconded by Councilman Fultz, and passed by the following vote: YES Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved to adopt the minutes of the April 1, 2025, council meeting as presented. During a special presentation, the city manager and council recognized Leisa Brummette, who was in attendance at the meeting, for her recent retirement as utility billing supervisor after working for the city for 23 years. On behalf of council, Mayor Fawbush presented Ms. Brummette with a plaque honoring her recent retirement after 23 years of dedicated service to the city. Aj photo was taken with council, the mayor thanked Ms. Brummette for her service, and she was honored with applause. The city manager also expressed his appreciation to Ms. Brummette for her service to the city. There was no response during the Mayor's Call for Visitors. Providing council with an annual update, Planning District One Behavior Health Services (PDIBHS) Financial Officer Kim Howell distributed PDI's 2024 Annual Report for council review, highlighted some report statistics, and discussed expanded services PD1BHS, in partnership with Frontier Health, has begun providing. Those expanded services include mobile crisis services for children, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), and the integration of Eleos Health. Ms. Howell thanked council for its continued support for the many services that PD1BHS has been able to provide the City ofl Norton and the counties of Wise, Lee and Scott. Noting that during fiscal year 2024 four percent or $775,560 ofits total revenue came from the local governments in the counties ofLee, Scott and Wise, and the City ofNorton, she said PDIBHS was able to help over 5,000 individuals in the catchment area. Through PDIBHS's prevention services over 5,300 individuals were able to be reached through 63 community-based events. The financial officer reported that even though finding staff had improved, PDIBHS was still struggling with finding some areas of staffing. She said over the last couple ofy years we have invested in our personnel by over $1 million on the Virginia side of the behavioral health services program by increasing salaries and offering retention bonuses and bonuses. She reported a 13 percent employment turnover rate and indicated that about a third of the empty positions were new positions due to expansion of services. She said we are still conducting job fairs and going to colleges to recruit employees. Ms. Howell said PD1BHS, in partnership with Frontier Health, had earned its eighth consecutive three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International. The financial officer asked if council had questions. Discussion followed about whether School-Based Services are available to Norton City Schools. On behalf of council, Mayor Fawbush thanked Ms. Howell for the presentation and expressed appreciation for the work PDIBHS, in partnership with Frontier Health, is doing for the community. Mayor Fawbush advised that the next agenda item, which was the presentation of the FY2024 City ofNorton Comprehensive Financial Report, was tabled until the next meeting because the report was not available. The city manager said Tamara Greear of Rodefer Moss & Company, PLLC, contacted city administration yesterday morning and requested that the FY2024 City of] Norton Comprehensive Financial Report be tabled until council's first meeting in May. Council had been presented in their packets with a Resolution Recognizing May 2025 as Foster Care Awareness Month. Mr. Shupe pointed out that in 2020 more than 4,000 children and youth were in foster care in the Commonwealth ofVirginia and last year that figure had grown to over 5,000. Norton Department of Social Services Director Abe Rutherford spoke briefly about foster care in the City of Norton. He asked anyone interested in having a foster home to contact Norton Department of Social Services by calling 276-679-2701. He said the city does not currently have any foster homes sO any children that do not go into a kinship home would go to a therapeutic foster home. Mr. Rutherford asked if council had any questions. Following a brief discussion, Mayor Fawbush asked if council had any questions or comments. There were no questions or comments from council. Upon a motion by Councilman Fultz, seconded by Councilman Jones, and passed by the following vote: YES Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved to adopt a Resolution Recognizing May 2025 as Foster Care Awareness Month. (Insert) The mayor thanked Mr. Rutherford for addressing council about the resolution and foster care in the City ofNorton. Provided in packets for council consideration were a Cooperative Agreement Between the Norton Police Department (NPD), Wise County/City of Norton Commonwealth Attorney's Office and the Wise County/City ofNorton Victim/Witness Program and a Cooperative Agreement Between the Norton Department of Social Services (NDSS), the Wise County/City ofl Norton Commonwealth Attorney's Office, and the Wise County/City ofNorton Victim/Witness Program. The city manager explained that these two cooperative agreements were essentially the same agreement, but one was with NPD and one was with NDSS. He advised that the last time these cooperative agreements came before city council was in August of 2023 and the two-year agreements would remain in effect until December 31, 2026. These cooperative agreements basically state that NPD and NDSS will work with the Wise County/City ofl Norton Commonwealth Attorney's Office and its Wise County/City of Norton Victim/Witness Program. The documents also outline the services that each participant will provide. Mr. Shupe advised that the city attorney had reviewed both agreements and asked council to allow NPD and NDSS to continue working with Commonwealth Attorney's Office in this regard. Noting that Norton Police Chief, James Lane and NDSS Executive Director Abe Rutherford were present to answer questions from council about these cooperative agreements, he asked council to consider allowing ChiefLane and Mr. Rutherford to endorse the respective agreements. Mayor Fawbush asked if council had questions or comments. There were no questions or comments from council. Upon a motion by Councilman Salyers, seconded by Councilman Fultz, and passed by the following vote: YES - Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO = None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council approved a Cooperative Agreement Between the Norton Police Department, Wise County/City of Norton Commonwealth Attorney's Office and Wise County/City ofl Norton Victim/Witness Program and authorized the city's police chieft to execute the cooperative agreement. Upon a motion by Councilman Jones, seconded by Councilman Salyers, and passed by the following vote: YES - Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council approved a Cooperative Agreement Between Norton Department of Social Services, the Wise County/City of Norton Commonwealth Attorney's Office, and Wise County/City of Norton Victim/Witness Program and authorized the NDSS executive director to execute the agreement. Mr. Shupe said council was being asked to consider a request from the city's commissioner oft the revenue to refund 2023 personal property taxes that were erroneously assessed. According to a memo from the city's commissioner of the revenue dated March 21, 2025, Jeanette Mae Collins was erroneously assessed $579.10 for 2023 personal property taxes. The commissioner oft the revenue determined that Ms. Collins traded the vehicle in 2022 SO a refund of$579.10 for 2023 personal property taxes was due to Ms. Collins. Upon a motion by Councilman Fultz, seconded by Councilman Jones, and passed by the following roll call vote: YES Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved to approve a refund in the amount of$579.10 to Jeanette Mae Collins for erroneously assessed 2023 personal property taxes. Also included in council packets was a request from the city's commissioner of the revenue to refund 2023 real estate taxes/veterans exemption due to duplication of payment. The city manager said the commissioner ofthe revenue in a memo dated March 21, 2025, requested permission to refund $619.65 to Robert Taylor for 2023 real estate taxes/veterans exemption because payment was made by Wells Fargo and Mr. Taylor. She determined that a refund of$619.65 was due to Robert Taylor because of duplication of payment. Upon a motion by Councilman Fultz, seconded by Councilman Salyers, and passed by the following roll call vote: YES = Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - None, ABSENT Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved to approve a refund in the amount of$619.65 to Robert Taylor for 2023 real estate taxes/veterans exemption due to payment duplication. Upon a motion by Councilman Jones, seconded by Councilman Fultz, and passed by the following vote: YES - Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved to go into closed meeting to discuss Personnel as per Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1) ofthe Code ofVirginia, as amended. Mayor Fawbush declared council in closed meeting. Upon a motion by Councilman Fultz, seconded by Councilman Salyers, and passed by the following vote: YES Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved to go back into open meeting. Mayor Fawbush declared council back in open meeting. Mr. Shupe polled each member of council as to the Certification of Closed Meeting with each answer yes. He then read A Resolution ofthe Certification of Closed Meeting. Upon a motion by Councilman Salyers, seconded by Councilman Jones, and passed by the following vote: YES Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved to adopt A Resolution of the Certification of Closed Meeting. (Insert) Mayor Fawbush entertained nominations for appointments to the City ofNorton Historical Marker Program Committee. Councilman Jones nominated Ms. Myra Marshall and Ms. Sandy Earls to be appointed to the City of Norton Historical Marker Program Committee for two-year terms to expire April 15, 2027. He also nominated Ms. Sandy Huguenin, Mr. Eddie Sharpe, Mr. Marty Hagy and Mr. Stephen McElroy as Secretary to be reappointed to the City ofNorton Historical Marker Program Committee for two-year terms to expire April 15, 2027. Upon a motion by Councilman Fultz, seconded by Councilman Salyers, and passed by the following vote: YES - Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved that the nominations cease. The mayor declared Ms. Myra Marshall and Ms. Sandy Earls to be appointed to the City of Norton Historical Marker Program Committee for two-year terms to expire April 15, 2027. The mayor also declared Ms. Sandy Huguenin, Mr. Eddie Sharpe, Mr. Marty Hagy and Mr. Stephen McElroy as Secretary to be reappointed to the City ofNorton Historical Marker Program Committee for two-year terms to expire April 15, 2027. Mayor Fawbush entertained nominations to the Wise County/City ofNorton Youth Services Board. Councilman Salyers nominated Ms. Renee Robinson, whose term expires May 2, 2025, to be reappointed to the Wise County/City of Norton Youth Services Board for a four-year term to expire May 2, 2029. Upon a motion by Councilman Fultz, seconded by Councilman Jones, and passed by the following vote: YES - Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved that the nominations cease. The mayor declared Ms. Renee Robinson, whose term expires May 2, 2025, to be reappointed to the Wise County/City ofl Norton Youth Services Board for a four-year term to expire May 2, 2029. The mayor entertained nominations for appointments to the 2023 Virginia Municipal League (VML) Policy Committees. Councilman Fultz made the following nominations for appointments to the 2025 Virginia Municipal League Policy Committees: Jeffery A. Shupe, Community and Economic Development Committee; Treavor Calhoun, Finance Committee; Matthew R. Dotson, General Laws Committee; Abe Rutherford, Human Development and Education Committee; and Stephen McElroy, Infrastructure Committee. Upon a motion by Councilman Salyers, seconded by Counçilman Jones, and passed by the following vote: YES - Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved that the nominations cease. The mayor declared the following individuals appointed to the following VML Policy Committees: Jeffery A. Shupe, Community and Economic Development Committee; Treavor Calhoun, Finance Committee; Matthew R. Dotson, General Laws Committee; Abe Rutherford, Human Development and Education Committee; and Stephen McElroy, Infrastructure Committee. Mayor Fawbush entertained nominations for an appointment to the City of Norton Board of Zoning Appeals for a five-year term to expire May 10, 2030. Councilman Salyers nominated Mr. Greg Stewart to be reappointed to the City of Norton Board of Zoning Appeals for a five-year term to expire May 10, 2030. Upon a motion by Councilman Fultz, seconded by Councilman Jones, and passed by the following vote: YES Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved that the nominations cease. The mayor declared Mr. Greg Stewart to be nominated to the City of Norton Board of Zoning Appeals for a five-year term to expire May 10, 2030. This nomination will be presented to the Wise County/City ofNorton Circuit Court for appointment consideration. In comments from the city manager: Mr. Shupe provided council members with copies of the latest Retail Sales Tax Report. The city manager advised council that the Commonwealth Transportation Board would conduct a public meeting for input on the 2026-2031 Six-Year Improvement Plan at 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 13th, > at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia. Mr. Shupe announced that the grand opening ceremony for the High Knob Destination Center would be held at 10 a.m., Friday, April 25th, 9 2025, and a media announcement would be released in the morning. The ribbon-cutting was scheduled for 10 a.m. with building tours and refreshments following. A guided hike of the Flag Rock Recreation Area and a High Knob self- guided driving tour were set for 1 to 3 p.m. Council members were given a collector's edition pin that would also be given to grand opening ceremony invitees. The city manager expressed his appreciation to council members for their support oft the High Knob Destination Center. He also expressed his appreciation to Assistant Destination Center Associate Megan Roark for designing the commemorative pin, noting that the pin was very well done. The city manager said a calendar of the city's upcoming events had been placed at their desks and additional information about these events could be found on the city's website. He pointed out that the city's Great American Cleanup would take place on April 26th. Mr. Shupe said First-Half: 2025 Real Estate Tax Tickets were mailed and those tax payments were due by May 15th. The city manager reminded council that a budget work session was scheduled for Monday, April 28th, > in Municipal Council Chambers with the time to be determined. In comments by the city attorney: City Attorney Matthew Dotson briefed council on the status of the removal of the vehicle on property along Route 619 across from the destination center. Mr. Dotson advised that he would be attending preclosing tomorrow for Norton Industrial Development Authority's closing on its portion oft the financing for the relocation ofNPD and NDSS. The following comments were made by council members: Noting that the High Knob Music Festival Committee members evaluated the High Knob Recreation Area last Monday, Councilman Jones briefed council on conditions there. Mr. Jones reported that the U.S S. Forest Service did not think the recreation area would open until after July 4th, but the recreation area would be open for the High Knob Music Festival. He expressed his appreciation to the U. S. Forest Service for permitting this. He said the Forest Service has a tremendous amount of work to do throughout Bark Camp and Forest Service properties. Mr. Jones said we are optimistic and moving forward with the music festival. Discussion followed about conditions at Bark Camp and paving that is supposed to be done this summer. Councilman Fultz spoke briefly about the damage on High Knob he saw driving up the Knob in October 2024. He said the number of fallen trees was daunting and the amount of work that it was going to take to clear the trees was unimaginable. Mayor Fawbush said he and the city manager attended Hampton Inn's one-year anniversary celebration last Thursday and he received positive comments from the operator and managers that they were well above their projections. He said Hampton Inn in Norton received a Top 10 percent satisfaction rating by customer reviews. The mayor reminded council about the council workshop on Monday, April 28th, 9 2025, with the time to be determined. Mayor Fawbush expressed his appreciation to Norton Police Chief James Lane, Assistant Police Chief Greg Mays, City Finance Director Treavor Calhoun, the city manager, City Engineer/Assistant City Manager Stephen McElroy, and the city attorney for the work they do and for making Norton as successful as it is. Upon a motion by Councilman Salyers, seconded by Councilman Jones, and passed by the following vote: YES Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO None, ABSENT - Caruso, ABSTAIN - None, council moved to adjourn the council meeting. CITY OF NORTON, VIRGINIA 4 Joseph Fawbush, Mayor ATTEST Jeffery A. Shupe, Clerk of Council