AGENDA HILLSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL MARCH 24, 2025 & MARCH 27TH, 2025 BUDGET WORK SESSION HILLSVILLE TOWN HALL I. CALL TO ORDER = 7:00 PM II. INVOCATION III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. MARCH 10, 2025 V. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD VI. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT VII. TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT VIII. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT IX. REPORTS OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS XI. NEW BUSINESS A. RECOGNITION OF CCMS FFA B. REÇOGNITION OF ALAN GRAVLEY'S RETIREMENT C. PRESENATION AMANDA KILLON D. BILL VOUCHER XII. CLOSED SESSION A. ACCORDING TO S 2.2-3711(A)(1) OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, AS AMENDED- PERSONNEL RECESS XIII. REÇONVENE ON MARCH 27, 2025, 4:00 P.M., AT TOWN HALL XIII. BUDGET WORK SESSION XIIII. ADJOURNMENT March 24, 2025 Page 1 of6 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA TOWN OF HILLSVILLE Hillsville Town Council met at Town Hall on Monday, March 24th, 2025, at 7:00 P.M. for their regular semimonthly meeting. COUNCIL: Gregory N. "Greg" Crowder, Mayor Ed Terry, Pine Creek-Absent Greg Yonce, Laurel Fork David Young, Pipers Gap Barry Jessup, Sulphur Springs Town Manager/Town Treasurer, LeAnna Surratt Town Attorney, Trent Crewe Town Engineer/Bullding Official, Steve Bowman-Absent Police Chief, Shannon Goad Clerk of Council, Valerie Padgett I. CALL TO ORDER-7:00 PM Mayor Greg Crowder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. INVOCATION Councilman David Young gave the invocation. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. March 10th, 2025 On a motion by Barry Jessup and a second by David Young, Council moved to approve the minutes of March 10th, 2025, as presented. VOTE: Barry Jessup - Aye Ed Terry - Absent Greg Yonce - Aye David Young - Aye V. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD There were no Citizens to be Heard. March 24, 2025 Page 2 of6 VI. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT Copies of the Town Manager's confidential report were distributed prior to the meeting. Mrs. Surratt stated that Administrative Professional Day is April 23rd and the front office will be closed per usual to honor the town's administrative staff. She also stated violation letters have been sent out, and complaints are to be forwarded to herself and Steven Bowman. She also stated "The banquet for the awards for Community Business Launch that your RSVP is for is April 8, at 5pm. There are three grand openings in your packet. The Carroll News sO graciously asked that I speak at their Gemini awards banquet on March the 26th that's at lunch time. Later in today's meeting, Amanda Killon is going to speak, but I'm not going to steal her thunder, but she is going to present also to our rotary club on April the 10th, if you want to mark that down on the calendar. And last but not least, April 12 is our shred fund, and that is it between now and our next meeting.' VII. TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT Town Attorney Trent Crewe had nothing to add. VIII. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT Copies of the police report were distributed prior to the meeting. A copy is attached herewith and made a part of these minutes. Chief Goad had nothing to add. IX. REPORTS OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL Councilman Greg Yonce thanked Alan Gravley for his 19 years of service stating "You don't find many people that dedicated and take their job as seriously and put in the hours that he's putting in." Yonce also commented how proud he is of the FFA chapter that was in attendance stating "it makes me proud to know that we've got kids in our community that are dedicated to what they were doing, especially seventh and eighth graders, and when I watched them practice, I mean, I took notes, and it wasn't me trying to tell them what they should be doing. was watching them and learning from what they were doing. And - think they've got a really good chance when they go to Nationals, and hopefully we'll get to have them back again after October. 33 Councilman David Young thanked Alan for his 19 years of work, and commented on Town Hall's new paint stating it is looking great. Councilman Barry Jessup stated "I just want to congratulate Alan on your service and thank you for everything that you've done for all the citizens and employees and your leadership. 7 He continued "I'd also like to brag on Lauren a little bit. When she started in February of 2024, she had 12 vendors at the farmers market, and I talked to her today, and she's up to 29 vendors this year. So, think our farmers markets headed in the right direction. And I want to thank Lauren for all her hard work and her assistance hard work. And last thing - have, I do love the colors of the building" March 24, 2025 Page 3 of6 Mayor Greg Crowder commended Alan Gravley for all his hard work for the town. He also stated "the building does look great. Farmers Market, Barry beat me to that, but I noticed all the vendors signed up there and everything just seems to keep working real well.' 1 X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. XI. NEW BUSINESS A. RECOGNITION OF CCMS FFA Councilman Greg Yonce stated "I was graciously asked to attend one of their practice sessions before they went to the state competition for the conduct of meetings. And let me tell you, I was very impressed. Felt like we had champions already, but they went to the competition and proved me right, and I thought we needed to recognize them.' 1 At that time Addyson Delp, Ava Beamer, Bethanie Leath, Cooper Burris, Emma Leath, Joshua Tolbert, Kali Rosier, Sarah Carrico, Madelyn Caviness, Chloe Wright and Mr. John Carpenter were recognized and presented certificates along with a banner from Town Council. Mr. John Carpenter commented on the kids' up coming competition stating "But if they work as hard in the next five, six months as they have to get to where they are here, they're going to be scary good, scary and good. Well, you know, the thing about it is they go on to the high school and then end up being counseling and things like that. So - can't hold on to them, but for sO long. But I would thank the town of Hillsville. This is, it's one thing for us to have something like this, but for the whole town and the leaders in the town to recognize that, get us a nice banner. I mean, I1 think you've won some hearts today." B. REÇOGNITION OF ALAN GRAVLEY'S RETIREMENT Mayor and councilmen presented Alan Gravley a fishing theme gift basket as a token of appreciation for his 19 years of service to the Town of Hillsville. C. PRESENTATION = AMANDA KILLON Amanda Killon stated "1 said to Barry and Leanna that normally, when I walk into a town council room and it's standing room only, it's a clear indicator it's going to be an interesting evening. So I was really pleased that this was something non controversial. I believe I met most of you guys at the initial community business launch meeting that we had a few months ago. And first of all, want to commend you for that initiative. It's huge. What you're doing is leagues away from what other towns are doing. You're investing in your businesses, and I understand many of you are actually entrepreneurs, and a lot of towns that I work with, that's not the case, and that's a problem because you're making decisions on things that affect business owners, but you don't really understand where the business owners are coming from. So just want to say that I think that's excellent. March 24, 2025 Page 4 of6 My role here, I've worked with local government for a long time. Know that transparency is very important, and it's important to me, and sO I wanted to come and just communicate with you all, and open that line of communication up and just let you know what I'm doing. And if you guys have any questions, I'm an open book and open door, please reach out to me. I've been working really closely with Leanna and Lauren. You all have an amazing staff here. They're incredible. And I've also been working closely with some of your property owners, and I've been in touch with several investors who are looking at locating to Hillsville. And I'm just trying to connect the dots. And before we really hit the ground running, Ijust thought it would be a good idea for me to come here and reintroduce myself and let you know what I'm doing. You'll be seeing me around town a lot, and hope to be working with you guys hand in hand to to make some magic happen here. I'm a business owner. I own some commercial properties where I live in Tazewell, and I am a property owner, a business owner downtown. I own a coffee shop, and I have been involved in our revitalization effort there, and now I work with towns all over the place that are working towards revitalization. And sO basically, 'm going to be connecting the dots between potential investors or businesses and the town. I"I sort of be the liaison to say, hey, the town has this program and this initiative you can take advantage of, and know, Hey, there's this vacant property over here, and there's grants available for that. And addition to that, we're going to form a downtown revitalization nonprofit, which believe 1 spoke about at the Community Business launch meeting, and that will be geared at creating momentum and energy around this revitalization movement downtown. You guys have SO much to work with. You have the cutest buildings, and - love the paint job. It looks amazing. So you have sO many things in place that - can tell it's really going to take off. And I have had sO many interested investors and business owners reach out to me already. It's incredible. And Leanna gets calls every day of people looking for properties. So really feel like we're going to be able to do something awesome here. And you've already come sO far, we're going to hold monthly meetings with this nonprofit, and eventually II be able to step away and then give that to you guys. But for now, you know, towns, municipalities, they get SO bogged down with the day to day. You know, potholes and just making sure everybody has water. And, you know, the really important stuff that things like this, you know, sometimes just aren't on the on the docket for municipalities to take care of. So I'm here to just sort of be that liaison between people who are interested in being involved. And you all, we're going to have our first meeting April 17." D. BILL VOUCHER On a motion by Barry Jessup, second by David Young, Council moved to approve the Bill Voucher for February, 2025. VOTE: Barry Jessup - Aye Ed Terry = Absent Greg Yonce = Aye David Young - Aye XII. CLOSED SESSION A. ACCORDING TO $2.7-3711(A)(1) OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, AS AMENDED - Personnel March 24, 2025 Page 5 of6 On a motion by Barry Jessup and a second by Greg Yonce, Council moved to convene in Closed Session at 7:58 p.m., according to $2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia, as amended-Personnel. VOTE: Barry Jessup - Aye Ed Terry - Absent Greg Yonce - Aye David Young = Aye On a motion by Barry Jessup and a second by Greg Yonce, Council moved out of Closed Session at 8:20 p.m. VOTE: Barry Jessup = Aye Ed Terry - Absent Greg Yonce = Aye David Young = Aye On coming out of closed session, Mayor Greg Crowder read the following statement: In the closed session just concluded, (1) Only public business matters exempt from open meeting requirements were discussed in said closed session, (2) Only those business matters identified in the motion convening the closed session were heard, discussed, or considered during the session. Pursuant to the Code of Virginia S 2.2-3712(D), Barry Jessup moved and Greg Yonce seconded to certify that, to the best of each member's knowledge, only matters lawfully exempted and as identified in the motion by which the Closed Meeting was convened were heard or discussed by this Town of Hillsville Council during the Closed Meeting. ROLL CALL VOTE: Barry Jessup - Aye Ed Terry - Absent Greg Yonce - Aye David Young - Aye XII. RECESS On a motion by Greg Yonce and a second by Barry Jessup, the meeting was recessed at 8:23 pm VOTE: Barry Jessup - Aye Ed Terry - Absent Greg Yonce - Aye David Young - Aye March 24, 2025 Page 6 of6 XIII. REÇONVENE COUNCIL: Gregory N. "Greg" Crowder, Mayor - Absent Ed Terry, Pine Creek Greg Yonce, Laurel Fork David Young, Pipers Gap Barry Jessup, Sulphur Springs Town Manager/Town Treasurer, LeAnna Surratt Town Attorney, Trent Crewe Town Engineer/Building Official, Steve Bowman Police Chief, Shannon Goad Clerk of Council, Valerie Padgett HPD Office Manager, Michael Henley Utilities Director, Darrick Mayes Public Works Supervisor, Kelly Goad On a motion by Greg Yonce and a second by Barry Jessup, the meeting was reconvened at 4:00 pm on Thursday, March 27, 2025 fori the Budget Work Session. VOTE: Barry Jessup - Aye Ed Terry - Aye Greg Yonce Aye David Young - Aye XIV. BUDGET WORK SESSION The meeting discussed the town's budget, focusing on retained earnings, which increased by $47,583. Taxes were reassessed, showing a $91,000 difference in personal property valuations. Health insurance costs rose by $40,000, with dual and family plans increasing by $23 and $42 per month, respectively. The town also plans to increase spending on street paving and employee appreciation events. Business license fees are increasing due to new business openings, especially Tractor Supply. Sales and use tax is up by $10,000 due to price increases. The need for final adjustments to the budget based on public feedback and financial data is emphasized. The importance of accurate budgeting and financial planning is reiterated. The meetingponcluded with a motion by Ed Terry to adjourn and a second by Barry Jessup. prowder, Mayor Thhua hip Valerie Padgett, Clerkof Council Citizens To Be Heard Sign-in Sheet Date: March 24, 2025 SINCE 1878 Name Topic Police Report for Town Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Hillsville Police Department Activity Numbers for March 1-15, 2025 Reporting Activity Category Period Total Assist Motorists 9 Assist County 7 Assist Fire Department 2 Assist EMS 8 Assist Other Departments 4 Assist HPD Officers 12 Custody Orders 0 Detention Orders Protective Orders 1 Criminal Investigations 5 Domestic Complaints 6 Accident Investigations 5 Follow-Up Investigations 17 Business Checks 562 House Checks 1 Welfare Checks 3 Community Engagement 141 Foot Patrols 13 Escorts 2 Service Calls (Other) 97 False Calls/Unfounded 6 DUI - Alcohol Arrests 0 DUI - Drugs Arrests 0 Drunk in Public Arrests 1 Criminal Arrests 6 Uniform Summons Issued Traffic 184 Traffic Stop Warnings 21 Uniform Summons Issued Littering 0 Unsecured Trash Warnings 0 Vehicles Observed Carrying Trash 11 March 1-15, 2025 Reporting Period