1 Appomattox Town Council Regular Council Meeting December 17, 2018
The Appomattox Town Council held a Regular Council meeting on Monday, December 17, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at the Appomattox Municipal Building, 210 Linden Street, Appomattox, Virginia with Mayor Harvey, presiding. (This meeting was originally scheduled for Monday, December 10, 2018 however due to inclement weather it was rescheduled).
Members present: Jonathan D. Garrett, James J. Boyce, Sr., Mary Lou Spiggle, Timothy W. Garrett, Steven T. Conner and Claudia G. Puckette.
Others present: Carlton Duck, Alive Media TV; Nathan Simpson, Information Technology Technician; Nick Walton, Bob Goode, Wayne Simpson, Don Wilk, Cindy Hall, Elizabeth Milton, Christy Torrence, Office Manager; Kim Ray, Town Treasurer; Gary Shanaberger, Town Manager.
Mayor Harvey called the meeting to order and welcomed the visitors.
Rev. Carlton Duck led the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
Public Hearing: Mayor Harvey opened the public hearing.
Mayor Harvey stated the purpose of the hearing:
The Town of Appomattox will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 17, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. (rescheduled from December 10, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. due to inclement weather) at the Town Municipal Building, 210 Linden Street, Appomattox to solicit public input on local community development and housing needs in relation to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for a project in our community.
Information on the amount of funding available, the requirements to benefit low- and moderate- income persons and/or eliminate blight, eligible activities, and plans to minimize displacement will be discussed. Citizens will also be given the opportunity to comment on the Town of Appomattox’s past and current use of any previous CDBG grants. All interested citizens are urged to attend. For additional information, contact Gary Shanaberger, Town Manager at 434- 352-8268.
Comments or complaints can be submitted in writing to Gary Shanaberger, Manager, Town of Appomattox at P.O. Box 705, Appomattox, VA 24522 or at gshanaberger@appomattoxva.gov or by phone at 434-352-8268 until December 10, 2018.
If you plan to attend and have any special needs requirements, please call Mr. Shanaberger at the number listed above.
2 Appomattox Town Council Regular Council Meeting December 17, 2018
Mayor Harvey provided the Town of Appomattox Community Development Block Grant History:
This public hearing is being held to solicit input on local community development and housing needs in relation to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for a project in the Town of Appomattox, Virginia.
Community Development Block Grant Program Background The CDBG program is a federal program created by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. In Virginia, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (VDHCD) administers the program. The program provides funding for local governments to address and meet community development needs. The stated goals of the CDBG program are to: 1) in Virginia’s communities and neighborhoods with the primary focus on benefiting low- and moderate-income (LMI) households, 2) preventing and eliminating slums and blight, and 3) meeting urgent community development needs posing a serious and immediate threat to the health, safety, and welfare of Virginia citizens.
the economic and physical environment
improve
VDHCD’s typical U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allocation of CDBG funds is approximately $18 million for any given year. Of that total, $17 million is made available for all categories of Community Improvement Grants (CIG) after subtracting administrative and technical assistance costs and Planning Grant and adding back recaptured funds. After funding the Vibrant Community Initiative, various Open Submission Funds, and Urgent Need Open Submission Projects, $8.5 million is typically made available for the Competitive Grant program. In total there are approximately 300 towns, cities, and counties in Virginia eligible to compete for these funds each year.
A wide range of activities can be pursued with CDBG funds. The six primary project types under the CIG Competitive Grant program are:
- Housing
- Comprehensive Community Development
- Business District Revitalization Project
- Community Facility (water and sewer)
- Community Services Facility
- Economic Development
Town of Appomattox Community Development Block Grant History The Town of Appomattox applied for, and was awarded, a $30,000 planning grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to conduct planning activities to access conditions within the Greater Meadowlark Neighborhood area which included housing, infrastructure and other neighborhood related conditions. Over the course of the subsequent months, staff, with the aid of the Region 2000 Local Government Council, conducted needs assessment studies, surveys of neighborhood residents, and public meetings to determine community development needs. Additionally, housing inspections and preliminary
3 Appomattox Town Council Regular Council Meeting December 17, 2018
engineering reports were completed in order to best position the Town’s project to qualify for, and ultimately be awarded, a DHCD grant award through their completive grant selection process. As a result of these planning activities, in April 2016, the Town of Appomattox received a multi-year grant award totaling $1,000,000. Multi-Year 1 (MY1 - $700,000) of the grant was initiated to address predominately housing rehabilitations and Multi-Year 2 (MY 2 - $300,000) would be granted upon completion of MY1 activities to address pedestrian safety and stormwater drainage deficiencies.
The Greater Meadowlark Neighborhood Improvement Project has been successful in satisfying the required activities of MY1. In total, 10 owner-occupied housing units and 5 investor-owned housing units have been rehabilitated to the DHCD housing quality standards. Additionally, 2 vacant substandard housing structure were demolished, meeting a CDBG national objective of removing blight. Also, 8 easements have been obtained in order to secure the funding for MY2’s pedestrian safety and stormwater drainage activities.
It is important to note that the grant has improved the living conditions of 41 household members, of which 100% of the households were low-income, 2 of the 15 were female head-of- household, 9 of the 15 were elderly head-of-household, and 12 of the 15 were disabled head-of- household.
MY1 activities are fully completed and the grant is expected to close-out in January 2019. Further, with MY1 activities having been successfully completed, DHCD is expected to issue the MY2 award in the amount of $300,000 to complete the determined infrastructure needs of the neighborhood as well as substantial rehabilitate (demolished and rebuild) one additional home. MY2 of the grant is expected to be completed by the December 2019.
Previously, the Town of Appomattox utilized a 2016 CDBG-funded Planning Grant to plan for and submit a CIG Competitive Grant application in March 2017 which was unsuccessful. The Town is currently planning and preparing to submit a CIG Competitive Grant application in March 2019 with the assistance of outside consultants and designers solely funded by Town funds.
Community Development Block Grant Application Submittal for March 2019 The Town of Appomattox is anticipating apply for a CIG Competitive Grant of approximately $700,000 for revitalizing Downtown Appomattox. Anticipated activities include façade improvements to downtown commercial (income producing) property; streetscape improvements along the western portion of Main Street and a portion of Church Street; and the development of an additional parking lot. The Town has been working on this project through a very engaged Project Management Team made of business, community, Town, and County leaders and assisted by Summit Design and Engineering Services which is providing a Project Planning and Management Consultant and an Architect and Balzer and Associates which is providing a Landscape Architect. After this hearing, work will continue on developing the Appomattox Downtown Revitalization Project. Once fully developed, the project will be presented with additional details at a public hearing in March 2019 prior to submitting the grant application.
4 Appomattox Town Council Regular Council Meeting December 17, 2018
Upon approval by Town Council, the application will be submitted by the March 2019 CIG Competitive Grant application deadline.
Public Input Requirements Citizen comments are welcome on:
- General community development and housing needs.
- The Town’s past use of CDBG funds over the last five years.
- The Town’s proposed CDBG funded project.
Oral and written comments will be accepted. Information related to the Town’s past and proposed use of CDBG funds is available to the public prior to and following application submission. The Town will maintain files demonstrating that the public hearings were properly advertised, a list of citizens attending the hearings, and written and/or recorded minutes of the hearings. For additional information on the CDBG program please contact:
Gary Shanaberger, Manager Town of Appomattox 210 Linden Street P O Box 705 Appomattox, Virginia 24522 Phone: 434-352-8268 Email: gshanaberger@appomattoxva.gov
Mayor Harvey read the following three (3) emails:
Al Sears – This is a very important project for the downtown area. There has been a tremendous amount of work already completed and I give my full support to try to make this a successful project.
Dr. Jeffrey S. Garrett – The revitalization grant is a great opportunity for our town and historic downtown area. The proceeds from this grant along with contributions from the Town of Appomattox EDA, will be gladly received to help our business owners spruce up and make needed repairs to their buildings. This will coincide with the work we are doing as a community to encourage patrons and visitors to spend a warm, memorable, and inviting time in our wonderful town.
Mrs. Susan Adams – As a member of the committee, please express my enthusiasm in the collaborative business and government efforts to revitalize downtown. Offering businesses the opportunity for façade improvements will enhance the aesthetics of the area as well as create a capital and workforce economic boost. All good wishes.
Staff presentation: Mr. Shanaberger – Echo the feelings of the three (3) emails you read Mayor Harvey. It is a very worthwhile project and a lot of people are working on it. There is no guarantee we will get the
5 Appomattox Town Council Regular Council Meeting December 17, 2018
grant, but it will not be due to a lack of effort. Very excited about it and I do feel good about our changes.
Council Comments: Ms. Spiggle – This is an amazing opportunity for our town, and we are all in and have worked very hard so far and will continue to work hard in our effort to be granted this wonderful grant. We are very excited. We have the public and business owners and will move forward like a railroad steam train in our effort to get this grant.
Public Comments: Wayne Simpson, owner of Wilkes Jewelers – 1941 Church Street in Appomattox. Thank you for the opportunity to come speak tonight – not a public speaker – I guess it’s a Christmas gift given to me a few days early – Several years ago, I rode through the Town of Phenix, Virginia and saw the most beautiful decorations, Christmas decorations, on the telephone poles. I said you know for no more people who live in Phenix, VA and Appomattox has two to three times the number of people and Appomattox cannot do something like this. Church Street has not be considered a part of downtown Appomattox. I am 64 years old and when I was a young boy in this town, we had decorations down Main Street and Church Street – all the way to the High School (now Middle School). I would like to see this and it is proposed for the improvement. It is proposed and I think you have seen this. It is proposed for the light post with the brackets that hold the flag like on Main Street. I am in agreement with Gary, I think the light posts would be ten times greater that the poles – but if we cannot get the posts we will go with the poles. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you and I hope you will endorse this. I serve on the committee as well and proud to serve and look forward to moving this to action and make Church Street a part of downtown Appomattox.
Mr. Bob Goode, resides in Spout Spring, Virginia I am in full concurrence to the emails and everything that’s already been said. I think this is a great asset for the town and a good potential for them.
Mayor Harvey closed the public hearing.
Mayor Harvey commended the hard work of the committee and hopeful we will be able to move this forward in the way we have the vision.
Scheduled Public Appearances: None
Mayor’s Comments: Mayor Harvey wished everyone a beautiful holiday season.
The signage for the State Championships will be brought back to the Council in the next couple of months. The bids are coming in much higher than anticipated.
6 Appomattox Town Council Regular Council Meeting December 17, 2018
Consent Agenda: On a motion by Mr. J. Garrett, seconded by Ms. Spiggle, Council voted to adopt the consent agenda for December 17, 2018 as presented. All members present voting aye. Motion carried 6-0.
Unfinished Business: None
New Business: On a motion by Mr. T. Garrett, seconded by Mr. J. Garrett, Council voted to reappoint Roger Carson, Appomattox Town Planning Commission, term expiring December 31, 2020; Mary Lou Spiggle, Economic Development Authority of the Town of Appomattox, term expiring December 31, 2022; Claudia G. Puckette, Economic Development Authority of the Town of Appomattox, term expiring December 31, 2022. All members present voting aye. Motion carried 6-0.
Standing Committee Reports: None
Citizen Comment Period: None
Town Manager’s Report: Mr. Shanaberger reported on the following:
➢ Train Depot – Mr. Shanaberger reported that Dalgleish Gilpin Paxton Architects has been working hard on the train depot project. Dalgleish Gilpin Paxton Architects will meet with the Physical Development Committee on January 14, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. to provide an update on the project as well as an updated timeline. Mr. Shanaberger also requested a summary sheet be provided by DGP prior to the meeting so it can be distributed to Council.
➢ He and Mr. Gillespie met with USDA last week to “get up to speed” on the
closing process. He thinks they are in good shape.
➢ Staff has begun the budget process for FY 2020 and will be distributing sheets to
department heads in the next few weeks.
➢ Anticipates signing a contract with Epitome Networks in the next 30 days to
upgrade the Town’s phone system.
➢ Office renovations will start in the next few weeks to create a couple of new
offices.
7 Appomattox Town Council Regular Council Meeting December 17, 2018
➢ The ESRI Report is available to the Town again. Mr. Shanaberger spoke of how
helpful the report is on the retail side of marketing and the demographical information.
➢ Reminder of the Utility Rate Study public hearing on January 14, 2019.
➢ Glad Jeff Elder is back to work!
Council Concerns: Mr. Boyce had a report from a citizen, who is also a runner, the street light at the corner of Rt. 727 and Church Street is out.
Ms. Spiggle wished everyone a blessed Christmas season.
On a motion by Mr. T. Garrett, seconded by Mr. J. Garrett, Council adjourned the meeting. All members present voting aye. Motion carried 6-0.
Christy J. Torrence Office Manager
Paul D. Harvey, Mayor