City Council will meet Tuesday, April 18, in a business session and two work sessions. The three sessions are open to the public. The first work session will begin at 5:30 p.m. The business session will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a second work session.
The business session will be held in the Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the Municipal Building, which is located at 427 Patton St. Work sessions are held on the same floor, but across the hall in the Council Conference Room. In work sessions, Council reviews non-routine matters that will be voted upon in future business meetings.
During Tuesday's business session, City Council will vote on resolutions to authorize eminent domain for acquisition of right-of-way and easements for the widening of Mount Cross Road from Lowes Drive to Parker Road. City Council also will vote on whether to employ the law firm of Daniel, Medley & Kirby to present the City in the condemnation proceedings.
A public hearing will precede the votes on this matter.
Right-of-way is being acquired to widen Mount Cross Road to four lanes from Lowes Drive to Parker Road. The needed additional right-of-way was appraised and negotiations conducted to agree on a purchase price. However, the City has not been able to reach an agreement with three of the 18 property owners. In order to proceed with construction, it is necessary to exercise eminent domain for the acquisition of right-of-way and easements.
City Council also is scheduled to vote on a resolution to reduce the wastewater charge to the Halifax County Service Authority for service the City provides to the Virginia International Raceway. As proposed, the City would charge the normal rate. The current charge is 1.5 times the normal rate.
In addition to these votes, City Council will hold a first reading on two matters:
- An ordinance modifying fees and charges for outdoor lights and street lights beginning July 1.
- A budget amendment to provide for receipt and appropriation of a grant in the amount of $55,220 from the Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services board for use by the Parks and Recreation Department to conduct a recreation enrichment program and expanded summer program.
A first reading is an introductory step required by City code before certain matters can be voted upon by City Council. This step serves to provide public notice of pending action. Council cannot vote on the budget amendment Tuesday. The earliest vote that can take place will be the May 2 City Council meeting.
During the work sessions, City Council will continue its budget review process for the next fiscal year. Public hearings will be scheduled later in the budget process. Final adoption must take place no later than June 30. The final budget will serve as a blueprint for city operations from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018.
For the second work session, the agenda also includes the following items:
- Discussion of the purchase of a lot on Oak Creek Drive to provide an emergency access to the Pine Tag neighborhood.
- Discussion of a fixed base operator lease.
- Discussion of an ordinance to impose civil penalties on weed nuisance violations.
- Review of monthly financial statements.
River City TV, the city’s government access channel, will air the business session. Watch it live on cable (Comcast channel 10 and Gamewood channel 122) or streaming on the River City TV Facebook page.
River City TV does not air work sessions, but they are open to the public.
