By Pam Dudding Contributing writer
The Town Council of New Castle has many decisions to consider and vote on monthly. Members present at the last Town Council meeting were: Mayor John “Bucky” Johnson, Vice Mayor Tommy Zimmerman, Clerk and Treasurer Nina Davis, Town Attorney Bruce Mayer, and members – Lenny McDonald, Karen Crush and Heather Duncan.
Though the cigarette tax took up most of their previous meeting in February, there were still other things on their agenda.
Robyn Foster requested to either have an easement on the land of parcel #14 or purchase the land. Her future hopes and plans are to implement a historical site.
The Board could not give this permission or sale, stating that they have future plans for the property.
The DMV will be at the Town Hall on March 22, April 11 and 12, May 16 and 17 and June 13 and 14.
The town audit was performed, and Mayer stated that all paperwork was filled out correctly and everything looked ok.
The tree removal at the Town Park should be completed within the next 90 days.
The Town is still in search of a bank or credit union to fill the vacancy of Carter Bank.
McDonald reported he has had no success, stating, “We have dialogue with The Bank of Botetourt and Freedom First.”
McDonald had a meeting with Dan Collins and Sheriff Craddock who proposed the county have parking laws so that it benefits everyone in the future, being uniform throughout the county. Parking on Main Street for several hours or days has arisen a concern.
Mayer continued in the boards’ efforts of the use of grant funds of their COVID funds to build a permanent bathroom structure at the Park which they wish to hook up to the public service authority which is approximately $8,000.
“We need to figure out capacity, in order to get a private contractor for the project,” he shared.
McDonald added that they had talked about putting a bathroom where the produce stand will be also. They noted some are preconstructed.
Having a farmer’s market on Main Street is a project many Craig County residents are excited about.
Also, the bathrooms for the Park, and the Market will be great additions.
The 10 acres on Peters Hill, which the Town owns, has a county assessment of $20,000. The property has nice road frontage on Route 311. The town is considering a sale of the property.
Mayer shared with a smile and shared that the last survey that was done, “could have been done by George Washington, being an old English survey, as it started, At the corner of the stone pile between a dead chestnut… 53 lengths…12.37 chains…etc.”
It is the previous location of the landfill that Craig County citizens used many years ago.
The town will be deciding on this property in the next meeting and obtaining a new survey.
Good news is that the Craig Valley Chapter of NSDAR, Tina Crawford, had requested an Independence Day Parade. The Board approved.
“Craig County Tourism has liability insurance for events that take place,” McDonald added.
Discussion included donating the cigarette tax to the EMS and the public hearing will be in May.
It was noted that Wilderness Adventure will be hosting a professional fireworks display this year.
A budget proposal draft was presented by Mayer for view and later approval. Nina explained the line-by-line budget.
