Clifton Forge, VA (Sept. 13, 2016) - The Clifton Forge Town Council held the first reading of one of the most significant moves made in recent history: the town has come to an agreement with Kroger Limited Partnership I for the sale of two acres of land bordering Main Street for $25,000, which will allow the construction of a fuel center. The partnership's investment on the property is expected to be about $1.4 million and will employ six people.
For video of the announcement, please click here.
Town manager Darlene Burcham told the AlleghanyJournal.com that she had been working on this proposal for nearly three years.
The huge investment will result in a huge expected traffic increase on the Kroger end of Main Street due the fact that fuel centers like these seem to attract not just local customers but also travelers from I-64 and the large number of users of nearby Route 220.
In other action, the council:
• heard a very lengthy, but detailed presentation from Alleghany Community Services representatives, who detailed the board's Crisis Intervention Team Program. The organization has previously given similar presentations to the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors and the Covington City Council.
The program is an effort to train area law enforcement and other emergency personnel, including dispatchers, in ways to recognize the difference between individuals having temporary crises and those who are committing criminal acts that will require incarceration. Not yet announced is the physical location where individuals involved in contentious situations requiring a law enforcement response might be taken first, prior to jail, for an evaluation. Staffing issues, that location and other details have yet to be worked out.
ACS personnel did indicate that 6 sheriff's deputies and 13 area dispatchers already have finished the 40 hour training program.
The Journal logged the introduction to the presentation of Ingrid Barber. Please click here to hear her.
• approved the minutes of its August 23, 2016 meeting unanimously.
• authorized the town manager to "take the necessary steps to prepare for the demolition of the (old CSX) buildings, including removal of asbestos." Council has received a structural analysis report from an engineer on the railyard buildings and his recommendation was that they should be removed. That surprised no one. For some of Ms. Burcham's comments on the matter, please click here.
• held the first reading of a "Tourism Zone" which very closely mimics the downtown historic zone. State code and local incentives granted by the town council will be made on a "case by case basis" with local incentives being limited to new or expanded business with an investment of $150,000 or at least five jobs.
• the first reading of an ordinance allowing the Commonwealth Attorney to prosecute those who fail to pay parking citations within the time allowed was read. Apparently, there was no specific enforcement language in the town code to allow this to be done, but there soon will be. One council member thought that the number of days that citizens had to pay these fines might be too short, but town attorney David Davis assured her that in most cases, the time frame to pay was substantially longer than the specific periods listed on traffic citations.
• Alleghany County will be holding a tire "amnesty" day on Saturday, September 17, 2016, it was announced.
• the Corridor Curb Appeal Committee will be holding a community clean-up day on Saturday, September 24, 2016. All volunteers are welcome and should report to Town Hall by 8 a.m. that morning.
• proud Clifton Forge resident Steve Swoope told council about a Southwest Airlines magazine article which listed the Masonic Amphitheatre as one of the ten best places to hear bluegrass music east of the Mississippi River. That made everybody smile, including apparently, the absent John Hillert, who played a substantial role in the creation of that facility.
• when town councilmember comments were given, there was a reference to the RADAR bus service being discontinued. And other council members weighed in on several other items. For a video of their comments, please CF Council Member Comments
• town manager Darlene Burcham updated the town council on several items, including broadband, the condition of Washington Park, the recent Drifters concert success, the unveiling of the Masonic Theatre marker and more. She also mentioned that the huge town hall clock would be repaired, noting that several local residents had noticed that it had malfunctioned. For a video of her comments, please click here.
|  | From left are Alleghany Community Services staff members Doug Albrecht, Jonathan Aldridge and executive director, Ingrid Barber. (Jerry E. Clark photo)
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