Council in the Neighborhood takes government to Gladetown community
VINTON–Members of the Vinton Town Council and the Vinton Town staff took government directly to the people once again on November 15. They met at the Craig Avenue Recreation Center in the Gladetown community of Vinton for the second in a series of “Council in the Neighborhood” meetings.
Council members and department directors were on hand for a Meet and Greet with Gladetown residents at 6:00, followed by an open forum meeting and then the regular third Tuesday Town Council meeting.
Vinton Mayor Brad Grose visits with Gladetown resident Harriet Childress at the second of Vinton's Council in the Neighborhood meetings.
“We are here in an effort to communicate with the neighborhood residents and to give you an opportunity to express your concerns, complaints, and even compliments,” said Mayor Brad Grose.
Vinton Town Manager Chris Lawrence told the group that the intention of the meetings is to respond to their needs, not just on big issues, but on small concerns that affect their lives on a daily basis.
“Coming into the neighborhoods puts things in a different perspective for us,” he added.
As in October’s meeting in the Midway neighborhood, Gladetown citizens were concerned about specific street and traffic problems, as well as property issues.
Gladetown resident Joe Banks spoke about an abandoned building in the community, which is causing some consternation among residents because of teens loitering nearby. Allen Kasey expressed his concerns about the need for widening Giles Avenue, a project that has been put on hold for several years due to lack of funding.
“There is too much traffic for such a narrow street. It’s an accident waiting to happen,“ said Kasey. He also called attention to the safety issue of storm drains on Franklin Avenue, where the openings are too large and need to be cut down .
Staff members took note of the issues, offered explanations in some cases, and apologized for the Town’s tight budget, which has caused them to prioritize and put some items on the backburner until funds become available.
Anita McMillan, Planning and Zoning Director, showed residents a map for the proposed Gladetown Trail Loop, which will begin construction this month in their neighborhood. Private citizens Tommy and Karen Wood donated an easement to enable Pathfinders for Greenways to extend an existing footpath into a trail that will one day join up with the rest of the Roanoke Greenway system.
Frances Wright from the Gladetown community confers with Vinton Planning and Zoning Director Anita McMillan.
Mayor Grose announced plans for citizens to meet Council members in Chambers at the Municipal Building on the first three Saturdays in December. He or Vice Mayor Carolyn Fidler, and another member of Town Council will be available from 9 a.m. until noon on December 3, 10, and 17, to meet informally with Vinton residents to hear their concerns.
In the regular Council meeting which followed the open forum, Council member Wes Nance presented a summary of the September Finance Report for the Town. He had positive news to report about revenues, which are mostly on target, and expenditures which are down, due mainly to vacancies left unfilled.
He did caution Council that the Governor’s proposed budget contains significant cuts of $300,000 in local funding for highway maintenance, a reduction of almost one third.
In closing the meeting, Nance and Mayor Grose expressed their appreciation to the Gladetown residents for such a large turnout.
“We appreciate your thinking outside the box to bring Council to the community. We appreciate your outreach,” said the Reverend Thomas Harper, speaking for the group.
By Debbie Adams
