[0:04] Good evening. Good evening. Welcome to the September 1st, 2026 meeting of the Ascent Town Council.

[0:11] Start off with a moment of silence and Vice Mayor just brought me some interesting fact.

[0:19] So, on this day, in history, September 1st, 1985, a joint American and French expedition discovered the wreckage of the Titanic on the floor of the North Atlantic Ocean,

[0:30] More than 70 years after the ship sank. Well, what's that got to do with it? Well, first of all, there's partnerships, international partnerships.

[0:39] There's also a treasury of history and the illumination from the history that brightens up our knowledge for today and for tomorrow.

[0:50] So I would have just invite you to take a moment of silence as we prepare for this meeting tonight.

[0:56] Thank you.

[1:04] All righty.

[1:05] Mr. Vice Mayor.

[1:06] Would you leave us in the place of reasons?

[1:07] Please stand as you're able.

[1:12] A flood situation student will fly on the United States of America.

[1:17] And to the Republic for which it stands.

[1:19] One nation under God.

[1:21] Individual with liberty and justice are all.

[1:26] Thank you, sir.

[1:30] All right.

[1:31] We'll take a look at the agenda for this evening.

[1:33] We have our consent agenda.

[1:34] on the consent agenda are the minutes from our August 18th, 26th, 26th, 26th Council meeting.

[1:41] We have our invoices, activities, bills for the town.

[1:47] We have our annual contract agreement for asphalt, paving and maintenance, and also a

[1:52] council policy 105 title, six policy, civil rights act of 1964.

[1:58] We have citizen input time after that, opportunity for citizens to come and speak to Council

[2:04] on matters near and dear to their heart.

[2:06] We have one public hearing tonight, ordinance 2026-12, proposed changes to motor trucks, restricted

[2:13] to designated streets and highways.

[2:16] Mr. Jennings, will we bring in as that?

[2:18] Following that, we have reports.

[2:20] Council Member reports, Mayors Report, Public Works Report, and the Town Managers Report.

[2:26] Is there consensus for the agenda's presented?

[2:28] Yes.

[2:29] All right.

[2:29] So we'll go ahead and move forward at this point with a consent agenda.

[2:33] and I'll just ask whether there's any questions or comments concerning the items on the consent agenda

[2:38] and if not, is there a motion?

[2:42] Mr. Mayor, I move to approve the consent agenda as

[2:44] present and pay the bill. I second. Motion made in a second. Mr. Maloy.

[2:51] Hi. It's Barnhart. Hi.

[2:52] I'm so Paul. Hi.

[2:53] Nice to meet you all.

[2:54] Hi. Mayor for that.

[2:56] Hi. I'm motion carries.

[2:57] I'd bring this to a citizen input time. So I invite anyone who would like to come forward and speak

[3:03] council, come forward at this time. For the record we ask that you identify yourself by name and

[3:08] address. So

[3:15] thank you for being here.

[3:20] So I was hoping that Lance would be here to handle this,

[3:23] but my name is Jonathan Gibson. I live at 1113 Cliff Park Court, Ashlemmer Daniel, which is not

[3:30] right inside the town limits, but I'm here to speak on behalf of the Ashlin little league.

[3:40] I'm a board

[3:42] Yeah, we're concerned and I think this has been voiced at other meetings with the state of the fields and the parking situation for our league in town.

[3:53] And I know that you guys only have so much control over that, but any help that you could give or any conversation that we can be made a part of that comes up regarding the fields.

[4:03] It's been brought to my attention that at least one proposal has been floated regarding the

[4:09] warm memorial and that's concerning to us because the fields directly adjacent to the warm

[4:15] memorial are the fields that are used by our youngest members, our tea ball players, our junior

[4:19] coach pitch players. So those divisions are oftentimes our biggest divisions in terms of enrollment

[4:25] and those are also our entry point into our league for for children. So everybody knows the history

[4:31] the fields, everybody knows the history of the league, but we're growing league and we would

[4:38] like to continue growing, continue growing in the town of Ashland and provide that service

[4:42] for the town. So yeah, just any considerations that could be made on behalf of our league would

[4:48] be greatly appreciated. We need more parking, that's been something that's come up. Not here to

[4:53] talk about the Henry Clay Project, but we do lose a substantial amount of parking from that,

[4:58] and we don't expect it.

[5:00] Church to handle any additional parking needs on our behalf.

[5:07] Yeah, we've talked to, I've talked to say, we've talked to Mr. Miller with the Parks and Rec.

[5:19] And they understand our needs, but it doesn't sound like they understand them fully, or at least have been given the full picture.

[5:25] So that's where we want to all come together and give them that picture of what's needed.

[5:31] We need roughly 120 to 150 parking spots at any given time.

[5:36] In the spring season on Saturdays, you guys can do the math.

[5:39] We can all do the math. Those spots don't exist currently and they definitely won't exist a year or two from now.

[5:45] So, yeah, just any any any any any any conversation that we can be a part of any help that you guys can offer

[5:53] Helping our league stay in town would be greatly appreciate it.

[5:57] All right.

[5:57] Thank you Mr. Gibson.

[5:59] Thank you.

[6:04] We don't engage in conversation in citizen town, but at the same time,

[6:10] we'll say that we will follow up with you.

[6:13] I spoke to Mr. Gibson earlier about sitting down and having conversation.

[6:19] You can't solve a problem to quantify it and so it'd be helpful for us to be in the

[6:24] same room if Mr. Reed Miller and Mr. Fisher can be there or at separate times, but we

[6:32] will follow up.

[6:33] So thank you for being here.

[6:35] Any other comments from Peers?

[6:38] Okay.

[6:39] All right.

[6:40] Thank y'all.

[6:41] All right.

[6:42] hearing, ordinance 2026-12 proposed changes to motor trucks,

[6:47] restricted to designated streets and highways.

[6:51] Good evening, Mr. Ginny.

[6:52] The evening members of the town council,

[7:01] the fun I always

[7:02] know, trying to plug this in,

[7:11] is

[7:14] that it done?

[7:30] So you all can see it?

[7:31] It's on our screen.

[7:32] It's just not out there yet.

[7:34] I'll wait till it's on that screen.

[7:36] Give Doug a second.

[7:36] OK.

[7:38] OK.

[7:39] The ordinance I bring forward due to night 2026-12 is some proposed changes to a section

[7:46] called motor trucks restricted to designated streets and highways.

[7:52] So the request of town council is to amend the town, Ashland Town Code, which is in

[7:57] sections in chapter 10, Article 2, Division 2.1, section 10, dash 20.2, which is motor trucks

[8:06] restricted to designated streets in highways.

[8:10] So, just a little background,

[8:12] this code section has not been updated since 1995.

[8:17] Basically, what this section does is,

[8:21] shows the streets in highways in town

[8:23] that motor trucks are allowed to use,

[8:26] or it's supposed to use when they're passing through town.

[8:28] What I mean by passing through town is just,

[8:31] if someone's going from Dozwell to Richmond,

[8:33] they should probably stay on route one, for say.

[8:35] It shouldn't be going on our side streets, but if a truck, a moving truck is coming to someone's home,

[8:41] obviously they can come to that street.

[8:43] So this is basically just for through truck, through motor trucks.

[8:47] And just for definition, a motor truck is defined as a motorized vehicle with a gross weight exceeding 6,000 pounds.

[8:55] Of course, this excludes, it's mainly used for transportation of freight.

[9:00] Of course, this excludes energy vehicles, public works,

[9:03] and street maintenance vehicles and also public utilities, trucks.

[9:09] So going into this, we've had some issues lately with truck-skating stock in neighborhoods

[9:14] and places they shouldn't be.

[9:16] So that's what kind of queue this up to look at this and then, so the National Police Department

[9:22] and Public Works reviewed the existing streets on the list and streets that should be added

[9:27] because we've had some streets built since this was last updated in 1995.

[9:31] So based on that, our recommendations are from the list that was already in the town code to eliminate medical drive, West-Fawn Road, Archive Can and Drive, North Jane Street and Maple Street extended.

[9:47] I'll go over these a little bit more, or we can look at them on a map and talk about them a little bit.

[9:51] And basically take those from the list and then add Dalgiel Road, Junction Drive and North and South Hill Carter Parkway.

[10:00] To be designated for motor trucks that are going through town. One of the things we also wanted to add was a letter C, which is not, wasn't in a previously in the town code, because the town code A was just trucks going north the south through town and B was just going east the west through town.

[10:17] But now we want to add a C. Part of that is to further clarify that all other town maintains streets and highways are restricted to through motor trucks.

[10:25] One of the things, one of the reasons for that is Beth Mark's win, our new town engineer,

[10:31] since I knew any more, it's been over eight months now, but newer town engineer,

[10:35] has been working with some of the app companies, VDOT and looking at the apps that the

[10:40] trucks actually use, and if we can clarify where it's restricted, they'll be able to better

[10:45] map where they shouldn't be. So that's another big part of this is to help not get trucks on

[10:52] are our residential roads and get stuck on or take out trees next to the rail tracks, rail roads.

[11:00] So based on that, just kind of, you know, you probably look at your packet, but I've got some

[11:05] images of each of the roads.

[11:07] Medical drive, obviously, is just that last little 260 feet after where Elmont turns in

[11:13] the medical drive, that is a narrow road, there's a sharp curve there, there's hardly any

[11:19] older and ditches, and I'm not an APD has responded to many trucks that try to make that

[11:27] turn on the Thompson Street and gets suck in a ditch. So that's one of the reasons

[11:31] that this should be taken off the list. I mean, that's a big reason this should be taken off

[11:35] the list. The other one of the other areas is the Archie Cannon drive and West Vaughan road

[11:41] and North James Street. Right now there's no reason where trucks to be going through there.

[11:47] that's a tough turn at West Vaughan and North James.

[11:51] And the peace going south is already restricted

[11:53] for trucks.

[11:53] There's a sign already in place.

[11:56] So we figured this is another one at this time.

[11:58] It doesn't make sense through trucks going through town.

[12:01] In the future, if West Vaughan's extended

[12:04] and the road's sufficient for trucks,

[12:06] we can re-evaluate that.

[12:08] But right now, we think that these should be restricted

[12:10] through through motor trucks.

[12:13] The other one is maple-street extended.

[12:16] how this ever got on the list. I don't know, but anyway, this is a, as you all know, a narrow windy road, especially that sharp 90 degree turn down there to the south, not a lot of good shoulders and ditch on this for trucks.

[12:31] Excuse me, and you know, I know there's some businesses down there, but this business is obviously can still bring their trucks to those businesses.

[12:36] because I know we've got some, you know, J.M.

[12:38] Pollard up top and it's an industrial down below

[12:41] as a towing business stuff like that at the corner.

[12:44] So obviously those businesses can still use that,

[12:46] that we don't want to encourage

[12:48] through trucks using maple street extended.

[12:52] And we've got some streets that we'd like to add to it.

[12:54] Some that, like I mentioned earlier,

[12:56] have just been built since that code

[12:58] was last updated in 95.

[13:00] So Hill Carter Parkway, both the section north of 54

[13:04] or end the section south of 54.

[13:08] The north one, obviously, we're working on extending that even further, so it already be on the

[13:12] list, which is good.

[13:14] Junction drives another connection to get from Hill Carter Parkway over Route 1, and in

[13:20] Dalgiel Road, which is another, it's a good route to just in case there's some congestion up

[13:25] at Ashcake and Route 1, they can cut through there.

[13:29] So based on that, that's all recommendations.

[13:31] So, once again, excuse me, to eliminate medical drive, West Vaughan Road, Archie Canaan

[13:38] Drive, North James Street, and Maple Street extended from the routes that are designated

[13:43] as motor trucks list that are through trucks.

[13:47] And then we'd like to add Dalgiel Road, Junction Drive, and both North and South Hill

[13:51] Carter Parkway to the designated motor trucks list.

[13:55] And then also the addition of C, which is that all of their town maintain streets and highways

[14:00] restricted it through motor trucks. With that, we recommend approval of ordinance 2026-12.

[14:09] I'd be happy to answer any questions you all may have.

[14:12] Questions anyone? Yes.

[14:14] Yes, sir.

[14:15] We put in signage up then no-through trucks on the streets that it's.

[14:21] That will be affected.

[14:23] We're hoping we don't need to.

[14:24] That's the goal because we think with these mapping programs and we get those

[14:28] It shouldn't be necessary because I really don't want to be putting signs on every street whether you're allowed a truck or not allowed a truck

[14:35] That's it. I'd be so at the goal right now. I mean, we're not expecting to right now

[14:41] But if we need to in the future we would okay on medical

[14:47] The county's approved a residential out that way right residential development off the Al Road. Yeah. Did they approve that or?

[14:58] It looks like the land is up.

[15:00] Yeah, I don't want to be in propose, but I think it's been, okay. But still, yes, I-I thought that I'd already seen construction

[15:07] start and back there, but maybe it hasn't, I don't know. Okay. My question was going to deal with the fact

[15:14] of would they be doing anything? I know that medical is in the town, but would they be doing any working

[15:20] with the town to improve that the width of the road or whatever is going on. At this time, they

[15:27] not come to us for that so I didn't realize it because I knew that one may not be but it looked like the land was being

[15:34] okay here a little bit okay the only piece of piece I'll familiar with is south of Elmont and east of

[15:41] yall and that has not been approved yet okay but maybe there's one further north of yall road and I'm not familiar with

[15:49] All right, thank you.

[15:50] Okay, I just had one question.

[15:53] I had wondered, did something happen

[15:56] to prompt this change now?

[15:59] And you have already answered that.

[16:01] You said that trucks are getting stuck in neighborhoods lately.

[16:05] And yesterday, tell manager, can tell you,

[16:08] I was playing with spending a living out, not allowed.

[16:13] But you hit the nail on the head tonight

[16:15] when you said designated for some reason.

[16:19] and those words really resonated with right now, got it now.

[16:23] It is an interesting way to write it, but that's a good idea.

[16:28] Okay. Thank you.

[16:30] All right. Anyone else?

[16:32] All right, this is a public hearing.

[16:35] So at this point, I'll open the public hearing.

[16:38] And invite any citizen who would like to come forward and speak,

[16:42] concerning this new ordinance to come forward at this time.

[16:49] See you in no one. I'll close the public hearing and bring you back to Council for any further discussion and if no discussion then for a motion

[17:00] make a motion

[17:03] Move for approval of ordnance

[17:06] 2026-12 proposed changes to motor trucks restricted to designated streets in highways as presented. I second motion made in second

[17:16] the Spawn Heart. Hi.

[17:18] Mr. So Paul. Hi.

[17:19] Nice to meet you.

[17:20] Mr. Molloy.

[17:22] Hi.

[17:23] Hi.

[17:23] Motion carries.

[17:25] Thank you.

[17:25] Thank you, Mr. Jinns.

[17:28] All right.

[17:29] The Rendersteer reports.

[17:30] Council Member reports.

[17:32] So we always looked Mr. Molloy to start us off.

[17:36] I only have two things because I gave all of August that the last one.

[17:41] That's true.

[17:42] August 24th, attended National Night Out at Puffabelli, ARC, and over at Sedgefield, and

[17:49] I know other council members were there also, and then on August 25th, I attended the

[17:56] Ashland Theatre Board meeting, and they were very pleased with the work that's going on

[18:03] with the lease and getting it worked out, and so looking forward to have that happen.

[18:09] And if I could just put a plug-in real quick about the gala that will be on September 13th,

[18:16] it looks like it's shaping up to be a really nice event.

[18:19] And it's one of the major, if not the major fundraiser for the theater,

[18:24] which serves the whole community and much further out than that.

[18:31] All right, thank you, sir.

[18:32] How much of those tickets for that?

[18:35] Mr. Alloy, how much of those tickets?

[18:39] 125, there are little bit more expensive if you get the VIP, which is a half hour sooner

[18:46] at 530 at the theater, it's a half hour event, and then you walk over to Studio 54 for the main event.

[18:55] Okay, thank you.

[18:56] All right, I too attended the National Night Out at Buffer Belly, and also it's, it's

[19:01] such a feel.

[19:02] Obviously weren't quite as many people there, but we saw it a lot of fun and gave away some

[19:06] hot dogs and just had nice evening with one other, excuse me.

[19:11] The plant RVA and the Richmond Regional Transportation Groups that I belong to did not have

[19:17] meetings in August, but they are starting this week and with the rest, starting their

[19:22] there's September meeting. So I'll be going to those in the next couple weeks. I also attended

[19:27] the Fairwell Gathering at the Theatre for Courtney Colbel, who was the manager. She's been with us for

[19:33] five years. She went on to another position, nine to five, no weekends, no evenings, but she is certainly

[19:39] going to be missed. She did some great things for our theatre and we will miss her. I attended the

[19:45] planning meeting, and they defer the green acre project. I'm sure that will be here more about that.

[19:49] And then just reminder to people this Saturday is the make-up for the July Labor Day

[19:55] Parade.

[19:56] I'm sorry I will not be able to be there.

[19:57] I'll be in Michigan with family, but I'm sure it'll be a great.

[20:00] All right, thank you.

[20:02] Dr. Muro.

[20:03] Yeah, ironically, this will be the second time I'll have to say, I don't have anything to report.

[20:07] Football is all I can do right now, and so I have nothing to report.

[20:11] Not a problem.

[20:12] This is Michelle Paul.

[20:14] Okay. On the 19th of August, I attended the Downstown Ashland Association Board meeting.

[20:21] On the 24th, I attended our Ashland Police Department's National Nightout

[20:27] out slash back to school event. On the 27th, I attended a Sam Alert presentation sponsored by the

[20:36] Ashland Police Department, a couple of officers did that, and I learned something that I did

[20:42] not know that I had Googled a few weeks prior, and they clarified something in there. I had no idea.

[20:49] And on the 27th, I attended the public meeting for Green Chimney's Court Extension, and today I attended the Hanover AARP meeting at the Hanover Arts and Activity Center.

[21:04] There was an excellent presentation, honestly, on the lives of bees.

[21:09] It was really fascinating. I had no idea.

[21:14] So, coming up, you're having an open house next month on October 6th, which is their normal

[21:22] monthly meeting and so, you know, they're kind of going to show a few things and get presentations

[21:29] hopefully wanting people to join us.

[21:32] Thank you.

[21:34] Thank you.

[21:43] last Friday, and so I just thought I would give a little bit more information. I think most

[21:51] of our world where, as Council members, but I just wanted to let folks know who is on

[21:58] the Central Virginia Transportation Authority as far as jurisdictions, so it includes

[22:02] the town of Asyl and Charles City County, just a few old county, Goodsland County, Hanover

[22:07] County. In RICO County, New Kent County, Powertan County, the City of Richmond, and

[22:13] sitting on the CVTA. There's a House of Delogates representative of Virginia Senate

[22:20] representative, also the Commonwealth Transportation Board representative. Also who individuals

[22:27] who come are organizations represented, but not voting as CVTA. This is a capital region airport

[22:36] commission the Greater Richmond Transportation Company, GRTC, Richmond Metropolitan Transportation

[22:43] Association of Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Virginia Department

[22:49] of Transportation and the Virginia Port Authority. So I thought it was interesting to

[22:54] think about the whole scope that's attached to that. That we get to get to vote on.

[23:01] And this past Friday, we had an item concerning Aslan for our great separated bridge there over the railroad tracks that Vaughan Road, that a vote was favorable for us to use

[23:19] $2,000,000, $2,000,000, $2,000 to develop plans to the 30% design stage.

[23:27] Already mentioned earlier, Beth, that going at Meritz, and I've lost the, yeah, Meritz

[23:36] quit.

[23:37] I even wrote it down, my apologies.

[23:39] She, she helped me out and getting ready for this and explaining the details.

[23:44] You hear, okay, we're going to take that money to develop 30% design stage.

[23:49] And so the whole idea is to have more information on design stage where we can let the partners

[24:01] that we're dealing with, FRA and DRPT and VDIT and all the federal people and also CSX.

[24:11] And so, to get CSX and others confident in what we're trying to do, this design work will provide

[24:18] just more detail right on down to core samples.

[24:22] And so, anyway, thank you to Beth for helping me with that.

[24:27] And so, we had that money and we had already been approved for a little over five million

[24:32] to leverage the building of the structure.

[24:37] But we asked for it to be reallocated for less,

[24:42] to do the 30%, because that was the strategically best thing to do.

[24:46] And we can go back and request more regional funding in days ahead.

[24:52] So, just wanted to give that information beyond those jurisdictions

[24:57] That is 15%

[25:00] Of all the revenue collected from the sales and use tax and local fuel tax, 15% goes to GRTC, greater risk and

[25:08] transportation company. And so, not for anything that I've done, but because of the rotation, I'll

[25:16] be on the Finance Committee. I am on the Finance Committee for the next year, in potential

[25:22] the year after that, we'll see how that goes, but at this time, there'll be discussion about

[25:30] GRTC's budget, along with other things, and so all of us had been involved in the different

[25:35] regional bodies and the local groups, it's great that as a small community our voice gets

[25:42] to travel further than maybe that certainly that the town always does, and so I just wanted

[25:48] to give a little bit more background about all the different things we do when we attend these

[25:54] meetings.

[25:56] So I had opportunity to speak to one of the House of Delegate representatives there about

[26:01] some bills in the General Assembly and talk to some other people about data centers.

[26:08] So it's great for networking if you get there early and you stay late and you take the opportunity

[26:13] when it's presented to you.

[26:15] All right.

[26:15] morning up from the mayor, I'll stop at that point, get back to the agenda and invite

[26:21] up our public works department head, Mr. Jennings, bring you back, sir.

[26:27] Good evening, again, members of the town council.

[26:30] You have the August report for public works as part of your packet, like to hit on a few

[26:35] items.

[26:36] Operations crews work in August and a large amount of drainage work.

[26:42] They cut grass weed to act around town as usual between storm events, cleaned up debris after multiple storms, and they also had to repair needed measures they had to.

[26:51] We needed to repair the bridge and meet them's trail, where it crosses over in the hand over there to repair that.

[26:57] Dominion Energy actually completed their work across the street on the Missville Drive-Oil project.

[27:04] And what that entailed was, Dominion would relocating their facilities into the conduit.

[27:08] It was installed by Italian Armstrong,

[27:11] underneath the new labor system that's going in.

[27:15] Italian Armstrong expects to start installing,

[27:19] start digging out the drive-out section, installing

[27:23] the stone layers, and putting down the permeable

[27:26] papers within the next couple of weeks.

[27:30] For the English Street Street Skate Project phase 1,

[27:34] the only outstanding item is still that

[27:36] that market changes it need to be made, but that is going to be taken care of when the contractor

[27:41] comes into town within the next couple of weeks to restrive some of the roads we're

[27:46] paving.

[27:48] And for that information, the roads that we're currently paving this week are hand over

[27:52] Avenue, from right here at Dunkin all the way to the town limits, North West,

[28:03] North, I guess

[28:03] And towards Elmont, Lee Avenue adjacent to our Stony Run Stream Restoration Project that was

[28:09] just completed, Meacham's drive over off of Mount Hermann and also Telecord Road, which

[28:17] is on just on the other side of 95 on the north side of 54.

[28:22] So those are the four roads where we'll be paved this week.

[28:26] For our Dunkin and Early sidewalk project, Stast still working with a couple residents to relocate

[28:31] irrigation lines out of the right away. This project will start after the South Tailor Street Park

[28:38] Renovation, Project and Municipal Drive All Project is complete. And in speaking of the South

[28:43] Tailor Street Park Project Renovation, the sidewalks and all the paths are complete. The

[28:49] paving of the parking spaces are expected by the end of this week. The basketball court has been

[28:55] striped and all the court markings are in place. That's now complete. And the new some new swings

[29:00] have also been ordered, Ms. Emmy Richards has ordered some new swings for the park.

[29:06] I also wanted you to know, I know it's this project, it's ongoing takes a while, but

[29:11] it's not really going to construct a 28, but just to keep you in the loop, the asphalt,

[29:15] I mean the Ascate Road Trail Project, which is the 10-foot wide shared use path from where

[29:23] the Lansing Rital Neighborhood's path currently stops all the way to Route 1, that isn't

[29:28] right away acquisition phase right now. So that project is underway. It's just one of the phases

[29:34] that's part of the overall project, but that project is getting going. And so with that, I'd

[29:39] be happy to answer any questions. Questions or comments?

[29:43] Thank you.

[29:44] I had a Saturday morning when I was on my morning walk. I had a resident ask me about the

[29:53] and I think you may have been approached about it also.

[29:59] Yes, sir.

[30:00] Why it's so much higher than one across the tracks?

[30:03] Yes, sir.

[30:04] Yes, sir.

[30:05] So it's funny that I didn't realize you're going to be asking that tonight.

[30:08] But Lieutenant Bonnastali stopped by my office this afternoon and said that one of the residents had questioned of why.

[30:14] It's so tall.

[30:15] The residence was concerned that because it's so tall, more drivers don't stop at that stop sign.

[30:22] But the background was the previous sign installed or who retired from the town.

[30:28] I don't know if you remember named Donny Melton,

[30:30] retired from the town right four years ago, probably?

[30:33] I bet four years ago.

[30:35] He's actually one install of that sign at that height.

[30:37] And that was based on the fact that approaching

[30:40] the intersection all the way back at Virginia,

[30:44] the railroad crossing sign and the no horn sign

[30:47] would have blocked the stop sign,

[30:49] so he put it higher than usual.

[30:52] I evaluated today with a Rodney Baker or a current sign

[30:56] and we decided that it can be lowered and we're actually going to lower 16 inches because

[31:02] there's certain clearances it has to be for pedestrians and people on bikes but this

[31:08] was put higher than usual because of where the because of those others the railroad crossing

[31:13] signs and stuff but we are going to lower that 16 inches like I mentioned and Ron

[31:18] makes specs that we don't with the next couple of days thank you yes sorry anyone else

[31:26] Thank you.

[31:27] Thank you.

[31:28] Thank you.

[31:28] And you're true.

[31:29] All right.

[31:29] Thank you.

[31:31] Mr. Town manager.

[31:33] You've got this.

[31:34] Thank you, Mayor and Council.

[31:36] Unfortunately, much like you all, I just gave a lot of my report two weeks ago for the month of August, just with the strain of timeframe.

[31:42] So I don't have too much here today.

[31:44] But do you want to highlight one thing in my report?

[31:47] I'm continually impressed with the Dominion Energy Innovation Center.

[31:51] And as I've noted in the report there,

[31:53] They were named the 25th best incubator program in the US in times first national ranking of incubators and accelerators

[32:00] They also rank second among clean tech energy tech specific accelerators nationally. That's a bunch of jargon in words and all that stuff

[32:07] But what it really means is

[32:09] This kind of collaboration between the town dominion energy and handover county that's been ongoing for

[32:16] Gosh, I think we started in a 2008 so almost 20 years now is really hit it stride

[32:21] They're doing absolutely remarkable things and really becoming not only a state,

[32:26] but not only a national and a handover, a regional, but genuinely a national,

[32:31] nationally recognized incubator for green tech companies and energy companies.

[32:36] And they do focus on very early stage companies, which means your success rate over time is probably going to be lower,

[32:43] because you're starting in them at the very baby nexus there.

[32:46] But their partnerships that they've created with both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the federal government going forward are certainly going to kind of put us on the map to start being able to house a lot more of those later stage companies that then obviously the fear theory has been in the past and will continue to be in the in the future.

[33:05] If you can land here, then can we help you grow here into a private facility that isn't

[33:10] housed at the EIC, and hopefully we provide them such a wonderful welcome and experience

[33:15] here in town Ashland, that we really start landing a lot of those really nice green tech

[33:20] manufacturing jobs.

[33:23] So, great job to the EIC there.

[33:25] Again, I was going to bring up the self-tailored street park progress.

[33:29] That's already been mentioned multiple times.

[33:31] I will note in Hanover County News, and I've shared this with Councilful Justice for

[33:35] public's perspective. The Hanover County Planning Commission did recommend approval of the

[33:40] Iron Horse Data Center project to the Board of Supervisors. I believe the Board of Supervisors

[33:45] ruled that. I think in October, maybe as late as November. And the reason we bring this

[33:51] one up, even though this portion is in Hamburg County, just for the public's perspective,

[33:55] that project does cross the town county line. And so a year or two ago, the town did approve

[34:00] our portion of it. And we're just kind of waiting to see what Hanover County does with their part.

[34:05] And beyond that, I'll leave it there with a make short report.

[34:08] I'll take any questions you may have.

[34:11] Anything else to come before us tonight?

[34:14] All right.

[34:15] We're adjourned.

[34:16] Thank you.

Town Council Meeting

Agenda

Transcript