[0:13] Good afternoon and welcome to PDC. We're going to hand it over to Mr. Tom Martin for

[0:18] time for planning or a minute for planning or whatever your preference today, Tom.

[0:22] I think I'm supposed to still keep it to a minute.

[0:25] Okay.

[0:25] So we'll get going. Good afternoon, members of council. A couple of things you guys might be interested in is

[0:31] we've received a conditional use permit application for property on 802 Court Street.

[0:38] that property is going to be one they are proposing to convert it into four

[0:43] residential units. We've received a site plan proposing construction of a 3,180

[0:50] square foot car wash and parking improvements at 2735 Wards Road that's

[0:56] just below going south of the Wawa that's under construction. We had a

[1:03] subdivision plat for three lots at 5206 Tariana Road. Another subdivision plat

[1:09] proposing the creation of 60 lots for single-family homes at 5153 Boonesboro

[1:15] Road. The building permit for the Wawa at 101 Marigold Court which is

[1:22] Rose Hill has been issued. And then some neat things that we don't normally get

[1:27] to talk to you about is these are some condemned structures that are no

[1:32] longer condemned, one of which was due to a fire at 212

[1:38] Winhurst Drive. All of those repairs have been completed and

[1:42] that structure is no longer condemned. Also 1107 Polk Street

[1:48] that building had been condemned since 2025.

[1:53] All the renovations have been completed.

[1:57] 1714 Monroe Street, another condemned structure that those

[2:02] repairs have been done also no longer condemned and then a permit for 3102

[2:10] Memorial Avenue that was a fire earlier in April of this year I believe it might

[2:16] have been arson but they have pulled permits to renovate that building so a

[2:20] lot of good things going on thank you Tom yeah you know to Court Street which

[2:27] was zone b1 what is it zone now for the four residentials it's but it's

[2:32] zone to be worn, which is a limited business office.

[2:35] I'm looking for a CUP.

[2:37] By CUP, if approved by council, they

[2:40] could do the residential.

[2:41] Yes, sir.

[2:43] Any other questions from Mr. Martin?

[2:46] All right.

[2:46] Thank you so much.

[2:48] We are going to kick it over to Greg as we go,

[2:51] I'm assuming, Gainel.

[2:53] Yes, thank you.

[2:55] We have major project updates next for both public works

[2:57] and water resources.

[2:58] I think Clay Simmons is going to walk us through some,

[3:03] and Gaynell through others and I will turn it over to them so as they sort out which

[3:06] projects belong to which.

[3:10] Hello, Lee Newlin is on vacation so that's why I'm here in his stead to report on the

[3:15] transportation projects.

[3:17] The first one is Bedford Avenue, the total cost is $24 million.

[3:22] We do need some additional funding from VDOT, hopefully some smart scale funding in the

[3:26] amount of $8.8 million.

[3:28] We hope to start in spring of 27 and finish in winter of 29 or 30 where we've

[3:36] got a preliminary bridge report that is submitted to VDOT for review and once

[3:41] they approve that we'll be able to move on that will actually get the project

[3:47] back on time and back on budget once VDOT approves that and then we'll move

[3:52] on with the rest of the project. Basically this project is going to be

[3:56] replacing the bridge it's rated poor and we are going to add a sidewalk in that

[4:01] particular area.

[4:05] Breezewood drive improvements there are a total of ten

[4:08] point three million dollars by the way there is a map because I think Ms.

[4:12] Redeemer you liked the map so there's a map right there in front of you sorry I

[4:16] should have told you that of the project location so you know where

[4:20] they are.

[4:23] We've got additional funding of 486,000 through revenue sharing

[4:29] We anticipate construction to start in summer of 27 and finish in winter of

[4:35] 2029. We're in 60% design. We had a public hearing June 25th at Heritage

[4:42] Baptist Church and it was fairly well attended. It was workshop type event and

[4:48] there was about 20 people there along with our consulting engineer getting

[4:51] input from the public. This project will entail improving the pavement,

[4:56] adding sidewalks, increasing the lane width a little bit,

[5:02] and improving some of the drainage.

[5:05] And the project is currently on time and on budget.

[5:10] Fifth Street project is a $7.3 million project.

[5:14] It is fully funded.

[5:15] We are in the throes of construction right now.

[5:18] We anticipate finishing late this year

[5:21] or early next year in winter.

[5:24] We're working on underground utilities at this time.

[5:27] It is on time and on budget, but we are hoping that they can add some additional crews and speed it up a little bit and get it done a little early.

[5:35] And so we're hoping on that. This project will finish the Fifth Street corridor, all the improvements along this corridor.

[5:44] We're replacing utilities as needed, removing the concrete pavement and providing new asphalt, improving drainage, and also improving ADA access with improved sidewalks.

[5:58] This is a downtown renewal project. You'll hear a little bit more probably from Scott

[6:03] Parkins on this. We actually provide construction administration for this and

[6:08] we our part in this is to fund the actual streetscapes and I'll let Scott

[6:14] get into this. Our part of it on the public work side is about 6.1 million

[6:18] and that is just for street great scape improvements and those types of

[6:22] things. And I believe there's a ribbon cutting coming up here in July 21st so

[6:27] We're excited about that, and Main Street will be done.

[6:32] John Lynch Bridge, $7.2 million project.

[6:36] We started construction in winter.

[6:39] We anticipated it to be done in 2020 July of this 2026.

[6:44] The railings are underway now, and the project

[6:48] is going to be a little late.

[6:49] And there's a couple of things, reasons for that.

[6:52] The railings are behind because they're actually

[6:54] having to drill the holes onsite

[6:57] to make sure that they fit properly and that has slowed progress down tremendously.

[7:03] We also have some things on back order like ADA compliant plates for the bridge joints

[7:10] as well as inlet coverings so that it's safe for pedestrians. Those are back ordered.

[7:15] We still anticipate being done into August beginning of September for that project.

[7:25] 221, 501, 221 Intersection, $93 million project.

[7:30] You all are all very familiar with this project and we're really happy.

[7:34] We got the grant recently, the $24.9 million, that was huge for us.

[7:40] So that was a huge win for us.

[7:44] Now the project appears to be fully funded, so that's good news.

[7:48] and we have a public hearing scheduled August 20th at Heritage Baptist Church

[7:55] to move that project forward. The project is on time and on budget. We do have a

[8:00] pop-up scheduled for the work session today to recognize some of the public

[8:04] work staff who worked really hard on that grant. So I just wanted to let you

[8:07] guys know as we're going through this that that is planned for four o'clock

[8:10] for the full work session. The Hollins Mill Road Bridge, a $19.1

[8:17] million dollar project. It is rated poor. This hopefully will be fully funded

[8:23] with additional revenue sharing. We should start in fall of 2029. This should

[8:28] actually address the low water bridge that is a part of the trail so that

[8:33] that will improve that. That low water bridge is often not, you cannot use it

[8:39] because it's covered in water. So we plan to improve that. People will tend

[8:43] to cross the road there, little kids with bikes, crossing Hones Mill Road, so that's

[8:48] going to be a part of this improvement.

[8:49] So we will make a better access to the trail from there.

[8:54] The preliminary bridge report is being prepared now and then that will go to VDOT for approval

[8:59] and it is on time and on budget.

[9:02] And I will turn it over to Clay for his and I'll just keep clicking.

[9:06] If we could actually do a quick pause, I don't know if anybody else has questions.

[9:11] I always have questions.

[9:12] So I'll pause here. Does anyone have questions for gain now? Okay. All right

[9:16] I'm gonna run through just a couple really quick. Okay, and thank you so much for the updates here. This is awesome

[9:27] Oh, and I don't remember what that question was. We'll skip to this one. Okay

[9:33] so

[9:34] with

[9:35] Breezewood drive improvements, I'm just curious how we prioritize

[9:40] sidewalks and if that has to do with the revenue-sharing arrangement or why.

[9:45] Just because when I drive Breezewood Drive I don't typically see pedestrian

[9:49] traffic and maybe I'm missing it and I love sidewalks. I'd love to connect more

[9:54] of our sidewalks and I know Tom loves sidewalks. I love sidewalks but I'm not

[9:58] sure just from a fiscal standpoint if Breezewood Drive would be where I

[10:02] would typically prioritize it. So I'm just curious how that plays out when

[10:06] it comes to revenue-sharing the decisions that are made with that element.

[10:11] What happened with that is this was actually a three-phase project, and this last phase

[10:17] got eliminated.

[10:19] So we had intended to go all the way to the end of the project, which would have been

[10:23] at the apartments.

[10:24] And we have been getting complaints about not being able to walk.

[10:28] There are walkable places there, Aldi sheets.

[10:34] So there are places that you can walk.

[10:36] we have been getting complaints. Okay. This pavement is in poor condition, so we

[10:41] were going to have to do something. The drainage is in poor condition. We had to

[10:45] do something, so we prioritized this in the CIP as a complete transportation

[10:52] project and not just repaid it. Okay, that's helpful as far as thought

[10:56] process. I really appreciate that, and I'm a fan of multimodal. I was a bike

[11:02] commuter for years in the city which is a lot friendlier to bikes now and then

[11:09] with Hollins Mill Bridge lighting is their opportunity for and I don't know

[11:16] how that would play into this project per se but the lighting has been a real

[11:21] struggle at least for me I know Kurt likes to complain about his old eyes I

[11:25] think I'm gonna have a new prescript here when I go in so lighting along in

[11:30] there what can be done to just increase visibility as well as kind of that

[11:36] multi-modal element with pedestrians. Yeah I think what what we'll do is I will

[11:42] pass this on to Lee Newlin and we can definitely consider that as a part of

[11:46] the project. We are just in preliminary design so this is the time to make

[11:51] suggestions like that so as we move through design that we can look at what

[11:54] we can do to improve the lighting through there. Okay that would be

[11:57] I think there is power down there because the park is lit a little bit, but the road is kind of dark, especially under the bridge.

[12:04] Yeah. Okay. I would definitely pass that along. Yeah, just with the trees, it gets really shadowy.

[12:10] And there have been people walking, and it's really hard to see people walking at dusk and at night.

[12:17] Okay. I think that's all I had other than the congratulations on 501-221.

[12:22] one. But I'm sorry. It was the last of the bridge on House

[12:28] Monroe. When was that last done? Oh gosh, I couldn't really tell

[12:33] you quite honestly. Obviously now since I've been deputy director

[12:38] assistant director. So that's about all I can tell you. But it

[12:41] is in poor condition. So we definitely need to do something

[12:44] with it. We're just taking that opportunity to improve the

[12:47] access. Yeah. Excellent. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Okay. Good afternoon. Thank you for

[12:54] having me here today. I'm talking about Miller Park pool for a second. The project

[13:00] consists of the removal and replacement of the pool along with some minor

[13:07] interior innovations to the existing pool house. Total cost of the project is

[13:13] $10.5 million, it's fully funded.

[13:17] Anticipate start construction start

[13:19] is going to be summer of this year.

[13:23] Anticipated construction finish will be summer of next year.

[13:28] And we are just now wrapping up design.

[13:31] The project is out for bid, so we're

[13:33] in sort of that transitional phase.

[13:35] With the project, we expect to have bids back next week.

[13:39] and currently the project is on time and on budget.

[13:56] There we go.

[13:58] Talking about the, moving on to the public library

[14:01] renovation, total cost is $12.2 million.

[14:05] Construction is fully funded.

[14:08] The FF&E was approved in the FY 27 budget.

[14:12] Construction started March of 2026.

[14:15] The anticipated construction finish is summer of 2027.

[14:21] We are under construction currently, well underway with the notice proceed being issued March of

[14:27] 2026. Currently the project is on time and it's on budget.

[14:35] Those are my two, I believe.

[14:38] Any questions?

[14:41] Yes, sir. That got released. We'd be happy to get it back to you. We put out

[14:47] about a public notice for that, showing the latest concept design, be happy to send that

[14:55] to you again.

[14:56] Thank you.

[14:57] If I went to, like, Splash Valley or something, and...

[15:00] County the other day and just see what they had. I'm trying to make a comparison of what they had

[15:04] which is a county project versus what we're doing here in Lynchburg. So I'll just I'll look at that

[15:08] when I get another copy of it. Sure. Thanks. Appreciate it. Thanks so much and we'll hand it

[15:14] over to Mr. Tim Mitchell.

[15:20] It's my pleasure to give you an update along with Scott Parkins of

[15:24] the major capital projects for water resources. A quick update on the Blackwater CSO tunnel.

[15:29] tunnel. We just finished the drill and blast operations, so we're all the way to the end

[15:36] of the tunnel now with the excavation that wrapped up on Saturday. And now the next step

[15:42] with the tunnel excavation would be the shaft going vertically to a long point of

[15:50] honor trail up near Hollins Mill Road for the drop shaft for the sewage and storm

[15:56] wanted to drop into the tunnel. So that will be ongoing here soon. There's a lot of activity

[16:03] at that end of the tunnel as well. The project is on schedule and on budget. So we are moving

[16:11] ahead very well with a big project with no issues really. I mean it's a pretty amazing

[16:19] project that we've gone this far with really relatively few issues.

[16:26] led service line inventory. This is the city-wide project that y'all are pretty

[16:34] well aware of because of all the discussions we've had related to it but

[16:37] we are currently trying to identify all the unknown service lines in the city

[16:44] about 18,000 privately owned and about another 2,400 publicly owned lines that

[16:49] we do not know the material of. We are out working throughout the city to

[16:56] excavate small test pits to identify the material. We're also plugging that

[17:03] information into, it's called machine learning, it's a computer program basically

[17:08] that will help us to reduce the number of test pits we have to do once we get

[17:14] enough data. So we'll use that to help identify the service lines and the

[17:21] the Virginia Department of Health has approved that process. As far as the cost of it, we're

[17:30] in the $10 million phase now. We recently were awarded the $15 million that we've discussed

[17:35] with you previously. We anticipate the total project cost over the next 10 years of being

[17:41] around $30 to $35 million. So we still have a ways to go. We'll see how that progresses

[17:48] as we identify the number of lead service lines and lines that need to be replaced.

[17:55] Dreaming Creek Anderson? Yes.

[17:59] How is this impacting citizens in Lynchburg?

[18:02] What is your feedback and what kind of participation are you getting in the

[18:06] identifying of things? Is it what you anticipated or?

[18:10] Pretty much. We've had some citizens that express concerns about

[18:16] even the General Assembly gave us authorization

[18:18] to excavate a small test pit on their property.

[18:23] We've had some concerns, not a lot, but a handful.

[18:29] And we're trying to address those individually.

[18:31] If the customers are really opposed to it, we will move on

[18:35] and try to address that later and figure out another way

[18:38] to identify the service line material.

[18:41] So overall, relatively good feedback.

[18:44] And again, when we find a lead service line or a galvanized line that needs to be replaced,

[18:53] the funding will cover the cost of replacing those on the private side as well as the public

[18:58] side.

[18:58] So that will be part of our plan.

[19:01] Once we identify them all, then next October we have to submit a replacement plan of how

[19:06] we're going to proceed through the city replacing all the service lines.

[19:09] Is there a map on the GIS system that allows you to see where the pipes have been identified?

[19:15] Yes.

[19:15] Is that out there?

[19:16] Okay.

[19:16] I just didn't look, but it didn't.

[19:17] Yeah.

[19:18] And basically you can pull up any address in the city.

[19:22] A lot of them are still unknown, but the ones that have been identified, there's a

[19:26] circle that has two halves of it.

[19:28] One half is color-coded indicating the material type on the private side and one half is

[19:33] color-coded indicating the material type on the city side.

[19:37] And the big picture, can you do it just by individual address or can you see the whole you can see the whole

[19:43] When you're zoomed out and see the whole thing you just see a bunch of little dots

[19:49] It's hard to tell but you can zoom in specifically and see individual addresses as well

[19:58] Dreaming Creek Interceptor this is the the project that we're working on jointly with Campbell County

[20:04] Utilities and Service Authority because of the additional capacity that they need in

[20:09] the age of the interceptor.

[20:10] They're actually funding about 56% of the cost of this project, so it's a $9.2 million

[20:16] project and it's currently under design and we'll be working to acquire the easements

[20:22] that we need over the next year.

[20:26] We anticipate construction start sometime in the winter of 2028 with about an 18-month

[20:34] construction period with completion around fall of 2029 yes

[20:41] you probably heard

[20:45] me do my dreaming about Dreaming Creek bike path to follow along same lines as

[20:51] the center stuff there is there any way we can design this project in order to

[20:58] make it efficient and less expensive if in the future a future council decides

[21:04] to turn that into a bike path of some type?

[21:07] We can, as we're developing the easements for it, potentially we could, usually the easements

[21:15] identify the specific use of the easement.

[21:18] We could potentially add a trail or bike path or whatever, I don't know how, some property

[21:27] owners would be favorable to that, others maybe not so much, but we could certainly

[21:33] explore that as an option so that the easements would be at least in place to proceed forward

[21:38] with it.

[21:39] If somebody wanted to do it, it would be not another brand new redoing the wheel.

[21:44] Right.

[21:44] And we'll have to look a little bit at the alignment of the sewer line, too, to see

[21:48] if it makes sense to have a path over the top of it.

[21:52] We would have to be able to have access, so it should be accessible.

[21:58] So it certainly was something we could work with.

[22:00] They put the accesses off to the side of the bike path, but the only real obstruction is

[22:08] Dreamy Creek Road.

[22:09] That one would be probably the most expensive part of a project like that.

[22:13] But how are you all dealing with that for the interceptor pipe?

[22:20] So the road crossings would be, I think we're deciding that to be warrings, as

[22:25] you said.

[22:26] So we wouldn't be.

[22:27] You don't tear up the road at all.

[22:28] Don't tear up the road.

[22:29] They'll be tunneled underneath the roadway.

[22:33] So we would probably need a similar path,

[22:37] like what goes over there, Holland's Mill,

[22:40] which I think they built in the 80s, if I remember right,

[22:42] because I used to bike that all the time.

[22:45] But that would probably be the way

[22:47] to get past that obstacle on Dreaming Creek

[22:50] if somebody ever wanted to do it.

[22:52] We can certainly bring up the suggestion to the design team.

[22:57] and Campbell County is involved in this as well so I don't know if I don't know

[23:02] that there'd be any additional costs maybe a little with the easement

[23:05] acquisition and I would imagine that would fall to the city since that would

[23:10] be a city benefit but but we can bring it up to the design team and report back

[23:16] next time we do a capital project. I'd like to know what the additional cost

[23:19] is and in any way we can anticipate potentials that we could save a little

[23:25] a little bit now to save a whole lot later.

[23:28] Okay.

[23:28] Make a little bit now to save a whole lot later.

[23:30] All right, sounds good.

[23:33] I'm gonna turn it over to Scott

[23:34] to talk about the Abert water filtration plant, please.

[23:38] Okay, thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the council.

[23:43] So the Abert is one of the two city water treatment plants

[23:46] that serves primarily the western half of the city.

[23:49] The plant was constructed in 1974, 75 timeframe,

[23:53] So it's got about a 50 year life on it right now and we did a preliminary engineering report

[24:00] and have come up with some areas that need to be upgraded on it.

[24:04] Some of the items that have been identified of concern such as the pumps,

[24:09] we're looking at doing operational funding to basically remove the pumps,

[24:13] get them refurbished.

[24:14] But there are several capital concerns that we do have that are going to be scheduled

[24:19] in the next five to eight years, looks like 2033,

[24:24] with the raw water pump station at Abert

[24:26] and the plant itself.

[24:29] So currently we're looking at about five

[24:31] significant projects over the next eight years here,

[24:34] the first of which is the raw water pump station

[24:38] influence screens off the James River, which is used

[24:42] when we have to pump from the James River

[24:44] due to peddler water levels being low

[24:46] or if there's an emergency situation

[24:48] on the raw water line that requires us to use the James River.

[24:52] So we deem that as our highest priority project.

[24:55] The other projects include chemical feed system improvements,

[25:00] concrete and structural repairs and masonry repairs to the building itself,

[25:06] electrical and control improvements at the water plant,

[25:09] and then lastly a generator and electrical improvements at the pump station.

[25:15] Combined it's about $27 million estimated cost and again this will be split up over about eight years of the capital program.

[25:24] Currently we are in design for the raw water pump station influence screen and the chemical feed systems.

[25:31] Both of those are on schedule right now and we'll be moving into construction probably in the next year or so on the first project.

[25:41] We already talked a little bit about the Main Street East Renewal Project, which I'm very

[25:46] happy to say we are in the final stages of.

[25:50] It looks like that we're going to be doing the striping this week on the road.

[25:54] We've got final pavement down.

[25:57] All the concrete work is done, utility work is done, so we should be reopening the

[26:01] road either Friday or Monday.

[26:03] I'm going to be conservative and say it'll probably be Monday.

[26:07] But it's a big milestone.

[26:08] I know everybody has been waiting for this day and we have as well.

[26:15] It looks like that we are going to be about $500,000 underneath the contractor's guaranteed

[26:22] maximum price.

[26:23] So we're going to be saving a little bit of money with the city here.

[26:28] I'm saying that the work is 99.5% complete.

[26:31] We do have some plantings that need to go back in the last phase of the work that

[26:36] And obviously this is not the time of year to do planning, so they'll be coming back

[26:39] in September or October to just do a little bit of wrap up work there.

[26:46] Richland Hills sewer, we are well into that project as well.

[26:52] Currently they are working continuously on the sewer and the water connections, water

[26:58] replacements and connections.

[27:00] We have a spend deadline in November and looks like our anticipated construction

[27:05] finish is going to be in October at this point.

[27:08] So I think we should be able to meet the spend deadline for the ARPA funds that are on the project

[27:13] So I'm calling this on time and we are on budget with this one as well

[27:20] The next phase of our sewer extension program is going to be reaching out into the Maple Hills area

[27:28] So we've got currently a combined water and sewer

[27:31] So we'll be doing sewer extensions and we'll also be hitting the water replacements that are needed in this area as well with one

[27:38] It's actually going to probably be a series of projects starting with

[27:43] construction in spring of 2027. We're about 50% complete on the design phase

[27:49] of that project right now. So this will be hitting the areas such as Maple

[27:53] Hills, Drive, Wayne, Bryant, Westburg over in that area of the city.

[28:03] One of

[28:03] our two ongoing water line replacement projects is over in the Daniels Hill

[28:08] area. We just started construction with that with Council and Dobbins back in May, so we're

[28:15] very early on in the construction, not even 25% complete yet, but I think we've already

[28:21] got at least one of the roads. The water line is complete on one of the roads, and they're

[28:25] working on services there on Norwood Drive. So we're looking at an anticipated finish

[28:31] of around October 2027 for that. Everything seems to be going very well on that project

[28:37] project right now. We do have a second phase of the Daniels Hill Improvement Projects.

[28:42] We're calling the north segment. That project is in design phase right now. It is currently

[28:47] at about 90% design. What my anticipation is, is that that project will follow after

[28:54] we complete the south section, so there won't be overlapping of the two projects.

[29:01] The second ongoing water line replacement project is over on Fillmore, Buchanan,

[29:06] and Pierce Streets. That one started in January of 2026. Anticipated completion is in July of

[29:14] 2027. We've got about 25% of the work complete. I think it's probably actually a little bit more

[29:21] than that now. That was probably last month. One thing that we did hit over the last couple

[29:28] weeks on that project, it does include three blocks of work on 11th Street and our bugaboo

[29:35] has been the trolley track system, the old trolley track system that's underneath some

[29:39] of the city streets.

[29:41] We were not aware of it under these in the design, and when we hit it, it became an

[29:46] issue of going back to the designer, looking what we could do to alter any design to get

[29:52] it out so that we don't have to go under the trolley tracks.

[29:55] But unfortunately, that street is very clogged up with existing utilities.

[30:00] We are looking at a change order of about 300,000 for the removal of the trolley tracks for three blocks.

[30:09] And the concrete base that they're on as well.

[30:12] Yes, yeah.

[30:14] The next project is the next phase of the downtown renewal, which is going to be, we're calling it Phase 5,

[30:21] the fifth project, and it's going to be taking place on Court Street between Fifth and Ninth Street.

[30:27] We are currently about 50% complete on the design.

[30:31] We're looking at wrapping it up by the end of this year on the design side of things

[30:36] for a spring 2027 construction schedule.

[30:40] This project will be a little bit different than the other downtown projects

[30:44] where we saw extensive street removal and rebuilding.

[30:48] This project is really targeting utilities mostly.

[30:52] We are doing a little bit of repair on the streets and the sidewalks

[30:56] but it's not gonna be nearly as comprehensive

[30:58] as what you've seen on the other downtown phases.

[31:01] So it's primarily gonna be funded

[31:04] through the water resources side of things.

[31:07] There'll be a little bit of public works

[31:08] general fund money on it, but mostly water resources.

[31:13] And I think that covers everything.

[31:15] So, questions?

[31:20] Now, Main Street.

[31:22] So the completion is this month, you said?

[31:25] Yes, we should be wrapping it up this week, actually.

[31:27] That's amazing. So happy. Thank you for that. Appreciate it. Thank you very much.

[31:32] What did y'all switch from the black polyline to the blue polyline?

[31:38] Water lines. On the water lines? Yes. I noticed that.

[31:41] Okay. So in years past we've used

[31:45] copper for water service lines and ductile iron

[31:49] for the main lines. We're still requiring ductile iron, which is the black

[31:53] for the main lines, but we do allow PVC or HPE for service lines.

[31:58] We changed a couple of years ago to allow a cheaper option from Copper.

[32:03] And so that's what you're seeing a lot of the plastic and the blue is the service lines

[32:07] going to the meters.

[32:09] Okay.

[32:09] I was just curious.

[32:10] Yeah.

[32:11] All right.

[32:12] So I can run it any time I want.

[32:15] That's right.

[32:16] Okay.

[32:17] All right.

[32:18] Any further questions?

[32:19] All right.

[32:19] Thank you so much.

[32:20] Thank you.

[32:21] Thank you.

[32:23] All right. Moving on to information item number three. We get Tom back. Hey, welcome back, Mr. Martin.

[32:31] Oddfellows Road Bridge naming request. And I'm actually going to hand this over to Kurt to run because this is a constituent request in Ward three.

[32:41] So I'll hand it over to Mr. Demer and Mr. Martin.

[32:44] Just very briefly, as Councillor Simmer just mentioned, there has been a request to name

[32:52] the Odd Fellows Road Bridge over 460 in memory of Earl Lee Brooks Sr.

[32:59] Mr. Brooks passed away in July 2010.

[33:02] I learned a lot about him this week, an interesting gentleman, and I believe one of his sons

[33:07] is with us this evening, but he was known as the Earl of Lynchburg.

[33:11] He raced in what is now the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from 1962 to 1979, raced in hundreds of races.

[33:22] Excuse me.

[33:26] No

[33:47] hurry.

[33:48] You want me to jump in and pinch that for you?

[33:51] Sure.

[33:52] I do appreciate Tom doing this.

[33:55] I passed out a informational material to everybody here today.

[33:59] just this did come to me from from Dave Falwell initially and it's nice to see a

[34:05] family member here as well. There's definitely community interest in this

[34:09] and I've been approached by quite a few folks in Ward 3 that I represent. Being a

[34:15] big NASCAR fan I was kind of excited about this as well for that reason but

[34:23] the mayor corrected me this is not a renaming this is a naming there is no

[34:27] on the current name if I'm correct about that.

[34:32] The bridge is part of the Virginia Department transportation

[34:34] system.

[34:36] If council desires, we would need to have council

[34:41] pass a resolution requesting the Commonwealth Transportation

[34:45] Board.

[34:46] Thank you so much.

[34:48] It's

[34:51] heck getting old, isn't it?

[34:52] So the council would need to pass a resolution

[34:58] requesting that the Commonwealth Transportation Board

[35:01] name the bridge in memory of Mr. Brooks.

[35:05] As part of that resolution,

[35:07] Council would also need to agree to pay the cost

[35:10] of preparing and installing the signs.

[35:13] That's approximately $1,000,

[35:15] probably a little less than that

[35:17] and those signs would be installed by VDOT.

[35:21] So what we're looking for from PDC is direction.

[35:25] If you'd like for us to prepare that resolution, we would have it on your next work session agenda.

[35:33] Well, that would be real helpful. Thank you.

[35:36] They've also gone out and gotten petition signatures from local citizens.

[35:42] A significant number. You'll see that in your packet as well.

[35:45] If you have any questions, I

[35:51] look forward to meeting you after this is over with, hopefully.

[35:54] I hope you'll hang around and if y'all have any questions now it's a great time

[36:00] you got all the folks here that are interested that might be able to answer

[36:05] some of them it seems like a worthy request in my estimation so that's why

[36:09] I'm happy to get behind it and support you in this endeavor.

[36:15] Apparently his

[36:16] garage was pretty much right underneath that bridge at one point. That's very

[36:23] interesting that's what earlier today Mr. Patrick Ford to do some information

[36:28] prepared by Ted Delaney up at the museum system okay awesome I didn't see that

[36:33] yet so yeah that was one of the things okay that was Ted's always on top of the

[36:38] history I love it I believe also one of his race suits is in the museum so is

[36:44] that right display currently or not but I think it was for

[36:53] for a while as part of a sportsman's exhibit, I believe,

[36:57] but of that information in some of the research that Ted did.

[37:03] Thank you.

[37:08] Well, I believe you're looking for a motion for a recommendation

[37:11] to bring it for a work session?

[37:12] Or, I mean, Kurt's able to agenda-wise, so I'm not sure.

[37:16] Right, so I think we'll have this on the next work

[37:18] session agenda, and then we'll go from there.

[37:20] Thank you.

[37:20] Appreciate it.

[37:22] And I apologize for my voice.

[37:24] Not at all.

[37:25] Thank you so much.

[37:26] As a guy with a bad voice, I'm very empathetic about that.

[37:29] All right, moving on to general business, we have two items today.

[37:34] Both will come forward for a public hearing, so we're not going to...

[37:37] Oh, no?

[37:38] Well, good news on item five.

[37:39] Okay.

[37:40] In that there's recent court filing that identified both the administrator

[37:45] and the sole heir for the peace property on Florida Avenue.

[37:49] So I sent an email out this morning, subsequent to that email,

[37:52] So we actually got confirmation that the administrator has agreed to accept the offer for the right

[38:04] of way and we're preparing the documentation now to have that signed and we should need

[38:08] to go down this path at all.

[38:09] So we've removed the item from this agenda and then also from the agenda later this

[38:14] evening.

[38:15] So great news.

[38:16] Great news.

[38:18] Connected to the dots now.

[38:19] That was what we were trying to do.

[38:21] Yeah.

[38:21] Exactly.

[38:22] Okay.

[38:23] All right.

[38:23] So agenda item number four, and my understanding is this is coming for public hearing, and

[38:29] so we're not going to make a motion on it today, but awesome, thank you.

[38:34] So Liberty University has approached us.

[38:36] They would like to take fiber optic up to their new dorm that they're renovating now.

[38:42] They're taking it from their property on University Boulevard, and there's a map

[38:48] over there that it's so small.

[38:49] that's why I printed you one it's difficult to read but the vertical road

[38:53] is Candler's Mountain Road the road to the left is University Boulevard headed

[38:58] to the University and this other road is actually in access to the shopping

[39:04] center that is owned by LU Holdings so they're fiber optic from their property

[39:10] they want to bore under Candler's Mountain Road about 108 feet and then

[39:16] And up to their property, which is the new dorm for them to have fiber optic.

[39:21] It shouldn't hurt traffic in any way or impede traffic in any way.

[39:26] And so we are asking, we are going to be coming and having a public hearing to have a license agreement with them for

[39:32] them to provide fiber optic to that dorm.

[39:34] And that's the just of this request today.

[39:38] And it will come again in August.

[39:40] Any questions from Ms. Hardy?

[39:44] Thank you, ma'am.

[39:46] Thank you, thank you.

[39:49] Okay, roll call.

[39:51] Yeah, roll call.

[39:53] Dr. Wader?

[39:54] Okay, I had a great fun at home office.

[39:56] Someone called about some situation on Table Street,

[39:59] some high rush stand that's on the abandoned property.

[40:03] It's been abandoned for years.

[40:04] I'll give you the address afterwards.

[40:06] I just have to send us through an email yet, so quickly.

[40:09] But they've just said it's been vacant for several years.

[40:11] Press have passed away.

[40:12] No answer in the community.

[40:13] I think in Baltimore somewhere and it says she's called the office several times about the property being like overgrown and the kind of thing

[40:21] But I'll give you the address later. It's on Taylor 15th and Taylor Street, and I was referenced to early Brooks

[40:26] I wasn't aware of him. So thank you for the information. I wasn't aware

[40:30] The mic when I look into maybe a historical marker as well. I'm gonna take the lady can check into that

[40:34] We don't have this white anymore who was who was amazing in and get a historical marker

[40:39] because I was a rock community, but it just,

[40:41] but Ted can't tell you if it was,

[40:43] it was a candidate for something of that nature.

[40:44] Okay.

[40:45] I'm going to throw a marker,

[40:45] but I'll be talking to Ted Delaney

[40:47] in front of his team and they can look into that.

[40:49] That's all I have.

[40:50] Thank you.

[40:51] I remember when that movie, Grease Lightning,

[40:53] came out back in the, what is it, early 80s,

[40:57] I watched it and moved in.

[41:00] Him and no Richard Prow, who played Wendell Scott.

[41:03] Right.

[41:04] They were partners.

[41:06] And no, Grease just played my dad.

[41:12] My dad was very close and a good friend, very good friend.

[41:17] Did your dad run moonshine with Windows?

[41:19] No, my dad did not run with Windows.

[41:22] That's before the party was raised.

[41:24] My dad was my friend.

[41:29] You don't have to answer these questions.

[41:32] Just so you know.

[41:33] We had fun.

[41:35] He was dead, son of his moonshine, so I got to keep the claim up, but they were very close.

[41:44] And yes, that movie was actually written in the living room of our home.

[41:51] The movie company came in with big, real to real recorders, and Wendell and my dad

[41:57] sat on their cell phone and told stories of things that happened to him.

[42:01] Of course when he got to Hollywood or where they kind of changed the things around the head to probably

[42:09] That's good. It's good to meet you. Thank you. It's good to meet you all and

[42:13] Thank you for the support. I just really love it. It tickles me to death

[42:20] We lived our whole life was right there where the bridge was the shop was there the house was there

[42:28] The whole family, the grandmothers, the grandfather and everything lived there, and the whole deal.

[42:35] And the race shop, you know, he'd run the races out of there, and he also, he supported Lynchburg

[42:45] very big on this race car, on the back of it, I don't know if you have any pictures

[42:51] or whatever, but it was, see the historical James River in Lynchburg, Virginia, everything

[43:00] on the call, you know, and it was, he would present the Chamber of Commerce gave him litigia

[43:11] and he would hand out that litigia in different places down through the, we raced everywhere

[43:16] were from Daytona to Oxford, Maine to Riverside, California.

[43:23] It was just everyone.

[43:25] And he would spread it out.

[43:27] He was very proud of his city.

[43:31] When he was elected into the Sports Hall of Fame in Lynchburg,

[43:37] that was so meaningful to him.

[43:39] And he just broke down.

[43:41] That was the greatest news he had ever gotten, I believe.

[43:47] Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank y'all. Mr. Mayor, do you have any? Thank you. Do you have any further items? Okay. Mr. Deemer.

[43:56] I just, if you started getting calls on street lights again, that's the danger of becoming the light guy. And that's okay. I'm not complaining.

[44:06] But is there been any efficiencies or just the ability to get those into a pipeline and

[44:17] then track when they're done?

[44:18] Has anything happened or is there still using the same system pretty much?

[44:22] Yeah, and that's an APCO system and at this point I don't think they have any new technology

[44:28] beyond what they had last time we were here.

[44:31] I know we are pushing them very hard on both reporting, being able to provide us with reports

[44:40] of what's out and what's not and what's been reported, and then getting everything done

[44:46] quickly that we report to them.

[44:48] Okay.

[44:49] I don't know if this is possible, but maybe what we do is we more prominently link

[44:54] back to the app code system on our side of things, that if there's any way to...

[45:00] To bump it up in visibility a little bit, give it a logo, or AI will make it all in 10 seconds

[45:09] for you. You know, something about, this is the fastest, bestest way to do it, and I think

[45:18] the closure thing is still the part I would love to get solved, that we can see when the

[45:24] job was done without the citizen going back out and calling back up their city

[45:30] councilman and the city councilman says well that's good and everything okay but

[45:35] it's the ones that that seemed to languish for several months got it

[45:40] brought razor to the attention that it was and now since we don't have

[45:44] anything new maybe we can just make it a little more prominent on the city

[45:48] side of things promoted a little bit. That would be really helpful.

[45:55] That's it.

[45:57] I've got one item and I'll bring it up in roll call with the work session as

[46:01] well just because that's when the constituent will probably watch but if

[46:06] if Ted Delaney would be up for doing maybe a presentation on one the

[46:11] cemetery again and any development that has happened there but also there

[46:18] are some historical sites in Lynchburg that are listed with the state and also

[46:22] nationally but aren't necessarily recognized on the city website. And so my

[46:28] understanding from Kent is that when it comes to the city recognizing a site

[46:34] there's usually some kind of land use tie to that and so I just like to

[46:39] understand that in a fuller dialogue as far as you know we've got some great

[46:42] history in our city how can we highlight that more what does

[46:45] council need to do in order to support that and promote that.

[46:50] So that ties into your discussion with the marker and our discussion today with the bridge.

[46:54] If he could come and we could have that dialogue.

[46:56] I'd love to have that.

[46:59] Awesome.

[47:00] Okay.

[47:01] Well, we've got 13 minutes.

[47:04] Yes.

[47:04] So we've got a moment here.

[47:06] Our next meeting.

[47:07] I'm sorry.

[47:07] I should have pulled it up.

[47:09] When's our next meeting?

[47:10] September 8, I believe.

[47:11] Okay.

[47:12] We're going to go with it.

[47:13] Our next meeting will be September 8.

[47:14] at 3 p.m. here in the training room meeting adjourned

Physical Development Committee Meeting

Transcript