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South Boston Town Council on Monday evening approved two public
hearings which are scheduled to be held this coming Monday, November 5
at the regular monthly meeting of council. The hearings will focus on a
proposal to four lane Hamilton Boulevard from its intersection eastward
to John Randolph Boulevard. With the new South Boston Elementary
school's opening and projected industrial and commercial development
along that segment of Hamilton, traffic volumes have increased to a
point that the present two lane road offers an unacceptable level of
service, town officials say.
In order to qualify for state or federal road funds this project must
be included in the Town's Transportation Plan and Council's first
hearing Monday will focus on Council's adoption of a resolution to add
the four laning of that portion of Hamilton Boulevard to the Town's
Transportation Plan and the second hearing will reprioritize projects
in the Six Year Improvement Plan.
Public Works Director Alan Auld advised Council members that the Town
is shooting for the four laning of Hamilton during 2009 at the
earliest.
Finance Director Erle Scott advised finance panel members that town
real estate and personal property tax bills would be mailed out on
Tuesday, October 30. He explained that a computer glitch had delayed
the mail-out of the bills by about five days, but noted they had been
completed as of Monday.
In other business Current Issues Committee members approved a highway
enhancement grant application to secure funds for the R&D Greenway I of
the Tobacco Heritage Trail. The application will seek $432,910.20 of
which the Town will agree to pay 20 percent or $77,942.04. The request
will be submitted by Roanoke River Rails-to-Trails, Inc. with the Town
of Lawrenceville being the sponsor. The 2.4 mile segment of the Tobacco
Heritage Trail will connect the Town of South Boston to Berry Hill
Plantation and Founders College and will provide for safe pedestrian
and bicycling facilities as well as sightings of the Ducks Unlimited
wildlife preserve and access to the prehistoric Indian settlement site
now owned by the Archeological Conservancy, as well as the site of the
historic Crossing of the Dan Revolutionary event. Through the use of
the rail spur along Railroad Avenue it will also connect to the Cotton
Mill Park area which the Town expects to further develop. The trail
will eventually run from Lawrenceville to Danville as other segments
are completed.
Current Issues Committee members also discussed a request from Mr.
Leon Brade who is asking the Town to close an alley that lies between
North Main Street and Suggs Avenue which will be the subject of another
public hearing on Monday evening, November 5. Following the public
hearing, Council is expected to appoint a Board of Viewers to determine
if the closure would inconvenience the public in any way.
The committee also approved a recommendation from Fire Chief Steve
Phillips to name Capt. Dwight Spangler as the Town's Fire Official who
would be responsible for enforcement of local and statewide fire
prevention codes. Phillips noted that Spangler has attended and passed
classes required by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs Fire
Marshall's Academy over the past several months. The group further
discussed a letter from the City of Staunton which asked all localities
to urge the General Assembly to cap interest rates on consumer loans
such as those made by payday lenders and auto title lenders.
Other discussion by the committee focused on the Elm Tree Restoration
Program sponsored by the Elm Research Institute. The Institute will
reserve a 12 foot American Liberty Elm, with a 10 inch by 30 inch
bronze memorial plaque for the town since Wal-Mart has consented to be
a sponsor.
John P. Hansel, founder of the Elm Research Institute, says the gift
tree wll be a living memorial to the Town of South Boston and its
sponsor's interest in preserving the beauty of this community.
Guidelines call for the tree to be planted in a public place with a
permanent fence installed around — such as wrought iron or split rail
with perhaps a bench beside it. The bronze plaque is to be installed at
its base and an annual ceremony to celebrate the memorial tree needs to
held and celebrated each year. Committee members indicated they would
consider several public sites for the tree, perhaps at Edmunds Park or
the Cotton Mill Park.