Good Monday morning! It is September 19 and this is a quick take from the James Exchange. I am your host, Nancy Gill.
This evening at 7:00 the Scottsville Town Council meets for their monthly public meeting. They have a relatively light agenda with action items being a vote on the tourism ordinance. This dates back to March 2020 when Town Council discussed creating Scottsville as a tourism zone as an economic development tool. Covid-19 postponed additional discussion on this ordinance. State law (Code section 58.1-3851) enables cities, counties, and towns to create tourism zones to promote hospitality-oriented businesses. Such business development is a strategic priority of Town Council. According to this particular code “Any city, county, or town may establish, by ordinance, one or more tourism zones. Each locality may grant tax incentives and provide certain regulatory flexibility in a tourism zone.”
The other action item is a vote on a resolution allowing Town staff to proceed with the purchase of a police vehicle through USDA’s grant/loan program. The vehicle’s cost is about $70,000 and the USDA program will fund 75% with the town picking up the additional 25%. The vehicle should be ready for service sometime in Spring 2023.
At last week’s work session, Town Council heard from Andrew Hillman of Blink Charging Company on installing two EV charging stations in the Town parking lot by Victory Hall.
Funding for this comes through funds from the US Department of Energy to Virginia Clean Cities. The former has been in existence since 1996 and its mission is:
“Virginia Clean Cities advances air quality improvement, economic opportunity, and energy security through deployment of alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure, education programs and other petroleum reduction activities.”
Blink Charging Company has been contracted by Virginia Clean Cities to install EV charging stations throughout the Commonwealth. Mr. Hillman pointed out at last week’s meeting that Scottsville is strategically located for this installation. There is no cost to the town, and proceeds are shared between Blink and the Town.
Work has begun on repairs to the packet boat at Canal Basin Square. The town has hired Dustin Denby to to the work. Liz Knotts, a previous Town Councilor and Vice Mayor, undertook a GoFundMe to help. She raised $500 which has been donated to the town. On October 8, Liz and current Town Councilor Alex Bessette are coordinating an event at Canal Basin Square. Details are coming on this.
I am in touch with Buckingham County Board of Supervisor’s chair, Jordan Miles for a discussion on issues they are grappling with—primarily industrial solar farms, gold-mining, and the Community Rights Ordinance.
That’s it for this James Exchange Quick Take. As always, if you have a story, a song, an issue, or want to have a conversation, contact me.
EV Charging & Police Vehicle