[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5966717,"mediaKeyId","5899843-8a91e89839c187c61e6744459448dc56","parentId",5899843,"title","Lexington council approves VDOT grant-resolution and debates using paving savings for municipal lots","audioSeconds",652,"startMs",4209000,"endMs",4861000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899843-8a91e89839c187c61e6744459448dc56&start=4209&end=4861","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899843-8a91e89839c187c61e6744459448dc56/thumbnail_4209000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5966717/Lexington/Rockbridge-County/Virginia/Lexington-council-approves-VDOT-grant-resolution-and-debates-using-paving-savings-for-municipal-lots","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5966717-42952fa7db29b5270c7a381c9519163e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170826&Signature=LcfIz4IJE72-tC8f11e0S8hqfA4UFOM1o9wnLlgoeOwukWq8~N~q9W6sMEHrThu6-98xw8Et~W90UOxFQaADu-QWwkYdzde~xQU5~OJM17RZryXiOk34U-9-Kom3pSvKPrtkweuFLegYGAqTah0skc6fuC8EHk7ljMqTirsn6Wgxb~3B8UHtDwILstVDVqhyaax-z2fkzlDHvmi8snR2JboBBIsEO4tJlpMwnLuChXyzcRmqMu6MogwBP7ZfAE6rpdCHywamRIEHWuNuqEKtrTEgwrCFI85lAnlytH78XEl7dZdVRop~6Y7EUB0dl-a6550wLX0~vVBtfVJTn06sng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lexington","date","2025-10-03T12:24:29Z","article","Lexington City Council on Oct. 2 unanimously approved Resolution 2025-13, updating the city’s blanket funding commitment and authorizing city staff to submit Virginia Department of Transportation grant applications on the city’s behalf.

The measure is largely a housekeeping update to a standing authorization first adopted in 2022. City Manager staff framed the item as a routine refresh required periodically by VDOT. The council approved the resolution by roll-call vote; the motion carried unanimously.

City staff then led an extended discussion of recently opened paving bids and possible reallocation of budget savings. The city manager told council that the city’s paving budget totaled approximately $1,147,000 plus $404,489 (figures provided during the meeting) and that the lowest responsive bids for the listed streets were about $157,000 under budget if one contested street (Colonial Lane) were excluded. Staff proposed using $115,000 of that estimated $157,000 savings to repave two municipal parking areas: the Kids Place parking lot and the municipal outdoor pool parking lot, leaving roughly $42,000 in unspent budgeted funds.

Council members discussed alternatives, including deferring the municipal parking lot work to the next fiscal year to preserve savings. The city manager noted an additional, unbudgeted $300,000 payment from Columbia Gas tied to repaving work in Providence Hill; combined with the identified savings this created roughly $457,000 of available resource for pavement-related work. Staff said the contractor could mobilize this fall and that work in Providence Hill was preferable before winter, while some Columbia Gas restoration on other streets will not be ready for repaving until next spring.

There was no formal amendment to the budget at the meeting; the city manager said he would follow council direction but recommended proceeding with the currently budgeted streets and using a portion of the savings for the two parking-lot repairs. Council members who spoke expressed support for repairing the municipal pool lot and for addressing streets Columbia Gas had disturbed; others urged caution and recommended waiting to confirm contractor availability and final costs. Staff said it would present a final recommendation and updated cost figures at the council’s next regular meeting.

Votes at a glance:
- Consent agenda: approved (unanimous roll call). The packet listed two consent items; council approved them as presented.
- Resolution 2025-13 (VDOT blanket funding/ grant submission authority): approved by unanimous roll-call vote.

The meeting record shows the council will revisit paving allocation and any final bid awards at its next meeting, with staff to present a recommended schedule and any contract awards.

Ending: Council members did not adopt a final change in spending at the Oct. 2 session; staff will return with firm costs and a proposed implementation schedule for paving and parking-lot repairs at an upcoming meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lexington City Council: October 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Oct. 2 meeting the Lexington City Council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-13 renewing a blanket funding commitment to allow VDOT grant submissions and debated whether to use budgeted paving savings to repave municipal parking lots and streets affected by utility work.","taxTitle","Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia","taxId",56190,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5966714,"Council hears details of Veterans Day parade and other fall community events",736,632000,1368000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899843-8a91e89839c187c61e6744459448dc56&start=632&end=1368","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899843-8a91e89839c187c61e6744459448dc56/thumbnail_632000.jpg","/articles/5966714/Lexington/Rockbridge-County/Virginia/Council-hears-details-of-Veterans-Day-parade-and-other-fall-community-events","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5966714-b2ba6ff26310e85ab7a09727b4921f6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170826&Signature=YaTDIiv0iFFx7coBKZs2hptBW5H4yQVyx~c2Jhnsyv3eYEqtdGrbNjOv-RJN0FWxXtvAdaipOfpf-nPwZiNHo2wPjLreE9rYXkntFpGuOrqb1XqjgDWms2s1tEkwdLOfqMvgVm54jaP6wJhfc3eSQl86Ru0xfu0RDMBGh-eI9Z1cbhSt13unCIAQ7y4df3kXbhH2is9JDY8l3WCaOQ~69Zl-t-kS8XTVpKM7I2ImYGOBjdYIEM7lq0mOYTF61lCWRA3cwaX6A3y9Fc2kPYhPTnXzUsd7F~cpBgFuXO9Y3sCxxDoUmTiDWuFTChOMjWCge-V1LY2TURLZiXUWdKr14A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members on Oct. 2 received a detailed update on plans for the city’s Veterans Day parade and several upcoming community events and cultural exhibits.

Colonel Robert Hopkins, parade chairman, told council the parade is scheduled for Nov. 11 with lineup at 10:00 a.m. and step-off at 10:30 a.m. Hopkins said the three local school districts — Lexington, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County — committed more than 650 students to participate, including both high school bands, cheer squads, and grade-school contingents. He said 51 fifth graders from Waddell Elementary were expected to march and then sing from the steps of the old courthouse during the ceremony. VMI will provide cadets and a musical contingent; local volunteers and community groups will supply floats, vintage vehicles and other entries. Hopkins described marshal and logistics plans and said the city and local organizations are assisting with participant marshaling and publicity.

Earlier in the meeting Eric Wilson, executive director of the Rockbridge Historical Society, presented two panels from a traveling exhibit and outlined the society’s upcoming programs. Wilson said a local version of the exhibit opens Oct. 3 and runs through Oct. 26; a Virginia and Vietnam exhibit is scheduled Nov. 7–15 with a closing reception. He said schools in Lexington and Rockbridge County would be bringing students through the exhibits.

Main Street Lexington updates were also delivered: a “Lehiy Love” pub-crawl/“bar crawl” registration and T-shirt pickup is set for Oct. 11; a downtown scarecrow contest will run through October; downtown trick-or-treat is scheduled for 3:30–5 p.m. on Oct. 31; and the Christmas parade theme has been announced as “A Storybook Christmas.” Staff reported the Veterans Memorial work on Courthouse Square is expected to be completed by mid-to-late October ahead of the Nov. 11 parade.

The council also received a report from the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization (RARO). RARO officials described expanded pickleball programming (open court nights and league play), ongoing fundraising for scoreboards at Brubaker Sports Complex and Secrist Field, and steps toward sanctioning girls’ softball and launching middle-school football in Buena Vista next year. RARO representatives said they are pursuing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with local school systems to secure access to school gymnasiums and fields for community programs.

Ending: Council members thanked parade organizers and local cultural groups and encouraged residents to attend the listed events. No formal council action was taken on the parade report at the Oct. 2 meeting.","At the Oct. 2 meeting the council received a presentation on the planned Nov. 11 Veterans Day parade that will include more than 650 students and multiple bands, plus updates on historical exhibits, Main Street autumn events and Rockbridge Recreation programming.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5966711,"Planning commission asks council whether to limit downtown canopy signs to white lighting",508,2314000,2822000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899843-8a91e89839c187c61e6744459448dc56&start=2314&end=2822","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899843-8a91e89839c187c61e6744459448dc56/thumbnail_2314000.jpg","/articles/5966711/Lexington/Rockbridge-County/Virginia/Planning-commission-asks-council-whether-to-limit-downtown-canopy-signs-to-white-lighting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5966711-9f847027de5895464b154f2643f42f56/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170826&Signature=PXMyJrPcPftFKjrW2IuaRkrUIvROoaCTgTmoqVlv9LNB4R2MFIEl29wbA18fQfNpId039jXHCs4QvH69aHMLlk2F5htA6LndYqyzxiqBmW8j2XA1Ek-VlqxuOVMoQad67it0e4EoiLKqQgp7QFz16j4bnSfNrL07tp3Aby0VqSytVF-eyT3MXnVfkDaUOaA476zz~m7PMUGu~bBHiZi8lUg2u5K78oicHcSNvNSVkMFAC-YaVcXGziPwD6EEtrjEmi0qv66FNWrLkhXt~3i7TvX9IEbhHOaexIm1Z6OO770kLngvXC5J5-SUeZoXl3-jDJlHN2Pdm4RPNfTGOKYUGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lexington planning commission on Oct. 2 reported it is drafting a zoning text amendment to permit internally illuminated canopy signs in the historic C-1 Commercial District and asked council for guidance on whether to restrict such signs to white lighting.

The planning commission report, delivered at council by the commission’s representative, said council previously directed staff to permit internally illuminated canopy signs but specified that lighting should be white only. The commission has since received public comment — including from an Architectural Review Board (ARB) member — urging flexibility so canopy signs can better reflect the character of individual buildings and businesses. The commission noted existing examples at the southern end of downtown where neon or colored elements already appear.

Commissioners asked council whether it favored a strict white-light-only rule or a more flexible standard that could allow a single color or set color temperatures subject to ARB review. Staff reminded council that any sign approved under a zoning-text amendment would still be subject to ARB review for design compatibility in the historic district.

Planning commission members said they will continue their review and will take the matter up at their Oct. 23 meeting; their recommended ordinance language will come back to council for final approval. Council members who spoke suggested allowing options that preserve compatibility with downtown’s historic character (for example by limiting brightness or color temperature) while helping businesses remain visible to customers.

Ending: No ordinance was adopted at the Oct. 2 meeting. The planning commission will refine its draft and present a recommendation to council following its Oct. 23 meeting and ARB input.","The Lexington planning commission asked council to clarify whether internally illuminated canopy signs in the historic C-1 district should be limited to white lighting or allow color; the commission will discuss the issue at its Oct. 23 meeting and will forward a draft ordinance to council for final approval.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lexington council approves VDOT grant-resolution and debates using paving savings for municipal lots

Council hears details of Veterans Day parade and other fall community events

Planning commission asks council whether to limit downtown canopy signs to white lighting