Smithfield council approves invoices, awards utility contract and a parking waiver permit

The Smithfield Town Council on Jan. 7 approved a set of routine but consequential administrative items: a subdivision agreement, a $56,965.02 invoice for the Windsor Castle Park Water Walk restoration, a special-use permit granting a parking-and-loading waiver for an expansion, final construction invoicing for the Luter Sports Complex concession building, and a three-year contract for mechanical, electrical and utility services.

Consent agenda: Council approved two consent items, including a subdivision agreement for Mallory Point Phase 2 and an invoice from Athens Building Group for the Windsor Castle Park Water Walk restoration in the amount of $56,965.02. The approvals were adopted by roll-call votes; council members recorded unanimous approval.

Special-use permit: Planning staff presented a request for a waiver of parking and loading requirements tied to an approximately 30-by-32-foot addition. Tammy Clary of town staff said the addition would raise the required minimum parking to 36 spaces while 27 exist on site; the applicant holds a parking agreement with the nearby CVS for rear spaces. The planning commission had given a unanimous favorable recommendation in November. A council member moved to approve the request after a public comment by a resident who said traffic and safety had not been problematic at the site; the motion passed by unanimous roll call.

Final invoice and contract award: The council approved a final invoice from Athens Building for work on the Luter Sports Complex concession building after staff confirmed that punch-list items were completed. The council also reviewed proposals for a three-year contract for mechanical, electrical and utility services; town staff recommended Virginia Control and Electrical Services based on lower unit pricing and existing satisfactory work. The contract was approved by council (unit-pricing contract; no total annual dollar figure was provided in the memo; staff said the work is budgeted and annual costs will depend on work performed).

Votes at a glance

- Consent Agenda — Mallory Point Phase 2 subdivision agreement; Athens Building invoice for Windsor Castle Park Water Walk Restoration, $56,965.02 — motion to approve consent agenda passed by unanimous roll call. - Special-use permit (parking/loading waiver for ~30x32 addition) — staff recommendation to approve contingent on zoning permit and fees; motion approved (unanimous). - Final invoice — Athens Building, Luter Sports Complex concession building — motion to approve final invoice passed (unanimous). - Contract award — three-year mechanical/electrical/utility services to Virginia Control and Electrical Services (unit pricing; currently holding contract) — motion approved (unanimous).

Council members asked staff to track annual spending under the unit-price contract and confirmed the items are budgeted across departments. The records of each roll-call vote were entered into the minutes.