Council approves grants, stadium investment and utility contract; other measures pass or are tabled

Lynchburg City Council on May 13 approved a series of ordinances, resolutions and contract actions including the city’s FY2026 Community Development Block Grant and HOME funding recommendations, a nonexclusive franchise for a culvert at Rosedale, and a new franchise and associated funding approach for the Lynchburg Hillcats. The council also approved a five-year water and sewer contract with CertainTeed LLC and introduced a $5,250,000 capital appropriation for stadium improvements tied to the Hillcats franchise agreement.

The actions were taken largely on voice or roll-call votes during the public meeting. Key funding and contract votes included a 7–0 passage of the resolution to adopt the Community Development Advisory Committee recommendations for FY2026 CDBG and HOME entitlement funds; a 7–0 vote granting a nonexclusive culvert franchise to Rosedale Investments LLC/Rosedale Owners Association; a 7–0 ordinance amendment narrowing the city’s local amusement-tax exemption to only youth athletic events at municipal facilities; and a 7–0 approval of a new 15‑year franchise with Hillcats Baseball LLC that the city says will support a $5,250,000 upfront investment in Bank of the James Stadium.

Council approved a five‑year water and sewer contract with CertainTeed LLC, retroactive to January 2025, by a 6–1 vote. Under the contract, CertainTeed will pay fixed rates that the city described as being based on a cost‑of‑service study: a water rate of…