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Radford council approves ordinances, grants and honors retiring city manager
Summary
Council adopted a right-of-way vacation ordinance, accepted small grants and a large library gift, reappointed a representative to the New River Resource Authority, and passed proclamations honoring departing council and staff members as City Manager David Ridpath prepares to retire.
At its Dec. 30 meeting the Radford City Council handled multiple routine and ceremonial items alongside policy business.
Votes and appropriations • Ordinance 18-11 (right-of-way vacation): Council approved an ordinance vacating 1,700 square feet of public right-of-way between Ninth Avenue and Prospect Street at the request of Sean Fong and Nicholas Ohlinger; a board of viewers had visited the site and recommended vacation. Council dispensed with a second reading after four affirmative votes.
• Appropriation (18 o 2.16) — VA DEQ grant: Council accepted and appropriated an $11,033 grant from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to support litter prevention, recycling promotion and education. The ordinance passed and council dispensed with a second reading.
• Boling Trust gift to Radford Public Library (18 o 2.17): Council accepted a $240,000 gift to purchase books and support literacy programs and approved the appropriation by voice vote, then dispensed with a second reading.
Appointments and proclamations • New River Resource Authority: The mayor nominated Bob Asbury to continue as the city's NRRA board representative; council approved the nomination by voice vote.
• Proclamations and recognitions: The council presented a proclamation honoring outgoing Councilmember Bobby Davis and awarded him a key to the city; it also approved a proclamation recognizing Greg Holbrook’s long service in Parks and Recreation and adopted a resolution honoring City Manager David Ridpath for 40 years of city service, including a bench dedication and declaration of an official day in his honor. Ridpath spoke and thanked staff and council; several members offered tributes.
Other business • Manager’s comments covered community events (the city Christmas parade scheduled for 7 p.m. the next evening) and an update on a state- and EPA-mandated lead service-line inventory that staff are conducting; staff reported returning mailers, a random potholing sample program (600 potholes planned) and the potential for state funding to assist with identified lead lines.
The council closed by noting an organizational meeting scheduled for January 8, 2025 to swear in new and returning members.
