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Suffolk council adopts consent agenda funding roads, schools and airport; residents press council on MLK statue and speeding
Summary
Council approved multiple appropriations for road, airport, and school projects and accepted two board nominations. Public commenters urged the city to keep an MLK statue at Peanut Park and asked for increased police enforcement on White Marsh Road; council said the statue remains planned and asked for patrols.
Suffolk City Council on Nov. 5 approved its consent agenda, accepting and appropriating federal, state and grant funds for a series of local projects and action items.
The consent agenda (items 7—13) included:
- $1,911,258 in additional VDOT revenue-sharing funds for the Pitch Kettle Road realignment improvement project (construction expected to start in December, with an approximate 18-month duration). - $1,719,266 from the Virginia Department of Transportation State of Good Repair program to repave four segments of Holland Road. - $370,500 from the FAA and $14,000 from the Virginia Department of Aviation (total $384,500) to support a master plan update at the Suffolk Executive Airport (the city will provide a $3,900 local match from the aviation fund). - Reappropriation of $1,750,252.43 in unspent Suffolk Public Schools operating funds from FY24-25 into FY25-26 for the purchase of eight buses, four fleet trucks and sinkhole repairs at school sites. - $18,191.96 in CDBG program income from loan repayments to the Redevelopment and Housing Authority. - $6,700 in HOME program income repaid to the City by Isle of Wight County. - $1,903,367 in additional VDOT Smart Scale funds for completion of Holland Road improvements.
The council adopted the consent agenda by a recorded vote of 8 to 0.
Public comment at the meeting included two speakers. Roy Johnson (1877 White Marsh Road) asked for an update on the proposed Martin Luther King Jr. statue's location, saying he had heard it was removed from Peanut Park and urging the council to consider placing it beside the Phoenix Bank. He also complained of frequent speeding on White Marsh Road, saying drivers routinely reach 60'70 mph in the 45-mph zone. "If you are thinking about scratching off, let's recap back a little bit and find somewhere else to put it before we decide to just throw it in the trash can," Johnson said.
Council member Williams responded to Mr. Johnson that, to his knowledge, the statue remains planned for Peanut Park and additionally asked the city manager and police chief to increase patrols on the 1800 block of White Marsh Road to the city line. Council members acknowledged prior police presence in the area and said they would pursue additional enforcement.
Anne Harris (2455 Lake Calhoun Road) asked why the city employee step plan report that council requested in October was not on the Nov. 5 agenda and requested the findings and recommendations be shared publicly when available.
Two nominations were added to the agenda and approved by council: Carly Bosco to the Economic Development Authority representing the Sleepyhole Borough and Michael Davis to the Suffolk Clean Community Commission.
Other announcements included the Harbor Freight store opening Oct. 25, GovDeals milestone recognition for the purchasing department, upcoming Hampton Roads Sanitation District smoke testing in mid-November, Route 58 overnight closures for improvements, and the completion of the Pewsville drainage project.
The meeting adjourned after a final motion approved 8 to 0.
Next steps: Planning Commission and council hearing dates remain for land-use items; residents can find application materials on the city's public hearings webpage.
