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Fincastle council approves $200 Earth Day donation, asks staff to contact VDOT about Church Street
Summary
At its March 12 meeting the Fincastle Town Council approved a $200 donation for Earth Day flags, instructed staff to contact VDOT about longstanding repair needs on Church Street, and reviewed routine financial and management reports, including a grant application for Big Spring Park.
The Fincastle Town Council on March 12 approved a $200 donation to support the town's Earth Day activities and asked staff to pursue repairs on Church Street with the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Mayor Mary Bess Smith and council members voted unanimously to authorize the $200 purchase of two feather flags for Earth Day after Mayor Smith introduced the request and Council member Ed Bordett moved approval, seconded by Council member Paige Ware. The council also agreed to add a separate agenda item to speak with VDOT about repairing and paving Church Street; that addition was moved by Bordett and seconded by Ware and carried on a unanimous voice vote.
Why it matters: Church Street has been identified by council members as needing repairs for an extended period, and contacting VDOT is the first step staff said they would take to seek state assistance. The Earth Day donation provides small-town event support and was approved from general funds.
The council approved the minutes of its Feb. 12 meeting and accepted the February treasurer's reports; the March bills were approved as submitted. Town Manager Melanie McFadyen reported that the town's Positive Pay service with First Bank is active and that staff are researching ACH payment options but had made no final decision on ACH processes.
On parks and public works, McFadyen said a grant application has been submitted for gazebo improvements at Big Spring Park. A work crew from the sheriff's office will paint the park fence, the park bridge needs minor repairs, and Council member Ed Bordett will set a date for a park cleanup day. McFadyen also said she has met with a contractor to obtain a quote for the repair of four sidewalks in town.
On signage, Bordett is pursuing quotes to replace two town signs while McFadyen is coordinating with HFI on a historic-signage design to avoid duplication; county staff (referred to in the record as BOCO) are working on placement of a county sign for the town.
Business-license revenue (BPOL) figures presented by McFadyen showed 16 businesses closed in 2025, three businesses registered but not operating, seven new businesses opened, and $13,600 collected in BPOL revenue.
Under other matters, council members discussed whether a sheriff's work crew could sweep streets and sidewalks or whether homeowners might be asked to sweep sidewalks in front of their properties. McFadyen reported that trees selected for courthouse landscaping will be Green Hawthorne species. McFadyen also announced that Rich Evans will appear at the Planning Commission meeting on April 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fincastle Firehouse community room.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. The council's next regular meeting is scheduled for April 9, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fincastle Volunteer Fire Department meeting room.
