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Fincastle council approves January bills, treasurer's report; rate increase to appear on February bills
Summary
Council approved the monthly bills and the December treasurer's report, recorded unanimous votes; Manager Melanie McFadyen said a utility rate increase effective Jan. 1 will appear on February bills, end‑of‑year reporting is complete, two galvanized pipes were reported in the lead service line inventory (no lead), audits are due to the Virginia Resources Authority, and two liens on 202 N. Roanoke Street are being pursued for release.
At its Jan. 8 meeting the Fincastle Town Council voted unanimously to approve the monthly bills for January 2026 and the Treasurer's Reports for December 2025.
Ed Bordett moved to approve the monthly bills and Paige Ware seconded; the minutes record the vote as Yes — Mayor Smith, Paige Ware, Ed Bordett, Barry Rakes, Pam Binns and Clay Fitzgerald. Paige Ware moved to approve the Treasurer's Reports for December 2025 and Pam Binns seconded; the reports were approved as submitted.
Manager Melanie McFadyen told the council that a utility rate increase that took effect Jan. 1 will be reflected in customer bills beginning in February 2026. McFadyen also reported that all end‑of‑year reporting has been completed; her summary included several compliance items: DHCD Main Street exploration, a Lead Service Line Inventory that identified only two galvanized steel pipes requiring reporting (no lead was reported), and ongoing water‑quality reports to VDH that WVWA completes. She added that audits are due to the Virginia Resources Authority, which holds the town's wastewater treatment plant loan.
McFadyen said she is working with the town attorney to release two liens on the property at 202 N. Roanoke Street; the council received that status report but did not take a formal action to approve or deny the lien releases at the meeting.
On hazard mitigation, McFadyen said the RVARC regional hazard mitigation plan is being updated to meet FEMA requirements and was expected to be submitted the following week; localities would be able to adopt the plan in February. Mayor Mary Bess Smith asked staff to coordinate with the Chamber and First Bank about planting trees along Main Street in front of some houses. The council also noted that Corbin Stone of Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates has agreed to attend a meeting to discuss FY2024 financial statements, tentatively at the February meeting.
During public comment, Patsy Dickerson thanked the council for the Christmas lights and remarked that the town looked "pretty and festive." The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
