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Stephens City council meeting: treasurer reports tax collections; volunteer fire department readies fall fund drive
Summary
At its Aug. 7 meeting, Stephens City Town Council heard Treasurer Steve Rickards report real estate collections at 94.55% and personal property at 78.10%, approved Sherando High School Spirit Week, and received a Stephens City Volunteer Fire Department update about an Oct. 1 fall fundraising drive and an EMS grant application.
Stephens City Town Council handled routine town business and departmental updates during its Aug. 7 regular meeting, including a tax-collection update from the town treasurer and a fundraising plan from the volunteer fire department.
Town Treasurer Steve Rickards told the council the collection rate for real estate taxes stands at 94.55 percent and personal property collections at 78.10 percent; he said the town will send late notices that should raise the collection rate. "Late notices for tax payments will be going out which will bring the collection rate higher," Rickards reported.
Fire Chief John Jones briefed the council on emergency responses and the department's fall fundraising plans. "During the month of July there were eighteen emergency incidents for the Town, two hundred and twenty five for Frederick County for a total of two hundred and forty three combined responses," Jones said. He told the council the department will run a Fall Fund Drive beginning Oct. 1 and will send letters requesting donations to buy a new ladder truck. He also said the department will apply for an EMS grant for equipment, and that members are pursuing open-water diving and swiftwater technician certifications.
On the consent agenda, Councilwoman Regina Swygert-Smith moved to approve Sherando High School Spirit Week for Sept. 16–22, 2018; the motion passed with recorded votes in favor from Bowers, Hollis, Swygert-Smith and Thatcher. The council also approved committee minutes and reports; the Newtown Heritage Festival committee reported a final 2018 surplus of $245.36 and will meet Aug. 16 to plan the May 2019 festival.
Town Manager Michael Majher provided operational updates: the town office had basement flooding this month and cleanup assistance from Fire Chief John Jones; a new office entrance sign will be ordered; VDOT will street clean Main Street with public works coordination; smoke testing has been postponed because of extended rain; and late notices for water bills will be sent with cutoffs scheduled for the following week. Rickards reported about $1,000 in donations for "Lenny the dog" to pay for a statue at the gravesite and noted that Omps will donate the headstone.
There were no public comments. Councilwoman Kelly Thatcher moved to adjourn at 7:15 p.m.; the motion carried unanimously.
