Ridgeway council accepts $100,000 county grant for park expansion, approves pest control contract and routine measures

Mayor Craig O’Der presided over the Ridgeway Town Council’s monthly meeting on May 6, 2025, where the council accepted a $100,000 contribution from the Henry County Board of Supervisors to support a planned park expansion and approved several routine measures including a pest‑control contract and an insurance renewal.

The council voted unanimously to accept the county funding after Mayor O’Der said he is preparing specifications and pursuing additional grant applications to the Harvest Foundation and T‑Mobile to supplement the project. O’Der said details and grant application plans will be available soon.

The meeting also highlighted the Bee City Festival, which O’Der called “a great success.” He reported that fundraiser T‑shirt sales produced a profit for the town; the exact amount will be reported at next month’s meeting.

On facility maintenance, the council approved a $1,600 quote from Dodson Pest Control to treat town offices for termites (motion by Mike Bass, seconded by Tim Wood). The council also accepted VRSA’s 2025–2026 renewal policy, authorized account signers for town accounts (Mayor Craig O’Der, Vice Mayor Mike Bass and Town Clerk Ronnie Garren) and approved the Water Supply Plan resolution from the West Piedmont Planning District Commission.

Mayor O’Der reported other routine items: VDOT repaired a drainage issue on Route 87/Almond Street, and complaints had been filed with the Henry County Sheriff about parking on Magnolia Street and loose goats and chickens in town. He also said there was no update from the DMV on a previously reported concern about a car lot operating in the mobile home park.

Under old business the council adopted a resolution to align real estate and personal property tax due dates with Henry County. Mayor O’Der also reported that a background check for Jalia Dillard returned with no criminal record and that Dillard will begin part‑time work developing the town website.

The town presented the lone applicant for the Ed Page Scholarship; council members approved awarding the scholarship to that single applicant. Councilors moved into closed session citing Section 2.2‑3711(A)(1) of the Virginia Code to discuss legal or personnel matters, then reconvened and polled members who confirmed the closed session’s subject matter. The council scheduled its next meeting for June 3, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. and adjourned.

Votes at a glance: April 2025 minutes approved (motion: McCulloch; second: Hairston; outcome: passed); March 2025 Treasurer’s Report approved (motion: Hairston; second: Wood; passed); resolution aligning tax due dates approved (motion: Bass; second: McCulloch; passed); account signers authorized (motion: Bass; second: McCulloch; passed); Water Supply Plan resolution approved (motion: Bass; second: Hairston; passed); Dodson Pest Control contract approved for $1,600 (motion: Bass; second: Wood; passed); VRSA renewal policy accepted (motion: Bass; second: McCulloch; passed); Ed Page Scholarship awarded to lone applicant (motion: Bass; second: Hairston; passed); closed session entered and exited by unanimous vote (motion to enter: McCulloch; second: Bass; passed).

Pat Walmsley, a Ridgeway resident, told the council she was concerned about a “lack of communication between Council and the town residents.” The council acknowledged the comment and thanked her for the input.

The meeting record shows routine administrative business and local maintenance and planning actions intended to advance the park expansion and day‑to‑day town operations. The council will report further details on grant progress and festival receipts at its June meeting.