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Mayor apologizes as Saltville council narrows acceptance of corporate gifts after shelter work
Summary
Councilman Cary Sauls questioned United Salt Company’s reconstruction of park shelters and a Facebook post mentioning pickleball courts; Mayor Cheri Fullen apologized for procedural missteps and the council voted to require council approval for corporate donations, amended to exempt Labor Day festival contributions.
Councilman Cary Sauls raised concerns on Aug. 26 that United Salt Company had donated time and money to rebuild shelters in the Wellfields area and that a Facebook post by Mayor Cheri Fullen referenced possible future pickleball courts. Sauls asked why the donation and any work had not come before council first.
Mayor Fullen acknowledged she had not followed the council approval process and formally apologized. She said the council had previously discussed shelters and that she had assumed the work could proceed; she also said she had told Councilman Sauls by phone and that he did not ask to place the item on the agenda at that time.
Councilman Ryan Comer proposed a policy that the town cannot accept donations from corporate entities without council approval. After discussion about festival donations and timing, Comer amended the motion to exempt donations to the Labor Day festival (which operates under a separate account). Town Attorney Paul Cassell said the council could instead adopt a policy setting a dollar threshold or require formal acceptance by motion; the council voted to adopt the restriction on corporate gifts except for the Labor Day festival (motion by Ryan Comer, second by R.B. Henderson).
What’s next: Town Attorney will draft policy language or an ordinance clarifying the process for accepting donations and any dollar thresholds; staff will return a draft for council consideration.
