Radford City Council adopts Fire/EMS recovery fee, approves school budget amendment and multiple appropriations

Radford City Council on June 8 adopted a new ordinance establishing recovery fees for Fire and EMS responses and approved a series of budget adjustments and appointments, all by unanimous votes.

The council voted to adopt Ordinance No. 1833, which establishes mitigation and recovery rates for deployment of fire and emergency medical services for emergency and some non‑emergency responses. Mrs. Foster moved to adopt the ordinance and Mrs. Artrip seconded; the motion passed with all members voting in favor (Artrip, Foster, Gillespie, Wohlford, Horton). No fee schedules beyond the ordinance text were discussed during the meeting packet presentation.

Council also approved a School Board request to increase the FY2026 school budget from $50,298,738 to $51,201,816 — a $903,078 amendment that staff said reflects additional funding and expenditures across four funds and requires no additional City General Fund dollars. Mr. Gillespie moved to approve the amendment; Mrs. Foster seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

On first reading and with the second reading dispensed, council approved four appropriation ordinances: AO 1815.37 ($506, DMV bonus allocation adjustments), AO 1815.38 ($4,084, additional library state aid), AO 1815.39 ($225,000, Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant for Glencoe), and AO 1815.40 ($47,550, firefighting equipment). Mr. Gillespie moved approval of the first readings; Mrs. Artrip seconded. Council later voted to dispense with the second reading for all four items; all motions were unanimous.

Council also approved a resolution setting new Recreation Department fees for FY2027, including a $10 fee for participants receiving Medicaid and a 50% fee reduction for vetted coaches’ children. Parks and Recreation Director Charlie Goens explained the proposed changes and said coaches would be vetted before any discount applied. Mrs. Artrip expressed support for consistent uniforms and praised department efforts; Mr. Gillespie thanked staff for building positive program culture.

Multiple boards and commission appointments were confirmed, including new terms for the Building, Library, Planning, Recreation, BZA and other bodies, and appointments to the Economic Development Authority (EDA). The council voted unanimously on the slate presented.

A request by GAD Management, Inc. to vacate right‑of‑way at West Main and Rock Road was the subject of an earlier public hearing. Staff asked council to appoint a three‑person board of viewers to examine the request and make written recommendations; council tabled the ROW vacation until July to allow the viewers’ process to proceed.

City Manager Todd Meredith reported the finance team is close to completing the FY2025 audit and that staff will meet the next day with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development regarding the city's fiscal distress status. He also said an automated mower was delivered and staff expect it to reduce field mowing costs by roughly 75 percent.

The meeting concluded after council entered and certified a closed session held under Virginia Code §2.2‑3711 for discussion of a REDI agreement and personnel matters, including the City Manager's evaluation, then adjourned at 10:11 p.m.