7-15-91 Minutes

City of Bedford, Virginia - At the Peaks of Perfection!

7-15-91 Minutes

A called meeting of the Council of the City of Bedford, Virginia, was held in the Council Hall of the Municipal Building at 5:30 p.m., July 15, 1991.

Members present: Mayor G. Michael Shelton; Councilman Larry D. Brookshier; Councilwoman Joanne A. Grahame; Councilman Payton M. Otey; Vice Mayor John M. Owen, III; Councilman Ronnie C. Rice; and Councilman James A. Vest.

Members absent: None.

Staff present: City Manager Jack A. Gross; City Attorney W. W. Berry, IV; and Clerk of the Council Teresa W. Hatcher.

Mayor Shelton opened the meeting.

The called meeting was held for the following purposes: To consider the pending request by the Bedford Public Library for permission to submit a Library Services and Construction Act Grant and funding considerations relating to this request.

The City Manager stated that at the next Council meeting the Library is going to ask Council for the following:

1. Timetable on the construction of the new Library; estimated start date for the construction and estimated date for completion.

2. Date and amount of the LSCA funds requested. The City has to front the money from that grant and the City has to spent the money at the same ratio as the project is being done.

3. Copy of an agreement between the local governing body and the architect, which has to be submitted with the application.

4. Resolution or some formal action authorizing the filing of the application and authorizing an official who would be a representative on that application.

5. The formal approval of the master plan for the Bedford Public Library.

City Manager Gross stated that at Council's request, the staff has evaluated the proposed plan, the City's cash flow and ability to fund this project, to come up with an alternative that would allow the City to proceed with this project.

The City Manager reviewed the Library's proposed timetable.

City Manager Gross suggested a modification of the Library's proposed timetable that would allow the City to keep moving on the Library and a plan to present to Council which would allow the City to take advantage of the grant money.

Mr. Gross reviewed the proposed financing plan which would delay the actual project by approximately five months: -start design work in March, which means the City would have approximately $64,400 to expend in the current budget year; -in the next budget year, approximately $508,100 would be expended; -in fiscal year 1993-94, approximately $1,282,400 would be expended. Mr. Gross stated that it is proposed to do this through the sale of a bond. He suggested that Council does need to review the City's revenue sources.

The City Manager suggested the need to have the City's electric rates reviewed by the engineering firm, GDS, which is used by the Blue Ridge Consortium at a cost of approximately $5,000.

Discussion ensued.

The City Manager stated that he believes the electric fund rates need to be studied and if the study shows that an increase is warranted he recommended that the increase be implemented, whether or not the new Library project proceeds.

Further discussion ensued.

Councilman Owen left the meeting at 6:25 p.m.

Discussion ensued regarding proceeding with the library project if the City is not awarded the grant for the library.

The City Manager suggested that in the resolution wording be included such as: the City would build the library provided the City is awarded the grant.

Councilman Vest moved that Council authorize the City Manager to begin the electric rate study through GDS, the Blue Ridge Power Agency engineering firm, for costs not to exceed $5,000. The motion was seconded by Councilman Otey, voted upon and carried, six members voting aye, one member absent.

Further discussion ensued.

Mayor Shelton adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.