City Council

November 25, 2013 Martinsville City Council Neighborhood Meeting for the Southside area neighborhoods was held on November 25, 2013, at Fuller Memorial Baptist Church, 1204 Askin Street, Martinsville, VA at 7:30 PM, with Mayor Kim Adkins calling the meeting to order. Council members present included Gene Teague, Mark Stroud, Sr., Sharon Brooks Hodge and Danny Turner. Staff present: Leon Towarnicki, Brenda Prillaman, Eric Monday, Coretha Gravely, Eddie Cassady, Kenneth Draper, Wayne Knox, Danny Wimmer and Andy Powers. Pastor Fred Hardin led the invocation. Mayor Adkins then asked Andy Powers to present his property maintenance report and give an update on Council’s 4:30pm tour of the Southside area. He reported that city staff is continuing working on issues to speed up the process to shorten the time it takes to resolve a complaint. Mayor Adkins then opened the floor for public comment. Comments: William Eggleston- Roundabout Rd-concerns with trash on vacant lot and drugs and gangs; Linda Lawrie-1050 Graves St.-concerns about rental properties with broken windows; Patty Wilcox-1047 Graves St.- concerns with construction of a handicap ramp being built; Howard Hairston-1307 Askin- barricade needs to be replaced at end of Forest Street where it turns onto Childress Drive; Angela Harris-Quincy Street-concerns with numerous cats at one residence causing a nuisance and questions about indecent exposure issue for individuals and the way they wear their clothes; Lloyd Powell-1016 Adele St.-sewer rat problems and junky rental properties, particularly one property on Childress Drive owned by a city employee; Ruby Stultz-Pony Place-concerns with recent shooting in the neighborhood, suggested a police command center be set up, need for guardrails and fencing at railroad underpass on Koehler hill; Jean Price-question on abandoned cars on Myrtle Road; Council asked the city attorney to look into indecent exposure ordinance and the issue of limiting number of vehicles allowed in a certain square footage; Al Martin-1006 Independence Drive-encouraged the city to run snow plows out both Independence Drive and Fishel Street when they are leaving the city shop and he asked that the right of way be cleared off sewer lines near his residence. There being no further business, Mayor Adkins adjourned the meeting at 8:35 pm. _______________________________ __________________________ Brenda Prillaman Kim E. Adkins Clerk of Council Mayor