The Stuart Town Council voted to approve the issuance of a bond for up to $2 million for the Stuart Volunteer Fire Department project at their July 17 meeting.
The bond would cover the $1.2 million dollar procurement of the building and the upgrades that are currently in progress.
The town has paid about 80 percent of the project costs out of pocket with town funds.
They expect to be paid by Patrick Henry Community College over the next 7 years for PHCC’s part of the building.
“We are proud that they are going to be in there,” said Town Manager Terry Tilley about having PHCC occupy part of the building.
In other matters, the council:
- Learned it is required to consider the options for interim financing of the Wastewater Treatment Plant project, if possible. The town has a $863,000 loan from rural development. The loan and grant funds for the project have a combined total of about $1,450,000 according to Tilley.
- Heard concerns about the pinkish discoloration of the caboose in Stuart. Tilley said that work crews have cleaned some of the discolored areas, but have not had time to get to the roof.
- Discussed the future of the land which is the current site of the Stuart Volunteer Fire Department. The council is waiting on a response from American Electric Power (AEP), which has shown interest in buying the land. However, they said there hasn’t been much communication about it in a few months.
The council was supposed to have a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission concerning the Mayo Court resident who wants to put a 50-foot antenna in his backyard. The hearing had to be postponed until the August meeting because the commission did not have a quorum, and therefore could not vote on the project.
