By Taylor Boyd
The Stuart Town Council discussed preparations for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution celebration at its December 17 meeting.
Town Manager Bryce Simmons said the town recently applied for a marketing grant from the Patrick County Tourism Advisory Council (TAC) to assist in purchasing banners for the celebration. However, the application was not chosen as a grant recipient.
“It was going to be like $8,000, and we were asking for $5,000,” he said.
TAC member Chris Prutting said the town’s application wasn’t chosen because it didn’t fall under the new parameters of the new marketing grant.
“Because this is, all in all, a one-time use of these banners that are going up. After next year, where do they go? They go in storage or they go into the trash because you’ll never use them again,” he said.
Prutting noted he also told the Tourism Department that it would be smart for the county to work with the town on the project because they’re both celebrating the same thing.
“My recommendation (was) that maybe they could work with you all on this because they’re gearing up just as much as you all are for this 250 event,” he said, adding that he believes the town’s best bet is to “continue knocking on that door” and seeing if something could come about.
“Does that mean they buy a bunch of banners that have Patrick County (written) on them and expect us to put them up,” Simmons said as council members chuckled.
Prutting said he thinks it means the county would work with the town and possibly give Stuart some funding for the banners since the funds could be pulled from more budgets.
“Again, I would just knock on that door and talk to James,” he said of James Houchins, director of Economic Development & Tourism.
Simmons believes the town should still purchase banners for the celebration.
Council member Erica Wade said the town is the most visible spot for any local collaboration.
Council member Jeff Houchins asked where the county’s banners would be placed.
Prutting said he did not know and isn’t familiar with the county’s plans for the celebration.
Sarah Wray, regional outreach coordinator at the Reynolds Homestead, said her understanding is the county will hold a week-long celebration, beginning in early July, with different events in various locations each day.
“They’re coming to the Reynolds Homestead one of those days, and they’re going to culminate and try to plan around Stuart, like the Fourth of July celebrations. I don’t know if they’re going to try and correspond with First Friday or what that looks like,” Wray said, adding that other events would be held throughout the year.
In other matters, the council:
*Approved the Star Theatre lease agreement as presented with One Family Productions.
*Approved allowing CW Tree Works to take care of the unsafe structure on Dobyns Road.
*Heard an update on public works projects.
*Discussed the upcoming fiscal year 2027 budget.
*Discussed unsafe structures and blighted properties within town limits.
*Discussed the Stuart Downtown Revitalization project.
*Discussed town employment.
*Discussed the draft employee handbook.
*Approved the Nov. 19 meeting minutes and paid the bills.
