Blacksburg Town Council Regular Meeting, August 8, 2023

The Town Council of Blacksburg, Virginia, held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith was absent; Vice Mayor Susan Anderson presided. Council members present included John Bush, Lauren Colliver, Jerry Ford Jr., Susan Mattingly, and Michael Sutphin. The meeting covered a consent agenda, three public hearings, and extensive citizen comments regarding the preservation of St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall.

Consent Calendar

• Town Council Minutes: The minutes of July 5, 2023 (work session) and July 11, 2023 (regular meeting) were approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 2023: An ordinance authorizing the lease of space on the North Main Street water tank to New River Valley Unwired Ventures, LLC was introduced, and a public hearing was scheduled for September 12, 2023. Motion passed on a roll call vote with all six present council members voting yes.

Public Hearings & Testimony

• CUP 23-0003: A conditional use permit for hotel use at 501 South Main Street was canceled and will be rescheduled.
• Ordinance 2025: An ordinance vacating a waterline easement at 615 Southgate Drive to allow construction of an airport hangar. Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer explained that Virginia Tech provided letters authorizing the action. No public comment. Motion to approve passed unanimously.
• Ordinance 2016: An ordinance to amend Westview Cemetery rules to establish green burial regulations. Town Attorney Spencer noted growing interest and that the fee is the same as standard burials but with specific location and shroud requirements.
  • Public Comment: Linda Plaut of 620 Watson Lane, board secretary for the Funeral Consumers Alliance, spoke in favor, describing a personal experience where the lack of local green burial options required driving an hour and added expense. She expressed support for the ordinance.
  • Action: Councilmember Sutphin moved approval; seconded by Councilmember Ford. Councilmember Mattingly reported neighbor support. Motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.
• Ordinance 2029: An ordinance updating Town Code sections related to Westview Cemetery. Town Attorney Spencer described minor housekeeping changes, including increasing the cemetery committee from five to seven members and removing outdated references to a caretaker. No public comment. Approved unanimously.

Citizen Comments

• Nick Bryans (906 Derby Lane): Proposed increasing sidewalk closure fees from $45 to $450 per 200 feet per day, arguing that current fees are minimal compared to developer costs and that the increase could generate an estimated $270,000 annually for the town.
• Jody Booze-Daniels (909 Allendale Court): Volunteered at the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation (BMCF). Raised concerns about the preservation of St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, stating that its “rustic” state is not a preservation standard. Noted the lack of financial and governance transparency at BMCF and urged council to review the 2005 deed of gift and the five-year operating agreement between the town and BMCF.
• Gabrielle Spennacchio-Parker (209 South Knollwood Drive): Expressed support for preserving African American culture at St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall.
• Lauren (450 Alexander Street): Donated her speaking time to other speakers.
• Brandy Faulkner (607 Hampton Court, representing New River Valley chapter of Virginia Organizing): Called for better representation, funding equity, decision-making, and inclusive community-centered engagement regarding St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall. Stated that the community will continue to demand accountability.
• Danille Christensen (700 Broce Drive, associate professor at Virginia Tech): Voiced concerns about staffing at BMCF and the preservation of St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall. Urged council to revise public-facing texts that trivialize the hall’s history and to fill staff positions with professionals trained in conservation and cultural heritage.
• Sylvester Johnson (3450 Evergreen Trail): Spoke on the need to properly restore and curate the hall, emphasizing its role in African American economic and social resilience. Called for dignified restoration.
• Latanya Walker (2104 Birch Leaf Lane): Shared personal family history and the emotional impact of neglect of Black history. Asked council to ensure the board represents the community professionally and that history is told with knowledge and respect.
• Virginia Hunnicutt (404 Willard Drive): Expressed concern over disrepair of the hall and alleged mistreatment of BMCF volunteers.
• Christine King (great-granddaughter of Aubrey Mills Sr., signatory to the 2005 deed): Read numerous emails documenting difficulty in communicating with BMCF leadership, including cancellation of committee meetings, denial of board access, and suspension of tours. She requested that the upcoming August 15 work session amend the operational agreement to require BMCF to work with descendants and community members, or void the agreement.

Council Announcements

• Vice Mayor Anderson thanked Amelia from Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. for organizing the successful Steppin’ Out event, noting record T-shirt sales.
• Announced upcoming events: League of Women Voters election forum on August 24 at the Lyric; Renew the New volunteer event on August 26; Dialogue on Race on August 26 at Huckleberry Park in Christiansburg.
• Staff prepared historical materials for council; copies were made available to the public.

Key Outcomes

• All ordinances (2023 introduced, 2025, 2016, 2029) were passed unanimously on roll call votes.
• The public hearing for CUP 23-0003 was postponed to a future date.
• Council directed no specific action on citizen comments, but acknowledged the concerns raised about St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall and the BMCF. The August 15 work session will include discussion of the town’s five-year operating agreement with BMCF.
• The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.