Community Newsletter

April 2012

Town Council Prepares to Review Budget

As the 2012 Fiscal Year winds down, the Town Council prepares to review the budget for the Town of Fincastle. The Towns budget consists of two major components - the General Fund and Water and Sewer Fund. The General Fund monies are used for daily operations, staff salaries, Town maintenance (street ions, cleaning and grounds maintenance), street lights, special projects such as sidewalks repairs and upgrades, and other general items. The Water and Sewer Fund is used for the operations of the water and sewer systems, including necessary stems, repairs and upgrades. The Finance Committee (appointed by the Town Council) will be meeting in early May to start work on the budget. The Finance Committee reviews both budgets in detail, anticipates future revenues and costs, and then makes budget recommendations to the Town Council. The Committee hopes to have a recommended budget to the Town Council by its May 15, 2012 meeting. At that point, once the Council reviews the budget, the Council will have a public hearing on the budget at its June 19, b 2012. Fincastle Town Manager David Tickner sees the budget process being much simpler this year than last year. Last year we were dealing with water and sewer operations that were again not paying for themselves. At budget time, we were in the midst of developing a new water and sewer rate structure. This year, that rate structure is in place. Additionally, staff will not be proposing any major increases in expenditures in the budget A copy of the proposed budget, when ready for public review, will be available at the Fincastle Town Hall, located at 25 Bank Square, and online at http://www.townoffincastle.org/ http://www.townoffincastle.org/.

meeting. The Commission held its meeting at the Fincastle Library Meeting Room, and in addition to the Commission, staff and students, three Town Council members and several citizens attended.

Virginia Tech student Lida Aljabar introduces the Visual rginia Preference Survey to the Commission and citizens The students conducted a Visual Preference Survey. The group showed a series of 100 images, each one for approximately 5 seconds, and participants were asked to rank each image based on how they felt about the image. Photos were of buildings, structures, businesses, streetscapes and various architectural features of buildings. The ranking system was from -3 (least s. liked) to 3 (most liked). The goal of the exercise was to get a general feeling of what kinds of (architectural) features were appealing to Fincastle. A broader goal is to develop design standards based on these preferences so that future development and redevelopment in town will be complimentary to the existing structures and environment. At a follow-up Commission meeting on April 16 , the students up discussed the results of the survey with the Commission. Preferences included unique and tasteful architecture in homes, erences diversity of styles in both residential and commercial structures, walkable streets and well thought-out landscaping. The thought Commission will be conducting several additional meetings (yet to be scheduled) and hope to develop some design standards in uled) the near future. For a look at what types of development scored high and what scored low, please see the next page. page
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Planning Commission, Virginia Tech Students work on Visual Preference Survey

The Planning Commission rolled up its sleeves and started work on its next project in April. Under the Direction of Virginia Tech Professor Diane Zahm, a group of students conducted a Visual rd Preference Survey at the Planning Commissions April 3

These two developments (above and below) scored among the best (highest) of the photos.

These two developments (above and below) scored among the worst (lowest) of the photos

Town Honors Retiring Attorney

At its April 17, 2012 meeting, the Town Council honored Mr. Wilburn Dibling Jr., who is retiring at the end of April. Dibling, an attorney with Gentry Locke Rakes and Moore, has been working with the Town as its attorney on a variety of legal matters over the last 8 years. During that time, Mr. Dibling (once the City of Roanokes legal counsel) brought his considerable experience with local government to assist the town in a number of issues. During his time representing the Town of Fincastle, Mr. Dibling has advised three Mayors, the Town Council, Town Manager and several committees on various matters related to Town business, which included working with Santillane, Frontier Developers, Moore Investments, Central Water Company and Botetourt County on a developers agreement for water and sewer services and a water system interconnect; helping the Town in its assumption of the upgraded wastewater treatment plant, reaching an agreement with the Central Water Company on a water service area for the Town, amending the Town Charter and receiving approval of such from the State Legislature; and working with the Town on a boundary adjustment attempt.

Other Town Projects on the Horizon

Making good use of the help offered by Virginia Tech, the Town is embarking on a cooperative project with Historic Fincastle, Inc. Under the guidance of HFI, a group of students is developing a smart phone/IPad application that will allow visitors to (continued on top of page 3)

Town Council member Alan Brenner, left, presents a Resolution of Appreciation to Wilburn Dibling, Jr. (Town projects on the horizon, from page 2)

conduct their own self-guided tours of Fincastle. They will utilize a website that will host information, photos, and hopefully at sometime, videos about all of the historic structures throughout Town. The Historic Fincastle Walking Tour currently has 36 structures in town featured! Visitors can then use this information to conduct their own tour around town and learn about its rich history. As an added bonus, the Town hopes to erect signage with QR codes throughout the tour area. An example of a QR code is shown in the photo below. Visitors with smart phones and IPads can scan the code, and their device will automatically use the host website to bring up information about the structure they are currently standing in front of.

Town Streets Supervisor Gordon Tallaksen has been maintaining the park for many years, and always makes sure it is in tip top shape. Thanks for the help Gordon! The park is available by reservation for special events and occasions for a minimal fee of $35. You can reserve the park by calling 473-2200.

QR codes similar to this example will be used to privide visitors with digital information on sites in town trhough their smartphones of Ipads As the Town moves forward with the sidewalk grant construction project this summer, received approval from the Virginia Department of Transportation to pay for and erect these signs as part of the grant. It is anticipated that the first signs will be constructed along the sidewalk route. Fincastle Streets Supervisor Gordon Tallaksen poses with the Best Park award at the entrance to Springwood Park.

Council Hopes to Start Sidewalk Construction this Summer

Town Council is hopeful to start construction of the new sidewalks in Town this summer. As of today, the Town has received approval of $440,000 (Phase 1 and 2) in funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for the project, which involves demolishing existing sidewalks, leveling the walkways to street level, and installing the new sidewalk and curb and gutters. With the assistance of Hill Studios, the Town has submitted bid documents to VDOT representatives for their review and approval. Once the approval is received, per State and Federal requirements, the Town will advertise to solicit bids for the project. As is the case with programs of this sort, there is a formal submittal, review and approval process that the Town must follow. (Please see Sidewalks, top of page 4)

Springwood Park Voted Among Best Parks in Botetourt View

Readers of the Botetourt View recently voted Fincastles Springwood Park as the Bronze winner for the best Park in Botetourt. Located at the corner of Jefferson Street and Back Street, the picturesque park has a small creek running through it, picnic area several benches and a gazebo. It is a local favorite for family and engagement photos, and regularly hosts special groups and events such as weddings. Known historically as Big Spring, it was a public watering hole for many years. It was part of the land granted by King George III to Israel Christian, who included it in the original boundaires of Fincastle in 1770.

(Sidewalks, from page 3) Phase 1, the initial part of the project, will involve tearing up and installing new sidewalk on the south side of West Main Street, from the Fincastle Pharmacy to the old Baptist Church at the corner of West Main and Church Streets. Subsequent phases will connect the downtown to Breckenridge Elementary School, along Main Street and Monroe Street. As construction gets closer, the Town staff will provide updates to the project.

Map showing the proposed sidewalk improvements linking downtown Fincastle to Breckenridge Elementary School

Towns pull Together with County in Attempt to Bring Film Crew to Botetourt
As most folks already know last month a film company called Life Out Loud Films, was searching for a locale to film an upcoming movie based on a book by David Baldacci, Wish You Well. What folks may not know is that hosting the film crew and chauffeuring them around Botetourt County was a tremendous amount of work, headed by Lisa Moorman and Catherine Herlocker of the Botetourt County Tourism Department. Lisa and Catherine had a lot of help, from representatives of all three towns in the County and many citizens. When the film scouting crew finally arrived, Lisa and Catherine had mapped out their entire day, looking at a huge number of buildings, locales, and recreational sites, and meeting with all sorts of people throughout the County. At the conclusion of the tour, a reception was held at the Kyle House in Fincastle. It was well-attended and there were representatives from all three towns and the Board of Supervisors. While Botetourt County ultimately lost out on the project, it gained through a strong and united community effort to promote this place we call home. And perhaps it may open the door to other opportunities in the future.

Board of Supervisors member Terry Austin poses with Sara Elizabeth Timmins and Chinah Jewell of Life out Loud Films at the Kyle House

Did you know?

The Town spent approximately $912 last year on electricity for the Christmas lights? The Town spent $1,332 last year on beautifying town through the placement of planters and plants?