Town of Floyd applying for more grants

By Roger Mannon
Staff Writer

The Town of Floyd is again in the hunt for grant money to further a town revitalization project. Already well underway with projects funded by TEA-21 and Community Development Block Grants, the Floyd Town Council approved two more grant applications at the September council meeting Thursday.
Each application will be for $200,000 for properties of Woody Crenshaw currently involved in renovation projects. At public hearings held in conjunction with Thursday’s meeting, no public comment was offered for either grant proposal.
The $200,000 for Village Green would continue work on a former grocery store, being remodeled into an office complex. The grant breakdown is $12,500 on façade work, $167,500 for the loan pool, and $20,000 in administrative costs.
The $200,000 for Village Square is designated for upgrading a former furniture store. The grant breakdown includes $60,000 for façade, $120,000 for the loan pool, and $20,000 in administrative costs.
In other matters, Council voted to not increase the transient occupancy tax rate, also known as the lodging tax. At a public hearing at last month’s meeting, speakers opposed the increase from five to ten percent, saying it was out of line with what is charged in other nearby localities.
“I’m inclined to leave it where it is now,” said Mayor Skip Bishop. Council agreed to leave the rate at five percent, but to reduce from one percentage point to half a percentage point the amount given to innkeepers for collecting the tax.
So while the tax rate will remain the same, the town will realize an increase in revenue from the reduction in the innkeeper’s rate.
Council also decided to cut the amount rebated to local eateries from one percentage point to one-half percentage point for collecting the town’s meals’ tax.
Also on Thursday, Council members were updated on the status of the skunk trapping program in the town limits. Last month the Council approved $500 to hire a trapper to bring the burgeoning skunk population under control in town.
Town manager Mike Maslaney said skunk numbers have been reduced, but the animals are still seen occasionally in town. Councilman Michael Patton asked that the program be continued for another month.
“With a new hotel opening, this is not something that we want visitors and guests to have to deal with,” Patton said. Mark Warren volunteered to help watch the traps.
“Just be sure you don’t get too close to them,” Maslaney said.
As to the hotel, owner Jack Wall said construction delays have moved back the opening date. “Right now it looks like we’ll open officially on October 1.”
Council also backed the idea of applying with the state for Enterprise Zone designation. Maslaney said that is a competitive process with other counties in the Commonwealth.
There are only 20 such designations and several localities are vying for the ones that have just opened up.
Dennis Wagner failed to get a reprieve for the hostas planted in utility strips along the sidewalk in front of his home on Main Street. The issue dates back to 2006, when Wagner and Council members met with the Virginia Department of Transportation.
“My memory of that is VDOT said it violates the Code of Virginia, and if they aren’t removed in 10 days, VDOT will proceed to take action,” Bishop said. “I don’t see where there’s been a change of mind by the Council.”
Wagner said the town is interested in a streetscape project. “Couldn’t you allow them to stay until you get a plan for the streets?”
Bishop said doing so “would set a precedent. People could do all kinds of things to the sidewalk in front of their house.”