By Debbie Adams
Vinton Town Council adopted a resolution awarding the construction contract for the Vinton
War Memorial Park to G & H Contracting, Inc. at the council meeting on June 17. Two bids were
received for the project – one from G & H Contracting and one from KNA Contracting, LLC. The
bids were advertised on April 28 and due on May 27.
G & H Contracting submitted the low bid of $884,730. The town’s engineering firm, Hughes
Associates, Architects, and Engineers, recommended that the town award the contract to G & H.
Vinton Director of Capital Projects Jamie Hurt noted that the construction of the new multi-
generational playground for the Town of Vinton will feature two pickleball courts, a concrete
pad for a skateboard park, sidewalks and site lighting. The project also includes a new handicap
ramp, reworking an existing paved area to accommodate a new parking lot, and repairing,
milling, and overlaying the existing driveway from Meadow Street.
After a public hearing and a briefing from Deputy Town Manager Cody Sexton, council adopted
a resolution amending the Town of Vinton FY2024-2025 budget in the amount of $1,701,649 to:
- fully fund the town’s multi-generational park which council identified as a top priority
- complete HVAC upgrades in the Municipal Building
- for salaries and wages from hiring new staff at a faster pace, separation pay when staff leaves, and PTO buyback costs not covered from vacancy savings
- for unexpected large repairs of Public Works vehicles
- for computers and other electronic equipment in Public Works
- for a Vinton Police UTV for special events and use on the greenways
- for economic development special projects and activities
Revenues for these expenditures are primarily coming from anticipated surpluses in pari-mutuel
taxes, meals taxes, cigarette taxes, interest earnings, and use of fund balance (one-time money).
The Vinton Moose Lodge also donated $10,000 to the Police Department to cover most of the
cost of the UTV.
Sexton noted that amending the budget is a routine procedure each June when the budget is
“cleaned-up” for the current fiscal year in order to address spending overages that have occurred
during the year, to appropriate anticipated surplus revenue, and to fund priority projects. Public
hearings are required when the proposed appropriation exceeds 1% of the town’s budget.
Throughout each fiscal year, town staff monitors revenues and expenditures as compared to the
current year’s budget. Some expenditures have exceeded budget or have been added midyear as
priorities have changed. As a result, staff proposes a series of budget transfers and appropriations
to align the new anticipated revenues with expenditures of immediate impact on the community.
Most of the increased expenditures can be covered by several major revenue streams performing
better than expected. The balance of the park is being covered using fund balance, which is
prudent due to the non-recurring nature of the expense.
The town traditionally budgets conservatively in anticipation of such surpluses and overages.
Assistant Planning and Zoning Director Nathan McClung presented a report from the
Community Development Committee, covering such topics as progress on Gish Mill, the new
hotel, the downtown fire properties, the McClung building, the multi-generational park, Vinton
War Memorial renovations and upgrades, the paving plan for the upcoming year, the Wolf Creek
Greenway restrooms, flood properties, and the events planned for Vinton’s day-long July 4th
celebration.
He also noted that core samples will be collected in a geotechnical report on Third Street to
determine what options are available for repairing the roadway, which was originally gravel and
used for access to the landfill many years ago. Most likely, the road was not built to handle the
weight of traffic it sustains today.
Town Manager Pete Peters reported that in meeting with the developers of the new Vinton hotel,
they are eager to get underway. A formal ground-breaking ceremony will be held soon.
