Vinton Town Council may have set a record for brevity with its meeting on September 19, which lasted just over half an hour.
Mayor Brad Grose noted that Vinton has been asked by the Family Violence Coordinating Council to participate in this year’s 10th annual domestic violence awareness walk, “A Walk in Their Shoes,” and to proclaim October as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” The Walk will be held on Friday, Oct. 13 at noon at Wells Fargo Plaza in downtown Roanoke.
The organization is hoping “to bring a larger presence to be inclusive of all jurisdictions in the Roanoke Valley.”
Vinton First Aid Crew Chief Wayne Guffey presented the monthly report on First Aid Crew activities. In August, the volunteer hours were 457 out of a possible 468 for 98 percent service. A unit was in service 100 percent of the volunteer time. The Medic Truck was marked up 92 percent of the time, providing Advanced Life Support services. The Fractile Response time of the Vinton crew remains excellent at 9.22 minutes. The crew recorded 1,916 man-hours for the month of August. There were 133 transports in August, combining career and volunteer members.
The Vinton First Aid Crew has 50 members: 27 EMTs, 1 Advanced EMT, 13 Medics, 8 in training, and 1 driver only. Numbers are down slightly due to one volunteer heading off to college at Virginia Tech, one moving to Oregon, and one joining the Air Force.
Chief Guffey told council that an EMS Academy is in the works to begin early next year, to include EMT classes.
He reminded council that September is Recruitment Month for the Vinton First Aid Crew and that they will be hosting an open house on September 24 from 2 to 6 p.m. to showcase their building and services and to talk with potential recruits, as well as the general public. There will be food and activities for the children.
Planning and Zoning Director Anita McMillan asked council to adopt a resolution authorizing Town Manager Barry Thompson to execute an agreement with the VDOT Office of Intermodal Planning to receive a $65,000 Tier 3 Planning Grant. The grant would provide consultant services to assist the town in revising outdated zoning and subdivision codes. No match is required from the town.
“This would be difficult to do on our own,” said Councilman Keith Liles in supporting the resolution along with other council members.
McMillan briefed council on a Notice of Intent to Award Engineering Services to Hurt & Proffitt for the Glade Creek Greenway Phase 2 Project. The proposed greenway will consist of a 10-foot wide, paved, off-road, ADA-accessible, bicycle/pedestrian trail. The project will include 3,060 linear feet of trail, a trailhead at Gus Nicks Boulevard, and a crossing under the Norfolk Southern Railway trestle with an overhead protection shelter. The Glade Creek Greenway is envisioned to run from Tinker Creek Greenway to Vinyard Park and eventually connect to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Action will be taken at a future council meeting.
Council will next meet on October 3 at 7 p.m.
