At the regularly scheduled Lewisburg City Council meeting on Tuesday, Apr. 17, Girl Scout Troop 1919 made a special presentation.
In order to earn their Bronze Medal, the scouts are wanting to start a blessing box in Lewisburg. A blessing box, they explained, is a box where locals can either take or leave non-perishable food. The animal-proof box would be stocked by the scouts, at first, until it becomes self-sustainable on community members’ donations. Mayor John Manchester agreed to discuss possible box locations with the scouts at a later date, calling it “a generous and thoughtful idea.”
In other news, a public hearing was held for the laying of the levy for the fiscal year 2019. The levy rates have not changed, and Manchester says they haven’t changed since he’s been mayor. The currents rates for Class 1 property is 12 and a half cents per $100, Class II property is 25 cents per $100, and Class IV property is 50 cents per $100. The levy passed unanimously.
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Donna Johns was appointed by the council to fill a vacancy left on the Historic Landmarks Commission left by Tia Bouman. Johns has been appointed to the seat until June 30, 2019.
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The council issued a conditional use permit to Jeffrey Bennett, owner of B&B Towing and Recovery, so he may use 3029 North Jefferson Street for storage for his business, which operates out of Caldwell. Bennett intends to use the space to store leftover materials from his business that will be used for other jobs, as well as vehicles and other work equipment. The materials would be contained behind a fence so they are hard to see, and won’t be an eyesore. Bennett said, “I have no intentions of using it for a junkyard.”
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Manchester issued two proclamations for the month of April, one declaring Friday, Apr. 27 as Children’s Memorial Flag Day, and the other declaring Apr. 3 to be National Service Recognition Day. Children’s Memorial Flag Day is promoted by the Child Welfare League of America to memorialize the thousands of children and teenagers in the United State who die violently each year. The Children’s Memorial Flag has become a recognizable symbol of the need to do a better job of protecting children. There will be a flag ceremony in front of the Greenbrier County Courthouse on Apr. 27 at noon, as they have done in years past, to recognize these children.
The city participated in National Service Recognition Day on Apr. 3 by honoring an AmeriCorps member, Ahleah Boise, who had been working at City Hall for the last year.
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In news from the finance committee, the $2.8 million water fund budget was approved by the council, as well as funds needed to install lights, radios, and other necessary gear in six new police cruisers for a total cost of $18,900. The bid for the installation work on the cruisers was granted to L&W Emergency Equipment.
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The Lewisburg City Council meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Paul R. Cooley Council Chamber. The public is welcome to attend.
