Radford Council Gets Updates on Financial Audits
By DAVID QUESENBERRY
Patriot Publishing
Radford City Council received an update on the audits being performed on the City’s finances during its May 11th meeting. City Manager Todd Meredith told Council that all documentation had been submitted to the auditing firm drafting the regular annual audit. Work had also begun on the forensic audit with auditors gathering data from the City’s Constitutional Officers, the Finance Department and Human Resources.
Meredith also told Council that a news article in a regional media had mentioned that the Virginia Commission on Local Government had met the previous Friday and discussed Radford’s “fiscal distress” status, which had been approved by the state’s Auditor of Public Accounts. Meredith explained the article mentioned that the City had addressed some of its issues and was working to implement plans to improve the City’s financial position.
Meredith said that an email from the City requesting more details from the meeting had been sent to the Virginia Commission on Local Government (VCLC) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
Council also reviewed the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Year 2026 Action Plan.
Mayor David Horton said that every 5 years the City is required to submit a consolidated plan to the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) which acts as a framework to identify housing and development priorities under the CDBG program.
In each year of the five year program, the City must submit an annual action plan which summarizes all activities and federal resources used to meet the goals and needs highlighted in the consolidated plan.
Projects for 2026 are funded by the $168,922 allocation received by the City for this year, plus approximately $25,250 carried over from prior funding years.
Past projects for the City funded under this program included among others: emergency home repairs; support for the Women’s Resource Center and New River Community Action and the Rock Road water line extension.
Horton noted that after meetings and solicitation for public comments on the plan for 2026, it appeared that most comments received favored continuing emergency home repairs and weatherization. Due to income guidelines and home ownership requirements, rental properties were not eligible for either emergency home repairs or weatherization services.
Program administrator Melissa Skelton said the City had participated in the program for 22 years and that it had provided a lot of funds for investment into the city. She also told Council that this year was the fifth year of the current program, and that the City must begin work on drafting a new five-year program.
Horton suggested work on the next program could begin in September. After further comments, Council voted unanimously to approve the 2026 Action Plan.
In other business, Council took action on several items on its agenda. It approved several proclamations recognizing the service of first responders and members of the military. Among the groups recognized were police, workers in emergency medical services; public works employees, military veterans, and agencies supporting mental health services.
Council set June 8, 2026 as the date for a public hearing to consider a request from Gary Duncan of GAD Management Inc. to vacate an alley right-of-way on the former Moog Components Group property at 1120 Rock Road.
Council approved the disposition of several vehicles as surplus property. Vehicles included: three RCPD police cars; two Radford Transit buses; and a trailer/camper from the Radford City Sheriff’s Department. According to the memo in the Council packet, the vehicles would be placed on the GovDeals website to be auctioned off. Council voted unanimously to declare the vehicles as surplus and authorized the City Manager to execute any and all paperwork to transfer title of the trailer/camper.
In its final action, Council unanimously approved three appropriation ordinances to incorporate grant funds into the City’s current budget. Approved were: a $5,000 grant from the Best Friends Animal Society for veterinary medicines and spay/neuter services; $3,140 from the state Local Law Enforcement Grant for purchase of 3 Marlin bicycles for the Police Department; and $7,000 in grant funds from the Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Program for the Home Electronic Monitoring Program and salary support for the Community Service Program.
During the Council comments section, Councilman Guy Wohlford made the following remark:
“I wanted to mention that this Sunday, the 17th in Washington D.C., there will be a 250th celebration all day long called Re-dedicate 250. Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and the day is dedicated to prayer, praise, and thanksgiving for our country as one nation under God. God has blessed us as a nation in so many ways, but I feel we are slipping away from those blessings and protections. As a nation we are turning our back on God. I think this is illustrated best by the financial situation in our city that we find ourselves in. On July 2, 2018, the City Council of this city on a four-to-one vote took prayer for the city and the council off the (meeting) agendas. And I believe this has contributed to our blessings and protections being removed by God. I encourage all of our citizens to search their hearts and pray that God will restore his covering over our city.”
Mayor Horton responded, “I think it’s important too that when we talk about personal faith, we keep in mind that faith is practiced in many ways. There’s actually been a prayer asked every night of this City Council. I have prayed every time we’ve gotten together and asked for blessings for our community. So I have to disagree with you a little bit that Gods’ blessings have been removed from our community. We are certainly always open to additional blessings and hopefully things will continue to improve for the city and that those of us who serve and practice our faith individually have that opportunity to do so and to respect those in all forms as we move forward.”
Council then went into Closed Session to discuss four items as permitted by the Code of Virginia. Discussed were: one item under acquisition of real property or disposition of public property concerning the Armory building; two items for discussion on investment of public funds concerning the REDI agreement and consultant services; and one item for consultation with legal counsel concerning revenue sharing litigation.
The next scheduled meeting of the Radford City Council will be at 7:00 pm, Monday, June 8, 2026 in the Council Chambers of the Radford City Hall located at 10 Robertson Street.