Reid promoted to Deputy Town Manager

By DAVID QUESENBERRY

Patriot Publishing 

Pulaski Town Council received updates at its Tuesday night meeting on personnel changes within the Town and project reports from the Town Attorney, Building Official and Economic Developer.

Town Manager Todd Day told Council that Jacqueline Reid, currently Human Resources Director had been promoted to Deputy Town Manager. Day noted the many qualifications that Ms. Reid brings to the job, which include a Bachelor’s degree in business, a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management; and a graduate Certificate in Public Administration and Leadership. She will be receiving her Masters of Public Administration Degree in January.

Day said he was “absolutely impressed” with Reid’s stepping up to help manage the Town’s operations during his recent medical leave. He thanked Reid for her help and added he was looking forward to working with her.

Council received a report from Town Attorney Scott Farthing on current developments regarding the transfer of a 177-acre tract of land on Memorial Drive to SHAH Development. Farthing said the Town is ready to close on the transfer of the property with the developer.

At present the developer is going through the process of confirming the utilities and what he needs to build out the development. It is, however taking time for him to get the confirmation for utilities. Farthing hoped that by the end of the month or sooner, the transfer of the property would be completed.

Councilman Brooks Dawson asked about the timeline for the project. Farthing responded that the developer is still waiting for the utility confirmation. A closing agent is in place. All that is needed is a date when confirmation was received, but that date was still unknown.

Day added that the Town is still finalizing the lane mileage for the VDOT reimbursement and the water supply to the area.

Building and Zoning Administrator Nathan Smythers updated Council on three Planning Commission cases that will be coming to Council for consideration on September 15^th.

The cases heard by the Planning Commission included a rezoning request by SHAH Development for the former clinic at 2460 Lee Highway to be rezoned from Residential Office to B-2 General Business for conversion to mini-warehouses. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the request.

The Commission also considered a request from Good Old Boys Towing and Recovery for a special exception for a junkyard in the I-2 District at 1113 East Main Street. The Planning Commission recommended that the request not be approved.

Also considered was a rezoning request from Richard Showman for a rezoning of 2.13 acres at 1120 Lee Highway from Residential Office to B-2 General Business District to permit operation of a building service business. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the request.

In reference to other projects, Smythers told Council that regarding the battery storage facility on Monte Vista Drive that there had been no further developments since the signing of an agreement with the Town on June 18th.

Concerning demolitions, Smythers said that 530 Northwood Drive and 825 Lee Highway had been demolished. The owner, however directed all inquiries on 809 Lee Highway be directed to legal counsel. Demolition permits for that structure have been issued.

Concerning floodplain property acquisition, Smythers reported that he had received an update from the Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management (VDEM) that the Town’s grant request is under review by the state’s hazard preservation office.

Concerning the VDOT sidewalk project from Washington to Madison, the town received $2.55 million for the project which requires a local match of $511,000. Before work begins the Town wants to look at water and sewer line replacement for that block.

Shannon Ainsely, Economic Developer briefed Council on several projects currently under way. On brown fields, she reported that as part of the $500,000 grant received by the Town, a brown field’s inventory had been prepared to track brownfield sites. Under the Brownfield Assessment Grant, data is gathered about sites to assist their owners with future development options. Re-use plans for the sites will also be part of the assessment. One site has been assessed and two more are marked for assessment.

Concerning the pending demolition of 809 Lee Highway (Deli-Mart), Ainsley said the gas tanks were registered with DEQ and that they might be dealt with through the Brownfields Assessment Grant or the Orphan Tank Fund.

With respect to Magnox, a court order had been issued granting the Town access to the property and allowing it to assess the property. There have been Phase I and II environmental assessments done over the years which will continue. Access to the property remains a problem due to the creek, the railroad and a dilapidated bridge. The Town did receive state funds in June to assess the bridge and evaluate options for safe access. Establishing a safe access to the site will allow heavy equipment to be brought in to assess the property.

Regarding VEGG and the Jefferson School, Ainsley said VEGG has been applying for grants to make better use of the school. The VEGG project is on hold for funding since the school must be rehabbed before it can be occupied. Application for a grant to revitalize the building is underway spearheaded by Virginia Tech, the Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council and the property owner. The purpose of the grant is to make the school the Virginia AgTech Accelerator. A presentation will be made to Council on October 6^th by this group to provide more details on the project.

The next scheduled meeting of the Pulaski Town Council will be at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in the Council Chambers of the Town Municipal Building at 42 First Street, N.W.