Town Council Reviews Project Updates; Appointments

Pulaski logoBy David Quesenberry

Patriot Publishing

At its first meeting of the New Year held last Tuesday night, the Pulaski Town Council received several updates on department operations, ongoing projects, and made appointments to Town boards and committees.

Fire Department Update

The first update was from Chief Jeff Conner on the Pulaski Fire Department activities for 2025. Chief Conner said that the last year the Department answered 863 calls for service. Of the total number of calls, the Department answered 73 fires, which was a 28 percent increase from 2024, and answered 352 EMS calls which was a 29 percent increase from last year. Volunteer and career staff completed 2224 hours of operational training, while the Fire Marshall completed 1054 hours of investigative, inspector and instructor classes. In addition the Fire Marshal had 163 inspections, 13 investigations and eight school presentations in the school system.

The Department had 10 new volunteer recruits added in 2025, seven of which left in good standing for college, the military and other pursuits and one new career staff member. For special events the department participated in the “Night to Shine” event at New Hope Church and a Red Cross’ Smoke Detector event, which resulted in 44 residents being served and 61 new alarms installed in the Southwest side of the Town. Chief Conner said he hoped the program would continue and would be done in a different quarter of the Town. The Department’s new engine should be arriving in a week or two with 99 percent of the additional equipment needed already in. In addition, notification was received that the Department had received a $3,600 grant for new forestry gear.

Vice-Mayor Brooks Dawson, presiding over the meeting, asked about the increase in the number of fires. Chief Conner responded that January 2025 was quite cold and there were several brush fires at that time. Councilman Jeremy Clark asked why it took so long to get the new engine. Connor said it was taking time to get the equipment for the unit in since manufacturers were taking a longer time to make the equipment, since they did not keep it in stock.

Kersey Bottom Acquisition Project

Council next heard on the Kersey Bottom property acquisition project from Nathan Smythers, Building Official and Zoning Administrator. Smythers said that letters had been sent to property owners affected by the project. Contact with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) during the review process led to the grouping of the properties into three categories: participating properties, which is now the focus; substitution properties, which may be brought into the project if a participating property should withdraw; and withdrawal properties that are no longer in the project.

With FEMA still doing its review, Smythers told Council that the budget data for the project would slightly change due to the number of parcels associated with each address. Councilman Joel Burchett asked when demolition of the properties would start. Smythers responded that since the application was filed two years ago and that FEMA was conducting its review, he could not say. Burchett then asked about refurbishing the area for things like a park after work was completed. Smythers responded that the properties had to stay open green space, but parks were a possibility for the green spaces since no structure be put back. Burchett then asked if the refurbishing of the green spaces was included in the finances for the project. Funds for the project Smythers responded, could only be used for purchase and demolition of the structures.

Councilman Steve Ericson asked about the process for deciding which properties would be on the substitution properties list. Smythers said that a firm, the Olsen Group, came in and collected data on each property. The assignment of properties was made based on the data and the application submitted to VDEM. Erickson wondered in the flood area how one property owner could participate and another did not. Smythers said if the properties did not participate, the Town could look purchasing those properties in the future.

Brownfield Grant

Council was then briefed on the Town’s Brownfield grant by Shannon Ainsley, Economic Developer. Ainsley reported that the Town had received a $500,000 EDA Brownfield Assessment grant to assess central brown field sites in the Town of Pulaski through Phase I or Phase II environmental surveys. The sites under consideration lay along Pulaski’s main corridors. She reported that the Town’s project officer and contractors had toured the sites with her earlier in the day. The sites under consideration were old or abandoned filling stations and former automotive dealerships.

Ainsley reported that she had been in contact with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about the Magnox site. To date there had been some small assessments on this property and a court ordered cleanup of materials left by the last business to occupy the facility. Both DEQ and EPA are evaluating the site for brown field eligibility.

The assessments are funded by DEQ and EPA with no Town funds involved. Four different funding sources were being looked at during the meeting. The first one was the $500,000 EPA brown field assessment grant which the Town has received for the locations previously mentioned. The Town had applied for a VDEF grant from DEQ which it has not yet heard from. DEQ also has funds from EPA available to assist the Town. Also available is the Targeted Brownfield Assessment program (TAB) in which the EPA would do assessments to get the property back in use.

Challenges at the Magnox property include: industrial contamination of the site; concrete; the size of the property (18 acres); and the location itself which is nearly surrounded by water and the railroad. There is a bridge accessing the site which is being evaluated. Assessments of the site will move it towards mitigation of challenges and ultimately to reuse. The current strategy is to break down the property into manageable sections performing assessments and mitigation on each section. The best first section Ainsely said, would be the parking area having the least amount of contamination and easier access than other sections. Discussion then continued concerning ownership of the parcel and the potential for conducting assessments of the general site.

Memorandum of Agreement

Following the presentation, Council considered approval of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Pulaski Police Department and the Pulaski County on the use of funds from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority. Katie Thompson, Director of the Pulaski County Office of Prevention and Recovery told Council that the funds of approximately $72,000 would only be available through June 30, 2026. Funding was from a collaborative grant involving five New River Valley groups that consisted of “rollover funds” from the previous fiscal year. The funds can be used for “wrap around services” to provide temporary or emergency access to services for citizens who are: active users of illegal drugs; in recovery; or are at risk of active use. Funds could be used for accessing medical treatment or substance abuse treatment; basic needs such has housing, food, clothing; medical supplies; or basic transportation. The Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office was contacted since they have the most contact with distressed individuals who can be covered under these services. Officers spending funds to assist these persons would be reimbursed from the funds available.

Sonia Ramsey, Administrative Manager to the Chief of Police explained to Council that the funds would be handled in the fashion of a grant. Any receipts for money spent under the program would be turned in to the Police Department, who in turn would submit the receipt to the County for reimbursement.

Following discussion, Council approved the Memorandum of Agreement for the Police Department to participate in the program.

Aid to Localities Program

In other action, Council approved a resolution to permit the Fire Department to participate in the Aid to Localities Program. Chief Conner told Council that funding from the state was dependent upon insurance premiums of each locality at the level of one percent of the premium. This rate had not changed in many years and normally resulted in $50,000 for the Pulaski Fire Department (PFD). Due to the financial hardships suffered by departments in Southwest Virginia, an increase in the premium assessment of two percent was sought as well as to take into consideration the poverty rates in rural SWVA departments. Council voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

Council also appointed Lisa Webb and Marlin Reeves to the Economic Development Authority and John Seagle to the Cemetery Board of Trustees.

The next scheduled meeting of the Pulaski Town Council will be a 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 in the Council Chambers of the Town Municipal Building at 42 First Street, S.W.