By Wytheville Mayor Beth Taylor
Fellow Citizens,
I hope that each of you enjoyed a delightful holiday season filled with enjoyable time spent with family and friends. Here’s hoping that 2024 will be a happy and healthy year for all citizens of our wonderful community.
To begin this month’s column, there are two important messages from our Public Safety Departments.
From the Wytheville Police Department
As another year comes to a close, the Wytheville Police Department wants to extend their deepest gratitude to the exceptional community we serve. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in keeping our Town safe and thriving. Together, we have overcome challenges and celebrated triumphs.
Your partnership with our officers through neighborhood patrols and community events has fostered trust and strengthened our bond. WE appreciate your willingness to share information and concerns, allowing us to be proactive in addressing potential issues.
Your commitment to safety and respect for the law creates an environment where everyone can thrive. We are grateful for your proactive measures to prevent crime and your willingness to cooperate with our officers during investigations.
As we enter the new year, we look forward to continuing our partnership with you. We are committed to:
Maintaining a high level of professionalism and responsiveness to your needs. We strive to be assessable and approachable, always ready to listen and assist.
Prioritizing community engagement and collaboration. We believe working together is the most effective way to build a safer and more prosperous Wytheville.
Investing in our officers and resources to ensure that they are well equipped to meet the challenges of the future. We are dedicated to providing the best possible service to our community.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your unwavering support. We are proud to be a part of this amazing community and look forward to serving you in the year to come.
~ Chief of Police Joel Hash and the entire Wytheville Police Department
From the Wytheville Fire & Rescue Department
As we end the year, we hope that you have a safe and wonderful New Year.
Here are some safety tips to keep you safe:
Test your smoke detectors.
Keep children and pets away from candles.
Keep matches and lighters up high and out of children’s reach.
Do not leave food cooking on the stove unattended.
Remind smokers not to discard cigarettes in or around shrubs and other
flammable vegetation.
Remember to always have a designated driver.
~ Chief of Fire & Rescue Chris Slemp
Events
Save the date! The next “Shred It” event is March 9 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Municipal Building Parking lot at 150 East Monroe Street.
This event is sponsored by a partnership between Truliant Federal Credit Union and the Town of Wytheville.
The Martin Luther King Walk will be held on Jan. 14, from 2 to 3 p.m. It will begin in front of the Bethel Church on Main Street and march down Main Street to the Millwald Theatre.
Historic Millwald Theatre Events for January
Here are some of the events being held at the Millwald during January. Visit https://themillwald.org/ for more information.
January 21: The Drifters
January 25: The Brit Pack
January 26: Sunny Sweeney
Council Actions
December 11, 2023:
Adopted Ordinance No. 1427, an ordinance repealing and replacing Chapter 6, Fire Preservation and Protection; and, amending and reenacting Chapter 9, Offenses – Miscellaneous, Article III. Air Pollution Control by renaming the article and by removing the following sections: Section 9-76; Definitions; Section 9-77. Penalty, Section, 9-78 Authority and Declaration of Policy; Section 9-79. Relationship to State Rules; Section 9-80, Powers and Responsibilities of Air Pollution Control Officer; Section 9-81. Open Burning; Section 9-82. Smoke or other Visible Emissions; and Section 9-83. Emergency Procedure; and, amending and reenacting Chapter 11.
Police, Article III, Alarm Systems, Section 11-44. Penalties for False Alarms, of the code of the Town of Wytheville, Virginia, on first and final reading.
Adopted Ordinance No. 1428, an ordinance establishing a Housing Rehabilitation Zone in the Town of Wytheville, Virginia, on first and final reading.
Approved the request of Virginia Organizing for traffic control to conduct a Martin Luther King Jr. Day March on Sunday, Jan. 14.
Scheduled a Work Session for Monday, Jan. 8, at 4 p.m., in the Council Conference Room to hold a Meet and Greet Session with each of the applicants to be considered for the Wytheville Recreation Commission, the Wytheville Economic Development Authority and the Wytheville Building Code Appeals Board.
Reappointed Ms. Brittney Litton to the Wytheville Recreation Commission for a three-year term which will expire Dec. 31, 2026.
Reappointed Ms. Melissa Crockett to the Wytheville Economic Development Authority for a four-year term that will expire Dec. 12, 2027.
Established the Real Property Tax due date as Jan. 31.
Scheduled a Work Session for Monday, Jan. 22, at 4 p.m. to hear a presentation from Virginia Tech students regarding their project in town.
Canceled the public hearing scheduled for Monday, Jan. 8, at 5 p.m. in Council Chambers to consider a proposed acquisition of property located at 1035 North Fourth Street.
Approved drafting a resolution recognizing the “Christmas to Remember” event for its community involvement.
Conducted a closed meeting for consultation with legal counsel regarding specific legal matters.
I welcome the opportunity to talk to you regarding your ideas and concerns. I can be reached by phone at (276) 223-3356 or via email at [email protected]. Written correspondence may be sent to the Wytheville Municipal Building, 150 E. Monroe Street, Wytheville, VA, 24382.
