October 2016 Council Agenda-AMENDED

Design Plans for Meadows Development - DRAFT

Please note this is a DRAFT document and updated as additional components are approved and incorporated into draft.

The Meadows, Abingdon, VA

Trolls, Trucks, and Treats- 10-22-16

October 2016 Meeting Notice

NOTICE OF MEETINGS

TOWN OF ABINGDON

Abingdon, Virginia

NOTICE OF MEETINGS

THE ABINGDON TOWN COUNCIL WILL NOT HOLD A MID-MONTH WORK SESSION MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.  THE NEXT WORK SESSION AND REGULAR MEETING WILL BE OCTOBER 3, 2016.

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MEMBERS OF THE ABINGDON TOWN COUNCIL WILL BE ATTENDING THE WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR PARADE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2016 BEGINNING AT 10AM.  

Planning Commission Member Becomes A Virginia Certified Planning Commissioner

TOWN OF ABINGDON, VIRGINIA

Planning Commission Member Becomes A Virginia Certified Planning Commissioner

ABINGDON, VA-- Janice Rice Reeves, a member of the Town of Abingdon's Planning Commission, recently completed the necessary coursework to become a Virginia Certified Planning Commissioner (CPC).  The CPC program provides Planning Commissioners with the necessary legal and technical background to make informed land use decisions.  The program has been nationally recognized for its ability to provide exceptional training to citizen-planners.

The program is held in various locations across the Commonwealth and includes several days of coursework followed by intensive home-study, exams, and required readings.  The ever-changing legislation which regulates the operation of planning programs makes such training invaluable to local commissioners.  The Town of Abingdon has made a conscious commitment to provide this educational opportunity to its Planning Commissioners, Town Council, and staff members.   

For further information, please contact Matthew Johnson, Director of Planning at 276-492-2125 or mjohnson@abingdon-va.gov.

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WREATH LAYING CEREMONIES

WREATH LAYING CEREMONIES

In recognition of General William Campbell and John Broady

In recognition of the service of General William Campbell and John Broady during the American Revolution, specifically at the Battle of Kings Mountain, two wreath laying ceremonies will take place on September 18, 2016.  The program will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Broady Cemetery in Saltville, VA.  Participants and guests will then travel to the Aspenvale Cemetery in Seven Mile Ford where the program will continue at approximately 3:00 pm.

In 1780, William Campbell was Colonel of the Washington County Virginia Militia and John Broady was his man-servant.  When a call was issued for militia to respond to British Major Patrick Ferguson’s threat that, “he would march his army over the mountains, hang their leaders, and lay their country waste with fire and sword,” men from all over the region moved into action.  Under the leadership of Colonel William Campbell, 400 Virginians set out to join patriot militia from modern-day Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.  After a two week campaign, the Overmountain Men fought the Battle of Kings Mountain with overwhelming success.  Thomas Jefferson said it was “the turn of the tide of success which terminated the Revolutionary War, with the seal of our independence”. 

Please join the Black’s Fort Chapter-Daughters of the American Revolution, Royal Oak Chapter-Daughters of the American Revolution, General William Campbell Chapter-Sons of the American Revolution, and the Overmountain Victory Trail Association was we celebrate the lives, achievements, and service of these remarkable patriots.

Directions to the Broady Cemetery from Interstate 81: Take exit 35 and turn onto Highway 107 from the exit ramp going toward Chilhowie.  Drive straight, north from Chilhowie to Saltville, on Highway 107.  Travel approximately 8 miles.  At the first traffic light, turn right onto Highway 91 North.  Go about a mile and turn left onto Battleground Avenue.  You will pass the Saltville Rescue Squad.  At the dead-end of Battleground Avenue, proceed down the dirt lane labeled Broady Cemetery.

Directions to Aspenvale Cemetery from Interstate 81: Take exit 39 and turn toward Seven Mile Ford.  Turn left onto Highway 11 South, Lee Highway, and then turn right onto Seven Mile Ford Road.  The cemetery will be on the right.  (for GPS purposes, use 303 Seven Mile Ford Road, 24354).

If you would like more information about this topic, please call 276-525-1050 or email lhunter@abingdon-va.gov.

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Town of Abingdon, VA Launches Interactive Financial Transparency Platform

TOWN OF ABINGDON, VIRGINIA

TOWN OF ABINGDON, VIRGINIA

Town of Abingdon, VA Launches Interactive Financial Transparency Platform

OpenGov platform engages residents with instant access to budget data

The Town of Abingdon, VA announces the launch of a new digital platform powered by OpenGov that provides residents, elected officials, and staff unprecedented access to the town’s finances. The OpenGov platform transforms complex financial data into an interactive, digital format that enables better analysis and understanding of the town’s finances. The intuitive design makes it easier to explore how taxpayer money is collected and spent. The platform may be accessed at https://abingdonva.opengov.com.

The OpenGov platform displays the past three (3) fiscal years plus the current fiscal year of government spending and revenue detail in a user-friendly portal. Users can view historical revenue and expenditure trends over time and explore multiple views of financial data, including by fund, department, expense, or revenue type. For example, visitors to the platform may answer frequently asked questions such as “What did the town spend on capital improvements over the past three (3) years?” or “How much did the town collect in property tax in the last two (2) years?” and then share that information directly from the platform via email or on social media.

Abingdon is the thirteenth (13^th) organization in Virginia using OpenGov to analyze, share, and compare its financial data. The town led the initiative to make the finances more transparent and understandable.

“This is one of many measures that the Town has taken over the course of the past two years to revamp its finance department and to streamline the public’s ability to access up to date financial information of the Town, free of charge, without having to make a formal request for the same,” said Town Manager, Greg Kelly. “It is my hope that the OpenGov portal will prove to be an effective tool to demonstrate to the public that the Town of Abingdon wants to be as open and transparent as possible regarding its fiscal revenues and expenditures both in its general fund and in its enterprise (Sewer Department) fund.”

Beyond sharing information with the public, the Town of Abingdon, VA can also use OpenGov internally to create custom reports, manage operations to budget, and keep administrators informed. With today’s launch, Abingdon, VA joins a growing list of more than 1,000 leading towns, counties, state agencies, school systems, and special districts across the country that leverage OpenGov technology.

“By making its financial data easily accessible in an intuitive, digital format, the town is demonstrating its commitment to efficient, data-driven and open government,” commented Zac Bookman, CEO and co-founder of OpenGov.

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Agendas for September 2016 Work Session and Regular Council Meetings