1)      Annie Pierce presented updates for the Veterans Memorial Park, which will be located on Virginia Avenue.  The ground has been excavated, the stone markers have been purchased and the flags and poles have been ordered, plans are set for everything else needed at the park.  She explained the layout of the park and their desire to have it partially completed before the 2011 Memorial Day Festival and Parade.  The final phase is planned after more funds are raised through the Christ United Methodist Church Auction in 2011, and donations received.  She explained some ideas for the wall mural include:  A Veterans Parade; Retiring of the Flag; Hats, Helmets, etc. representative of each branch of service; or a Visual History Lists of Wars.  (The design of the art contest winner will be incorporated into the mural as well.)  Mayor Lucas and the Town Council Members expressed their thanks for everyone’s hard work involved with bringing this park into existence, which will honor all Veterans from all wars. 

2)      Received an invitation to an open house for the Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative.  The events will be held on Monday, February 14, 2011 and Tuesday, February 15, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. at the Stanley Fire Hall.  FOIA Meeting Notice - Several Council Members may attend this event. 

3)      Received an invitation to Congressman Cantor’s Annual Local Leaders Appreciation event.  The event will be held on Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at 9 a.m. at Graves Mountain Lodge, located on Route 670 in Syria, Virginia. FOIA Meeting Notice - Several Council Members may attend this event. 

4)      Tabled action on a lease for a sign to be located on Norfolk Southern Railroad property to advertise Town businesses.  Requested the Merchants Association attend the next meeting to answer questions and discuss who will be responsible for paying for this sign. 

5)      Received a thank you card from the Garland Comer family for the Town’s expression of sympathy and for the flowers. 

6)      Received a thank you card from the Shenandoah Lions Club for the Town’s donation to their Christmas Cheer Project.

7)      Received information on the next Business Technology Seminar, which will be held at the Shenandoah Computer Center on March 19, 2011, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.  The seminar is free and open to anyone who has a business or who is thinking of opening a business.  Attendees may pick and choose which seminar topics they are interested in and learn how to create a business logo; create a web banner; create a Face Book account; or create a website.  Register for this free seminar by calling 540-652-8164.  The seminar is open to residents of Page County, Rockingham County, Shenandoah County and surrounding areas.

8)      Received notice the Town will save $7,539.24 a year, with a total savings of $53,088.56 since Council decided to refinance the two (2) SunTrust Loans.     

9)      Received a thank you letter from the Shenandoah Library for the Town’s donation to them.

10)  Requested Work Orders for the following:  water leak on North Fifth Street, near the entrance of the Genie Plant; put down stone where water leak was repaired beside the funeral home.

11)  Heard the Town put down some stone on Trenton Avenue and will request VDOT to make some additional repairs in the future. 

12)  Will request the Page County Landfill waive the fees for tires during spring clean up for the Town.  Many tires have been dumped on the back area of Big Gem Park and these will be removed in the spring.

13)  Received the budget reports through December 2010 for review.

14)  Heard gasoline and cigarettes are available for purchase at the kiosk in front of the old Milnes Market.  Council heard a new owner is planning to take over the store soon and it is supposed to be open 24 hours a day.  Council noted it would be nice to have the store up and running again and a 24 hour operating schedule would be convenient for residents and people driving through Shenandoah.

15)   Parks and Recreation News:  Committee Chairman Sampson reported he met with the Town Parks and Recreation Director recently and completed assessments on all parks in Town.  Their review concluded with a list of 99 items that are needed in the parks.  Some of the items will be completed with inmate labor and others will be completed when funds become available.  Some of the items include building a staircase leading from the parking area to the restroom area at the river park, extending the walking trail, making upgrades to the skate park, etc. 

16)  Heard there will be a Shenandoah Recreation League meeting on Sunday, January 30, 2011, at 5 p.m. at Town Hall to discuss the ball fields and other items.  FOIA Meeting Notice - Members of the Town Council P&R Committee are planning to attend this meeting.

17)  Council will request the Town Attorney to respond on the best way to handle adopting the property maintenance code on our own and to comment on the new laws that went into effect in July 2009 regarding localities dealing with derelict structures.

18)  Received a request to sell a Town owned lot to the adjacent private property owner.  Requested the Town Attorney report on how this matter should handled.