Martinsville City Council approved an amendment to the ordinance for the Martinsville Land Bank Authority at its February 27 meeting.
Community Development Director Keith Holland said the amendment request on the ordinance is being done on an emergency basis “because it is an urgent matter.”
The Land Bank Authority was originally established by the council in 2018. At that time, the council appointed its members to the Land Bank Authority.
“In the opinion of our city attorney, that was not the proper, council cannot serve on a body like that,” Holland said.
There are five people who have been recommended for appointment to the authority.
“We’re hoping to try to get the Land Bank together in early March as soon as we can get confirmation from everyone. We’re going to have some lead time to publish the public meeting notice at least three days in advance,” he said. “So, we’re hoping to accomplish this by the end of next week.”
Holland said the purpose of reestablishing the Land Bank is because the city has few properties, including 201 Aaron Street, which is the property intended for the Aaron Mills Senior Housing project, “that is deeded in the name of the Land Bank Authority.”
Holland said the Lank Bank would have to be established and then vote to transfer those properties to the Martinsville Redevelopment Housing Authority, which then would transfer it to the project developer.
Typically, the council requires two readings to approve an ordinance. However, it can be approved on one reading as an emergency basis.
City Attorney Paul Jacobson, of Sands Anderson, said the city charter states an ordinance is not to be passed the same day it is introduced unless all members present vote that an emergency exists, and the ordinance as written makes that finding.
Additionally, “it’s not to take effect for 10 days after the day of passage unless the majority of those voting pass it as an emergency to take effect immediately. And again, that language is in there,” he said.
Vice mayor Aaron Rawls said he thinks this is a very old issue that is being dug back up to solve.
“We’ve kind of run into this since” City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides “has been here. A 1950s era charter, literally, is when most of our charter language was adopted. So, these things are painful. I’m not an expert at this and we only have to do it once in our lives,” he said.
Vice Mayor Aaron Rawls said all this will do is change the folks who are going to be making decisions about properties in the city.
“But it will still be within the city,” he said.
Ferrell-Benavides said the goal for the Land Bank is not long range.
In other matters, the council:
*Approved a resolution for the Aaron Street property donation as the Martinsville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (MHRA), and authorized a letter committing $500,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as a low interest three percent loan to support the project.
The council also authorized the transfer of the property to Mid-Atlantic Foundation, which then would donate the property back to Aaron Street Lofts, LLC, as a capital contribution. All actions will be effective upon the transfer of the property from the Martinsville Land Bank Authority to the MHRA.
*Approved an extension of sales agreement for 90 days with Kayak Hotel Group, who is developing the Holiday Inn Express on Commonwealth Street. Holland said the group had some delays in submitting its erosion and sediment control plan to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
“Their sales contract expires on the 28th of this month, and it could be 60 days before they hear back from DEQ. So, they’ve asked to extend the due diligence period in the sales contract for 90 days to May 28,” he said.
Barry Nelson, president of Autos by Nelson, was recognized as the 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year for Virginia.
An amendment to the agreement will also need to be approved by the Martinsville Industrial Development Authority.
*Recognized Barry Nelson, president of Autos by Nelson, as the 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year for Virginia.
*Approved the state grant appropriation, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Commitment and Signatory resolution, and the budget calendar as part of the consent agenda.
*Heard an update on ARPA funding.
*Approved the Wheat and Grass Ordinance after the second reading.
*Heard from Leroy Spencer Hairston Jr. about light bills.
*Heard comments from the council.
*Heard comments from the city manager.
*Heard a monthly finance update from Director of Finance Mandy McGhee.
