Town Council

The monthly Town Council meeting was held on November 9, 2021. The meeting agenda can be viewed here.

A letter was presented to Town Council from Phillip Bevins to request Town Council consider waiving personal property tax on one automobile for citizens that are active duty military personnel.

The monthly Town Council meeting was held on September 14, 2021. The meeting agenda can be viewed here.

Venus Laney, representing Southwest Virginia Community College’s Workforce department, announced a service hospitality training session set for Monday, October 25, 2021 from 9 am – 11:30 am. This free training is made available through a partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Town of Tazewell, and Tazewell County. Registration is required and can be done by clicking here.

The monthly Town Council meeting was held on August 10, 2021. The meeting agenda can be viewed here.

• Amanda Hoops, Executive Director of Tazewell Today, requested approval for usage of their current ABC license for Cruise In events
• Town employees Angie Buchanan and Jessica Hayes were introduced to Town Council
• Local business owner Jaimal Viney expressed his concerns regarding permits for his business
• Micheal Tanck, of Spectrum, updated Town Council about service issues with local customers

Town Council welcomed Renee Adair and her new business, Adair Behavioral Services, LLC. It is an applied behavior analysis clinic that serves children with autism, developmental delays, or conduct disorders. For more information, you can find them on Facebook here or through their website here.

The monthly Town Council meeting was held on July 13, 2021. The meeting agenda can be viewed here.

Manny Elswick, Executive Director Project 13Three, appeared before Town Council to obtain a banquet license for a fundraiser for Project 13Three to be hosted at Clinch Mountain Motor Works. Project 13Three is non-profit organization with a goal of addressing the complex needs of local inmates and their families as they work toward “probation requirements, job readiness, transportation, housing, mental health screening, and a wide range of other assistance” (more information available on their website here).

Robin Brewster updated Town Council, on behalf of Charity Hurst, about the upcoming T-Town Triathlon. The triathlon will be held on Saturday, August 14, at Lincolnshire Park. The competition will feature two exciting options – a Sprint Triathlon (750 yard swim/15.6 mile run/3.1 mile run) and a Duathlon (1.5 mile run/15.6 mile bike/3.1 mile run). Registration online is available here.

The monthly Town Council meeting was held on June 8, 2021. The meeting agenda can be viewed here.

Mayor Michael Hoops and Town Council recognized recent Tazewell High School graduate, Margaret Anne Ridlehuber, on her acceptance into the United States Air Force Academy. 

Mayor Hoops also recognized new business owner, Amber Hurley. Amber recently opened Clearsight Eye Care optometry services, which is located at 284 Ben Bolt Avenue. You can find more on Amber’s business on her Facebook page and website.

The monthly Town Council meeting was held on May 11, 2021. The meeting agenda can be viewed here.

Town Council voted unanimously to support the donation request from Tazewell Torpedoes Coach Leanne Thomas.

The monthly Town Council meeting was held on April 13, 2021. The meeting agenda can be viewed here.

There were no special presentations at the April meeting.

The monthly Town Council meeting was held on March 9, 2021. The meeting agenda can be viewed here.

Town Council recognized Tazewell High School senior Josh Herndon for his recent win of the VHSL Class 2 state wrestling championship held in Salem, Virginia. Mayor Michael Hoops congratulated Josh and praised his determination, along with his family and Coach Deacon Young.

Regina Sayers, Executive Director of Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens, updated Town Council on a recent grant opportunity. AASC was rewarded a grant from the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center to provide non-emergency medical transportation to area senior citizens. This pilot program will run through May and will continue on for an additional 6-9 months through a generous concurrent award from American Electric Power. Regina also reported that the Falls Mills Adult Day Center project is 99% complete and the hiring process is set to begin for its planned opening.

Amanda Hoops, Executive Director of Tazewell Today, updated Town Council on upcoming events and requested Town Council’s permission for Tazewell Today to pursue the retail ABC licensing needed for the First Fridays event series. The license would permit patrons of restaurants in the mapped district to purchase to-go beverages to consume while enjoying outdoor concerts held on Main Street. A full schedule of fun events will be released shortly.

Town of Tazewell’s Recreation Director, Ben Rosado, updated Town Council on the fundraising efforts for renovations of Lincolnshire Park’s playground. Sponsorships are now open for citizens, businesses, and organizations to show their support for this exciting project. The goal needed to complete the project is estimated at $350,000.

The monthly Town Council meeting was held on February 9, 2021. The meeting agenda can be viewed here.

Flora Sinkford, Dispatcher and Administrative Assistant of the Town of Tazewell’s Police Department, organized an excellent presentation for Town Council in honor of Black History Month. Flora stated that often the focus is on the national level and she wanted to shift that to honor black men and women who contributed greatly to their local communities.  Minnie Holley Barnes, known affectionately to those that knew her as Miss Minnie, taught generations of Tazewell youth as an educator and was recognized by Flora for her contributions. From her nationally recognized leadership in Girl Scouts to the books she authored, such as Glimpses of Tazewell through the Holley Heritage, Minnie’s life lessons shaped the lives of generations that followed. Fellow Girl Scouts and leaders Brenda Davis, Elena Combs, and Wanda Smith, shared their memories of Minnie with Town Council. 

Flora also recognized the contributions of George M. Dickerson as a civic leader, established author and poet, as well as a mentor. George’s granddaughter, Jeanette Wilson, read his famous poem, Tazewell Town. Jeanette’s family was blessed with several generations of poets whose rhythms not only reflect their daily lives and stories, but also of men with a dream of equality for all.  Local resident and widow of coach “Lou” Peery, Sandra Peery, was also a special guest speaker and spoke of her own personal difficulties and triumphs as she left segregation at Tazewell County High School to integrate with Pocahontas High School in ninth grade. Flora and Councilman Dr. Terry Mullins discussed a historical photo that was given to Flora by a former area resident. Though there is no formal history known for the photo, it depicts community members gathered aside one another at a location suspected to be the Tazewell Female Seminary once located on Fincastle Turnpike.

Jim Higginbotham, the first black Deputy for Tazewell, and later Chief of Police, was also honored. Flora shared a story of his strength in character, noting he once had to lead a Ku Klux Klan procession after receiving a formal request from the racist group to march through Tazewell’s Main Street. Jim explained at the time that he could not deny them their right to assemble, but that he did have the power and authority to demand their faces not be hidden from public view while they did so.