The Town of Buchanan recently provided Buchanan Interim Town Manager Jon Ellestad’s report from the September meeting of Town Council, providing a comprehensive update on recent town activities and ongoing initiatives. New Town Manager Timothy Mack takes over officially October 14.
The financial summary of this year’s town carnival was nearly finalized, showing a strong profit of $70,644. However, some issues remain unresolved, including delays in receiving a check from Pepsi for returned sodas. Efforts are ongoing to address this.
Buchanan renewed its contract with Lamar Advertising for the town’s entryway billboard. While the annual rental cost has increased by 4.3%, the fee for changing the billboard designs remains unchanged. The current plan includes rotating six different billboard messages throughout the year to promote the town.
Infrastructure improvements continue with the successful installation of a new pump at the Southview pump station. This milestone means that all pumps across the town’s pump stations and treatment plant are now operational and supported by backups, marking a significant step forward in utility reliability.
Maintenance in the town warehouse revealed issues with the walk-in freezer, which had been leaking air and causing condensation. During the repair, technicians uncovered additional problems that were promptly addressed. However, it was noted that the compressor and fan are significantly outdated and in need of replacement. The estimated cost for this upgrade is approximately $12,000.
Progress has also been made on the financial front, with a draft of the Fiscal Year 2024 audit now in hand. Finalization is expected by early October. It is anticipated that the council will hear directly from Scott Wickham, the lead auditor, upon its completion. In preparation for the next cycle, engagement letters for the Fiscal Year 2025 pre-audit and formal audit have been signed with Clearpointe and Robinson, Farmer, Cox, respectively. The hope is that this audit cycle will proceed more efficiently than the previous one.
Attention has also been directed toward the town’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) policy. The current policy allows charges for time spent responding to FOIA requests but lacks clear guidance on when fees should be applied. This has resulted in inconsistent application over the years. A revision is being considered to provide more clarity and uniformity.
Concerns about safety near a town easement between 225 and 259 Lowe Street were also addressed. The property owner at 225 had long expressed concern over dead trees posing a risk to buildings on his property. Over a recent weekend, those trees were removed by a contractor to prevent future damage.
In a positive development for the town’s cultural programming, final approval was received from the National Park Service for a $25,000 grant to expand live music events in 2026. The funding will support the launch of the “Buchanan by the River Music Series,” which will add two new events — “Ragtime by the River” and “Rockabilly by the River” — to complement existing favorites “Reggae by the River” and “Mountain Magic.”
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
