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After months of work to rid Victoria of dilapidated, vacant houses, three blighted properties are almost ready to be removed, and a fourth has been donated to the town.

Town Manager Rodney Newton told the Victoria Town Council Tuesday, June 9, that Dominion Virginia Power had disconnected electrical service from the properties at 1907 10th Street, 1600 Virginia Ave. and 1606 Virginia Ave. Century Link has been contacted to remove telephone lines.

The removal of the homes will begin as soon as other town projects are completed, according to the minutes from the June 9 meeting of the Town Council.

Newton also reported the town has received the property at 1700 Needham Drive through a deed gifted to the town. The town is working to clean up the property and may sell it in the future.

In other business brought before the Town Council at the Tuesday, June 9, meeting:

 

• The town approved the sale of public property at 1418 6th Street to Southern Dominion Health System for $70,000.
• Newton informed the council that a 1997 Chevrolet that had been declared surplus earlier was replaced by a 2019 Chevrolet 2500 four-wheel drive pickup truck. Newton said the new truck is better suited for pulling loads. Savings in the 2020 budget were used to fund the purchase of the truck.
• Lunenburg County has received its share of CARES funding. The towns of Victoria and Kenbridge are expected to get a share of the money. The town is expected to use the funds to reimburse the placement of plexiglass in the customer service areas of Town Hall. The cost of equipment to provide internet service in the park for students may also be reimbursed.
• Newton received permission from the council to work with the IDA and finance committee to use funds from the sale of town property at 1418 6th Street to make repairs to the roof at the old STEPS building at 300 Court St.
• The town is beginning the process of changing to automated water meter readings.
• Emergency funding totaling $33,348 was received for dam safety inspection, emergency plan development and dam break inundation zone analysis mapping and digitization. Newton is evaluating the cost of the project and planning to select a contractor to complete the work.
• The town’s budget for fiscal year 2021 was approved. There were no employee raises placed in the budget due to the current uncertainty of the economy.
• Newton requested and council approved a 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 truck and a 2007 Chevrolet Impala to be declared as surplus equipment.