Carilion Clinic is borrowing up to $400 million worth of bonds from the 麻花视频 Economic Development Authority to finance and refinance projects, including the recently finished Crystal Spring Tower, according to city documents.
Goat weed-eaters, multi-million-dollar pavement plans, and costs of cleanup after Hurricane Helene were also on the 麻花视频 City Council agenda Tuesday afternoon.
The city council approved the $400 million bond issuance for Carilion on a 5-0 vote. Councilman Phazhon Nash recused himself as an employee of Carilion Clinic, and Mayor Joe Cobb was absent traveling with family.
鈥淚 just wanted to make sure that our citizens all understand that this does not put the city of 麻花视频 and our citizens responsible for any repayment of these bonds,鈥 said Councilwoman Evelyn Powers.
Rather, the city鈥檚 economic development authority is allowed by state law to facilitate 鈥渢he financing or refinancing of certain projects required or useful for health care purposes,鈥 according to city documents.
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Carilion Clinic opened its new Crystal Spring Tower, which is 12 stories tall and 500,000 square feet, in June. Hospital officials said the project cost $500 million.
Of the newly issued bonds, at least $200 million will finance a portion of that new tower, plus the adjacent new parking garage. At least $110 million will refund bonds issued as far back as 2005, according to documents.
Carilion Clinic is borrowing up to $400 million worth of bonds from the 麻花视频 Economic Development Authority to finance and refinance projects, including the recently finished Crystal Spring Tower, according to city documents.
Similarly, the city also issued bonds last month to Virginia Lutheran Homes for up to $40 million. Those bonds will be used to expand the independent living facilities at the Brandon Oaks retirement community.
On other city matters, bleating goats could be the solution to overgrown vegetation at the steeply sloped Valley Avenue Park in Wasena, said City Manager Valmarie Turner. Invasive plant species are persistently growing along the park鈥檚 retaining wall, she said.
鈥淒ue to challenging terrain, traditional brush removal is both difficult and hazardous,鈥 Turner said. 鈥淎s an alternative, the parks department is exploring a partnership with a local contractor that uses goats for targeting grazing.鈥
If successful, the goat weed-eaters could be used every six to eight months at the pocket park, and their use could be expanded to other difficult locations, she said.
Vice Mayor Terry McGuire said he could imagine a use for goats up on Mill Mountain Park land as well.
鈥淚鈥檓 super excited for this goat project,鈥 McGuire said. 鈥淭hat might be something we could reuse in some of our other parks that get really overgrown.鈥
Also during the city council meeting Tuesday, the city accepted payment of $21.4 million from the Virginia Department of Transportation鈥檚 annual street payment program.
The money will pave 1,066 total lane miles across the city鈥檚 quadrants, according to city documents. It鈥檚 $1.5 million more than 麻花视频 expected to receive from the state fund this year, Turner said.
鈥淭hat can be directed towards paving, equipment and other street maintenance needs,鈥 Turner said.
The city further requested $10 million from VDOT for curb, gutter, sidewalk and drainage projects, which would require a $10 million match from the city.
Public Works Director Ross Campbell said sidewalk placement is based on the parks department鈥檚 goal for all residents to be within a 10-minute walk from parks, libraries and bus stops.
鈥淲e have a significant backlog of curb, gutter and sidewalk,鈥 Campbell said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also looking at economic factors as well, and prioritizing those neighborhoods where walking is more of a necessity for daily life than a luxury, to make sure that we are getting those sidewalks where they are most needed and most beneficial.鈥
Impacts from Hurricane Helene, which happened one year ago this month, cost the city government $163,000, documents show. The city applied for reimbursement from FEMA, mostly to cover the cost of debris removal, as well as for work on the Wiley Drive low water bridge along the 麻花视频 River Greenway, documents said.
The city is paying for $560,000 worth of fire safety equipment, tools and training, using a state grant that all fire departments receive annually, Fire/EMS Chief Dave Hoback said.
The 麻花视频 City Council next meets at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 15. The public meetings are hosted inside the municipal building and are broadcast live and available for replay on the city鈥檚 YouTube page.
