On the agenda: Damascus minutes — License Plate Reader (Sep 8)

DAMASCUS TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes for September 8, 2026
6:00pm Regular Called Council Meeting

Council Members Present: Jeff Buckley, Sammy Campbell, Derwin Creech, Hunter Faust,
and Charles Fields

Absent: Buddy Albro
Also Present:

Katie Lamb, Mayor

Chris Bell, Town Manager

Tuesday Pope, Town Clerk
Shawna Cook, Treasurer

Kermit Turner, Police & Fire Chief

Mayor Lamb called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance and Josh Bass,
Damascus United Methodist Church, gave the invocation.
Mayor Lamb asked for approval of the August 3, 2026, Regular Council Meeting Minutes.
• Mr. Buckley made a motion to approve the Minutes, as presented. Mr. Faust 2nd the motion,
which passed (5-0).
Mayor Lamb asked for approval of the agenda.
•

Mr. Faust made a motion to approve the agenda, as presented. Mr. Creech 2nd the motion,
which passed (5-0).

Public comment period regarding the use of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in Town
limits:
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8.

Carolyn Henderson, S Shady Ave, spoke in support of the ALPR cameras.
Elena Smith, Bowlin St, spoke in opposition of the ALPR cameras.
Sherri Keene, S Shady Ave., spoke in opposition of the ALPR cameras.
Eleanor Goodrich, Bowlin St, spoke in opposition of the ALPR cameras.
Lee Borg, Chestnut Mtn Rd, spoke in opposition of the ALPR cameras.
Pat McCartin, E Laurel Ave, spoke in opposition of the ALPR cameras.
Chris Lambert, Piper Rd, spoke in opposition of the ALPR cameras.
Mayor Lamb read a letter from John Berry, Bluff Hollow Rd, who suggested possibly
enforcing/implementing stronger data safeguards instead of altogether discarding the
resource that ALPR cameras offer to criminal investigations.

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Chief Turner stated that the Flock ALPR system is a good tool and system if used properly, and
addressed questions that were brought up during the public comment period:
- The Damascus Police Department’s Flock subscription is only for reading license plates –
no facial recognition.
- The DPD’s system is paid for by a Virginia State Police HEAT Grant – not funded by local
taxes.
- The data collected by the DPD’s system is solely owned by the DPD and is automatically
deleted after 21 days. (Can be reduced to 7 days upon update.)
- Virginia does not allow sharing of the ALPR data with out-of-state or federal agencies.
- There are no speed cameras in Damascus. These ALPR cameras do not radar and/or
send speeding tickets.
- If Officers are caught accessing the system for reasons that are unauthorized, it is
immediate grounds for termination and criminal charges (to be investigated by State
Police).
Chief Turner also reported the following for the 2025-26 year comparison: 475% increase in
shoplifting larcenies; 271.4% increase in overall larcenies; 700% increase in narcotics; 350%
increase in overall narcotics and narcotic equipment; and 11.1% increase in
vandalism/destruction of property cases.
•

Mr. Buckley made a motion to authorize Chief Turner to apply for the State grant to
fund the continues use of the Flock Safety ALPR system; and revisit the topic at the
October meeting for Council consideration of continuing the service agreement with
Flock. Mr. Fields 2nd the motion, which passed (5-0).

Committee Reports
Budget, Finance, and Administration:
Town Treasurer, Shawna Cook, submitted the following report for the previous month:

Real Estate & Personal Property Taxes: The collection rate for 2026 Real Estate is 88.25%, and
2025 Personal Property is 77.14%.
Meals & Lodging Tax: $18,170.86 in Meals Taxes and $13,696.43 in Lodging Taxes were
collected for August 2026.
Town of Damascus Virginia
Investment Pool (VIP)
RESERVE FUND
EARMARK POLICE VEHICLE

Account
Balance
$65,207.34
$552.71

FYTD Income
$413.31
$3.58

Inception
Date
08/11/2017
04/04/2018
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SEWER FUND CD
ANTHEM RECOVERY
ADDITIONAL WORKING CAPITAL
TRAIL DAYS RESERVE
Damascus Endowment Fund
FLOOD DISASTER RESERVE
VIP Stable NAV Liquidity Pool

$0.00
$52,977.59
$639,469.71
$8,989.58
$195,791.21
$47,455.27
$1,010,443.41

$108.24
$335.75
$4,053.20
$57.01
$1,256.55
$192.54
$6,420.18

11/26/2018
12/21/2018
08/08/2019
05/14/2020
11/7/2024
06/06/25

The balances shown below are from online banking:
Bank of Damascus:
General Fund: $318,345.48
CDBG ARC Downtown: $501.13
CDBG Program Income: $13,549.41
Damascus Endowment Fund: $2,232.28
Police Asset Forfeiture: $3,461.57
NRCS EWP: $25.00
Total: $338,114.87
Refunds issued to taxpayers in August 2026: $7,078.55, amount includes $6,562.84 approved by a
Council vote August 3, 2026.
Announcements: No announcements.


Oct. 13th: Damascus Town Council and Washington County Board of Supervisors will have a
joint meeting on Oct 13th in Abingdon for a presentation of the RKG study on the Laurel
Gateway Project (previously ‘IDA property’ on Mountain City Rd) * Council members need to

attend

Streets, Lights and Maintenance:

Mr. Creech reported that Public Works has been busy with the following projects:

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Parks and Recreation:

Mr. Faust reported the Farmers market is having a good season so far, and the Fresh Bucks
program is a great addition.

Planning Commission:

Mr. Bell reported there will be no meeting in September, and in October the Commission will
continue discussions about upcoming cannabis retail sales regulations, ADU guidelines, etc.

Police and Fire Advisory:

Chief Turner presented the following reports for the previous month:

Operations:
August 2026, Damascus Officers had 115 calls for service. We’ve taken 9 investigative reports
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and made 9 arrests. We had 2 reportable accidents.
Arrests are as follows: Shoplift 4, Drug Equipment 1, Trespass 1 and Warrant Service 3.
Traffic Enforcement Activities:
We issued 38 citations along with 15 warnings. Violations are as follows: Trespass 1, Fail to have
Vehicle inspected 1, Expired Registration 1, Drive without Insurance 1, Passing 1, Reckless
Driving 1, Reckless by Speed 3, 25 mph zone 25, and 35 mph zone 4.
Speeding complaint areas include: Damascus Dr & Douglas Dr (passing stopped school bus)
Special Report:
Damascus PD assisted WCSO on a Search Warrant where a large number of guns and drugs
where recovered. We also assisted Glade Springs PD with their fireworks display.
K9 Report: See Attached Reports.
Police Vehicles: Nothing New Currently
Auxiliary: Nothing new currently.

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Damascus Volunteer Fire Department

Here is a list of the call types that the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department received for the
Month of August 2026 as well as the dates that they occurred.
8/2 - Explosion (Nothing Found)
8/5 - Gas Leak (Investigated) (Expired Detector)
8/5 - Vehicle Fire (Mechanical Issue)
8/7 - Trash Fire (Illegal Burn)
8/9 - MVC (Cancelled)
8/11 - Fire Alarm (Cooking Incident)
8/17 - MVC (Crash Detection - Nothing Found)
8/17 - Smoke Scare (Cooking Incident)
8/22 - Traumatic Injury (E-Bike Crash)
8/24 - Smoke Scare (Smoking Sewers)
8/25 - Controlled Burn (Investigate/Cancel)
8/29 - MVC (Standby/Traffic Control)
12 Total calls for the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department.
Thank you to the Damascus Council Members for their support shown to the Fire Department.

Code Enforcement:

Mayor Lamb presented the following activity report for the previous month from the Town’s Code
Enforcement Officer, Marty Berry:

Visits and Contacts: 9
Lodging: 1
Assist P.D.: 0

Zoning: 9
Meals: 2

Business License: 2
Complaints and Investigations: 1

Special Committees
➢ Damascus Health Center Commission: Chief Turner reported that in August, the
Commission members met and voted in himself as Chair, Kelly Pruitt as Treasurer, and
requested the Council appoint Beaty Jackson to the vacant seat on the Commission.
•

Mr. Faust made a motion to appoint Beaty Jackson to the Damascus Health Center
Commission, as recommended by the Commission members. Mr. Buckley 2nd the
motion, which passed (3-1-1, with Fields opposed and Campbell abstaining).

Citizens Comments
None at this time.

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Manager’s Report
Chris Bell presented the following Manager’s Report for the previous month:

Creeper Trail
o
o
o
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Sandblasting/painting of Trestle 16 to resume this month.
Crane setup and delivery of Trestle 17 expected September/October
Grand re-opening on March 31st, 2027 planning underway with trail owners & partners.
Awaiting design details on lighting and water monitoring camera packages for both
Trestles.

Emergency Preparedness
o Town emergency responders will participate in an Emergency Operations Procedure

workshop with VT & Appalachian State on October 15th.

FEMA/VDEM
o Contract #14 amendment Town Hall repair project reviewed, approved, and submitted for
$34,820.71. (Big thanks to Anna Blake Wright!)
o Category Z expenses (management cost) project submitted for initial review.
o Awaiting approval from FEMA on 205 N Railroad Ave. Greenspace Acquisition project.

Grants
o Laurel Gateway Project –Joint Town Council and Board of Supervisor meeting scheduled
o
o
o
o
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for Oct. 13th at Government Center in Abingdon. RKG to present study & results.
CDBG – 24-16 – Scattered Site Rehab Phase II - Contractor bids approved for construction
of three substantial reconstructed houses.
VRA CFPF-25-05-13 – Flood Modeling Project – No Change in status
VRA CFPF-250-5-46 – Flood Resiliency Planning Project – Committee exploring funding for
dam and Legion Island modeling
DHCD 24-PG-02 – Stormwater Planning Project – Hurt & Proffit expected to submit final
design package by mid-October
NRCS EWP-5035- Streambank Restoration Project. WSSI continuing efforts surveying
property owners adjacent to creek.

Miscellaneous
o Bayer Property – Field sampling of soil scheduled for September.
o VDOT - Awaiting update regarding potential addition of catch basins along Laurel Ave.

Repaving of Shady Ave. & Legion St. expected in October.

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o 2026 Pool Season Report – Recap of 2026 Pool Season attendance & 3-year fiscal analysis

and recommendations:

Town Pool Financial Performance & Operational Strategy
Executive Report | Three-Year Review (2024–2026)

Executive Overview
The Town Pool’s financial position improved materially from 2024 through 2026. Corporate
sponsorships and local fundraising helped subsidize pool fees, while higher admission prices and a sixday operating schedule—with Mondays closed—reduced the cost base. Together, these measures
lowered annual expenses and narrowed the operating deficit while preserving steady revenue growth.
Bottom line: The pool reduced its operating loss by 64.8% over three years, but it continues to run a
structural deficit. Upcoming wage increases and aging infrastructure require disciplined cost
management, preventive maintenance, and revenue-focused scheduling.

Three-Year Financial Performance
Year

Total Pool Revenue

Total Pool Expenses

Operating Loss

2024

$22,627.00

$67,031.00

($44,404.00)

2025

$23,991.00

$43,988.00

($19,997.00)

2026

$25,388.00

$42,264.00

($16,876.00)

Key Financial Findings
Expense reduction: Total expenses fell from $67,031.00 in 2024 to $42,264.00 in 2026—a reduction
of $24,767.00, or 37%.
• Operating deficit reduction: The annual loss declined from $44,404.00 to $16,876.00—a
$27,528.00 improvement, or 62%.
• Revenue growth: Revenue increased from $22,627.00 to $25,388.00, representing cumulative
growth of 12.2%.
• Remaining gap: Despite substantial progress, 2026 expenses still exceeded revenue by $16,876.00,
confirming the need for continued intervention.
•

Operational Outlook and Key Risks
Virginia minimum wage increases: Scheduled wage mandate changes in 2027 are expected to
raise seasonal staffing and payroll costs. ($13.75 – 2027, $15 – 2028)
• Aging infrastructure: Deteriorating capital equipment and pool systems increase the likelihood of
unplanned maintenance, emergency repairs, and service interruptions.
• Persistent operating deficit: The improved trend remains vulnerable to payroll and repair cost
escalation because current revenue does not fully cover operations.
•

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Strategic Recommendations
1. Appoint a principal pool manager. Hire Collin Widener, who brings four years of certified lifeguard
and leadership experience, to strengthen daily oversight, staff coordination, safety compliance, and
accountability.
2. Outsource pre-season opening preparation. Solicit competitive commercial quotes for
specialized cleaning and opening services. This would reduce reliance on seasonal staff for
technical work and support consistent compliance and readiness.
3. Complete offseason preventive maintenance. Replace the sand in the chlorinator filters during
the upcoming offseason to reduce the risk of mid-season equipment failure, operational disruption,
and emergency repair expense.
4. Optimize the operating schedule. Reassess hours to provide more consistent evening access,
when attendance potential may be higher, while preserving the cost savings associated with the sixday schedule.
o Fresh Bucks Impact Report - Recap of year-to-date Farmer’s Market Fresh Bucks program:

Fresh Bucks Program Report
Executive Summary
The Fresh Bucks program in Damascus has achieved phenomenal community impact,
successfully serving 287 youth participants across five session dates during Summer 2026.
Supported by a diverse network of regional businesses, civic organizations, and municipal
funding, the program secured $4,665.00 in total sponsorships, with a strong remaining balance of
$2,148.00 available as of August 21, 2026.

1. Participation Breakdown
Participation remained strong and steady throughout the summer, averaging over 57 children per
event and reaching a single-day peak of 67 participants on July 30.
Event Date

Youth Participants

June 18, 2026

57

July 2, 2026

61

July 9, 2026

57

10

Event Date

Youth Participants

July 30, 2026

67

August 20, 2026

45

Total Participants Reach

287

2. Sponsorships & Financial Support
Eight key community partners, local businesses, and municipal sources contributed financially to
ensure the success and reach of the program.
Sponsor / Source

Contribution Amount

Town of Damascus

$3,200.00

Kiewit

$500.00

Skyline National Bank

$250.00

Wolf

$250.00

Discover Damascus

$200.00

Raffle Money (Donna)

$115.00

Bank of Marion

$100.00

Rails to Trails

$50.00

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Sponsor / Source

Contribution Amount

Total Sponsorships

$4,665.00

3. Financial Status Summary
As of August 21, 2026, the program maintains a healthy financial position with substantial funding
remaining for continued community impact.
Financial Metric

Amount

Total Funds Raised

$4,665.00

Funds Used / Distributed (as of
08/21/2026)

$2,517.00

Remaining Balance (as of
08/21/2026)

$2,148.00

4. Key Program Takeaways


High Engagement & Turnout: Consistent attendance demonstrates strong community trust,
demand, and positive local feedback.



Strong Budget Management: With $2,148.00 (46% of total funds) remaining, the program
maintains a solid runway in preparation of the 2027 season and two additional end-of-season
programs this Sept. 10th and 17th 2026.



Robust Public-Private Partnership: Combining municipal funding with business sponsorships
creates a sustainable financial framework for future iterations.

o Health Commission Building Lease – Updated lease agreement for Medical Building

approved and signed.
o Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy – Stewardship fund in partnership with Kiewit.
o Board of Zoning Appeals – The BZA approved (6) conditional use permits for STR on
9/3/26 for the following addresses: 713 E. 4th St, 806 & 810 S. Shady Ave., 902 Intermont St.,
930 & 934 Extract St.

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The Board of Zoning Appeals has a seat vacancy that needs to be filled since David Atwood’s
term expired on July 31st.
•

Mr. Campbell made a motion to recommend the court reappoint David Atwood for
an additional 5-year term on the BZA. Mr. Fields 2nd the motion, which passed (5-0).

Legal Matters
Nothing at this time.

Unfinished Business
Nothing at this time.

New Business
a. FOIA policy updates for Admin and Police Dept:

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION / PRIVACY ACT RECORD REQUEST FORM
FOIA Office: Town of Damascus, 208 W. Laurel Ave (PO Box 576) Damascus VA 24236
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 276-475-3341
WHO MAY REQUEST RECORDS UNDER FOIA? Citizens of the Commonwealth
Requester Contact Information
Name: ____________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________
Contact Number: ___________________________________
Email: _____________________________________________
Instructions: Use of this form is optional. You are not required to provide your identity; however,
this will aid us in processing your Freedom of Information (FOIA) request more accurately.
Make sure your request contains a description of the information you are requesting and
sufficient personally identifying data when required. Failure to provide sufficient personally
identifying data may result in this public body being unable to successfully search for data
being sought. Requests may be made orally or in written formats. If you are mailing this form
please address: ATTN: FOIA Request Office at PO Box 576, Damascus VA, 24236
Records requested (Please Specify)
Other (dates, names, other info help our agency locate correct records being sought):
Please be specific in your request. This will enable our agency to more quickly search for your
requested records and will help reduce financial costs to you. If there is a determination that
the requested records are likely to exceed $200.00 this public body may, before continuing to
process the request, require the requester to agree to payment of a deposit not to exceed the
amount of the advance determination. Before processing a request for records, this public
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body will require the requester to pay any amounts owed to it for previous request(s) for
records that remain unpaid 30 days or more after billing.
How do you prefer your response delivered (email, USPS, pick-up)? ________________________
➢
Fees must be paid in person at the Town Hall or mailed to the PO Box listed.

We accept cash and checks only.
*Fee policy attached

Town of Damascus - Fee Policy
Citizen Rights & Responsibilities under Virginia Freedom of Information Act:
In accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the Town of Damascus (Town)
may make reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating,
supplying, or searching for requested records. The Town may not impose any extraneous,
intermediary, or surplus fees or expenses to recoup the general costs associated with creating
or maintaining records or transacting the general business of the Town. Any duplicating fee
charged by the Town shall not exceed the actual cost of duplication. All charges for the
supplying of requested records shall be estimated in advance at the request of the citizen as
set forth in Virginia Code § 2.2-3704 (F).
-

If the Town estimates that it will cost more than $200 to respond to your request, we may
require you to pay a deposit, not to exceed the amount of the estimate, before proceeding with
your request. The five days that we have to respond to your request does not include the time
between when we ask for a deposit and when you respond.

-

You may request that we estimate in advance the charges for supplying the records that you
have requested. This will allow you to know about any costs upfront or give you the opportunity
to modify your request in an attempt to lower the estimated costs.

-

If you owe money from a previous FOIA request that has remained unpaid for more than 30
days, the Town will require payment of the past-due bill before we will respond to your new
FOIA request.

-

The Town fees to respond to a FOIA request are as follows:
Unlimited pages, electronic copy onlyNo charge per page -Staff Time Fee will apply
Pages copied

$0.02 per page plus Staff Time Fee

CD-ROM

$0.30 per CD-ROM plus Staff Time Fee

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USB

$4.00 plus Staff Time Fee

Staff Time Fee, research and copy
time
•

$7.00/15 minutes ($28.00/hour), rounded to the
quarter hour (i.e., 15 minutes)

Mr. Faust made a motion to approve the updated FOIA policy for Administration. Mr. Buckley 2nd
the motion, which passed (5-0).

Damascus Police Department
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION / PRIVACY ACT RECORD REQUEST FORM
Who May Request Records Under FOIA?
- Citizens of the Commonwealth
- Representatives of newspapers and magazines with circulation in the Commonwealth
- Representatives of radio and television stations broadcasting in or into the Commonwealth
- Victim-case in which the prosecution has been finally adjudicated, and the investigation will not
continue to gather evidence for a possible future criminal case, and such case would not be
jeopardized by the premature release of evidence.
As per Code of Virginia 2.2-3704 Our agency requires the requester to provide your name and legal
address:
Requesters Names: _________________________________________________________________________
Representative for: ________________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________________________
Contact Number(s): ________________________________________________________________________
Other: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Instructions: Use of this form is optional: however, this will aid us in processing your Freedom of
Information (FOIA) request more accurately. Make sure your request contains a description of the
information you are requesting and sufficient personally identifying data when required. Failure to
provide sufficient personally identifying information data may result in this public body being unable
to successfully search for data being sought. Requests may be made orally or in writing. If you are
mailing this form, please address: ATTN: FOIA Request PO Box 659, Damascus, Va. 24236.
Types of Records requested: ____ Calls for Service Report(s) ____ Incident Reports(s) ____ Other
(Please Specify): _________________________________________________________________________
•
•
•

Start Date ______________________ End Date __________________ of requested record(s)
Information being sought ____________________________
Person(s) name and any identifying information available. Accurate spelling can help our
agency locate correct records being sought: _____________________
• Other: _______________________________________________________________
Please be specific about your request. This will enable our agency to more quickly search requested
records and will help reduce financial cost to you. If there is a determination that the requested records
are likely to exceed $200.00, this public body may, before continuing to process the request, require the
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requester to agree to payment of a deposit not to exceed the amount of the advance determination.
Before processing a request for records, this public body will require the requester to pay any amount
owed to it for previous request(s) for records that remain unpaid 30 days or more after billing.
If no contact information is given, our agency will mail your request to the address you provided, and
if you do not provide any means to contact you, your response(s) will be kept for 60 days to allow you
time to pick up. You are responsible for any cost associated with your records request even if you do
not pick it up.
OFFICE USE ONLY

Date & Time Rec. _________ Receiving Personnel ___________

Damascus, Virginia Police Department – Fee Policy
Citizen Rights & Responsibilities under Virginia Freedom of Information Act:
In accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the Damascus Police Department may
make reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, or
searching for requested records. The DPD may not impose any extraneous, intermediary, or surplus
fees or expenses to recoup the general cost associated with creating or maintaining records or
transacting the general business of the Damascus Police Department. Any duplicating fee charged by
DPD shall not exceed the actual cost of duplication. All charges for the supplying of requested records
shall be estimated in advance at the request of the citizen as set forth in Virginia Code 2.2-3704 (F)
-

-

-

-

If DPD estimates that it will cost more than $200.00 to respond to your request, we may require
you to pay a deposit, not to exceed the amount of the estimate, before proceeding with your
request. The five days that we have to respond to your request does not include the time
between when we ask for a deposit and when you respond.
You may request that we estimate in advance the charges for supplying the records that you
have requested. This will allow you to know about any cost upfront to receive the records or
give you the opportunity to modify your request to lower the estimated costs. Any time spent
searching for the requested records necessary for providing the estimate will be billed to the
requestor
If you owe money from a previous FOIA request that has remained unpaid for more than 30
days, DPD will require payment of the past-due bill before it responds to your new FOIA
request.
The Damascus Police Department fees to respond to a FOIA request are as follows:
Unlimited pages, electronic copy only

No Charge per page – Staff Time Fee will apply.

Pages copied

$0.02 per page plus Staff Time Fee
$0.05 per color-page plus Staff Time Fee

CD-ROM

$0.25 per CD-ROM – Staff Time Fee

FOIA time Fee, research and supplying time

$30.47/hour

Command Staff Time Fee, Research and
Supplying time

$25.92/hour

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USB Flash Drive Memory Stick, Postage (Mail),
Miscellaneous.

•

$ Based on Agency Cost

Mr. Buckley made a motion to approve the updated FOIA policy for the Police Dept. Mr. Faust
2nd the motion, which passed (5-0).

b. Website fees – Ordinance to repeal website fee ordinance (adopted 4/6/2015)
WEBSITE REGISTRATION UPDATE FOR VISITDAMASCUS.ORG
Questions? Contact Julie Kroll, Recreation Director, at [email protected] or 276-4518539 x3.
TO DO - COUNCIL ACTION NEEDED
- Remove 2015 ordinance to establish fees for advertising on the Town’s
website - Approve a new website listing process administratively - forms, fees
- Update paper form for use at Town Hall
- Offer new online form submission option - website contractor to advise on best practice.
WHY IS THIS UPDATE NEEDED?
We have begun Phase Two of updates to the new VisitDamascus.org website with the help of
Letterpress Communications.
- By better representing ALL of our licensed businesses in Damascus, we make a stronger case
for visitors to (1) stay in Damascus, and (2) stay longer, rather than viewing Damascus as a
day-only destination.
- Demonstrate the pro- small-business ecosystem we strive for in Damascus.
- For example, see the Dining & Drinks webpage, which lists only four businesses: The Dairy
King, Damascus Diner, Damascus Old Mill Inn, and Wilson’s Cafe & Grill.
- The Dining & Drinks page does not well represent six other in-town businesses that
contribute to visitation: Appalachian Heritage Distillery & Brewery, Cowboys General Store,
Damascus Pizza, The Coffee Thief, The Tipsy Bear Bar & Grill, and Wicked Chicken
Winghouse & Tavern.
- The Dining & Drinks page has the potential to represent at least five additional
businesses along the Virginia Creeper Trail corridor: The Damascus Brewery,
The Cottage Cafe, Hellbender’s Cafe, Railroad Cafe, and Abingdon Vineyards.
- Internet use trends and accessibility have seen exponential growth in the past 10+ years, and as a
result, the best practices for DMO websites have changed and VisitDamascus.org is no longer
aligned with industry standards.
- Business listings are now widely available at no cost. Even without their own website,
businesses no longer have to pay for an online presence through listings with Google,
Apple, Facebook, Instagram, STR third-party intermediaries, and more.
- For reference, Virginia.org offers free listings and serves more than 7 Million visitors per
year. More information at https://vatc.org/marketing/digital-marketing/webmarketing/.
- AI responses, also known as “zero-click search,” are informed by website content. When
VisitDamascus.org lacks quality content for our businesses, we miss the opportunity to
represent Damascus well in zero-click, AI-generated searches.

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- This simplifies the administrative process for a low-revenue task. There is a greater administrative
burden in fairly managing paid website registrations vs. maintaining the website with free listings.
With an estimated 50 current listings, website listing revenue totals only approximately $3,750 per
year.
- We still have the opportunity to monetize VisitDamascus.org through business listings from outside of
town limits (with no town business license) but along the Virginia Creeper Trail corridor. However,
the highest value of VisitDamascus.org should be reflected by growth in visitation and meals &
lodging tax revenue, not as a revenue stream for the Town.

Mayor Lamb read the following proposed Ordinance:
TOWN OF DAMASCUS, VIRGINIA
AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE ADOPTED MAY 1, 2015, ENTITLED "AN
ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH FEES FOR ADVERTISING ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE,"
AND TO ELIMINATE WEBSITE ADVERTISING AND ACCOUNT CREATION FEES FOR
LOCAL BUSINESSES
WHEREAS, on May 1, 2015, the Damascus Town Council adopted "An Ordinance to Establish Fees
for Advertising on the Town's Website" (the "2015 Ordinance"), setting yearly directory advertising fees
($75.00 for licensed Town businesses, $150.00 for Whitetop-Alvarado corridor businesses, and $350.00
for all others) alongside a $50.00 new account setup fee; and

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WHEREAS, the Town Council of the Town of Damascus, Virginia, recognizes that comprehensive
representation of all licensed and legally operating businesses in Damascus creates a compelling visitor
experience, encouraging travelers to extend their stays, rather than treating Damascus as a day-only
destination; and
WHEREAS, eliminating website listing fees directly demonstrates the pro-small-business ecosystem
that the Town strives to cultivate and maintain; and
WHEREAS, internet usage trends, online accessibility, and digital marketing technologies have grown
exponentially over the past ten-plus years, such that fee-based directories are no longer aligned with
industry standards; and
WHEREAS, business listings are now widely available across commercial online platforms at no cost
allowing businesses to maintain a digital presence without paying dedicated directory fees; and
WHEREAS, modern artificial intelligence (AI) models and generative search systems deliver search
responses directly informed by public website content, meaning that when the Town website lacks
comprehensive content for all local businesses, the Town misses critical opportunities to accurately
represent Damascus in search queries;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Town Council of the Town of Damascus, Virginia:
1. Repeal of 2015 Ordinance: The ordinance adopted May 1, 2015, entitled "An Ordinance to Establish
Fees for Advertising on the Town's Website," establishing yearly advertising fees and account setup fees,
is hereby REPEALED in its entirety.
2. Policy Authorization: The Town Administration is authorized to transition municipal and tourism
digital directories, including VisitDamascus.org, to a non-fee-based structure that provides basic listings
to all businesses properly licensed and operating in good standing within the Town of Damascus and
charge $150 annually to list related businesses located outside of Town limits but within the Virginia
Creeper Trail corridor.
3.
Effective Date: This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage.

(Roll Call Vote Required)

Buddy Albro – Absent
Jeff Buckley – Yea
Sammy Campbell – Yea

Derwin Creech - Yea
Hunter Faust – Yea
Charlie Fields - Yea

c. Reconvene Meeting on Sept 10th at 5:30pm at the Fortune House for discussion,
consideration, interviews, and action on prospective candidates for employment for the
Town Manager position (Vote Required)
•

Mr. Buckley made a motion to reconvene the Council Meeting on Sept. 10th at 5:30. Mr.
Faust 2nd the motion, which passed (4-0-1, with Mr. Campbell abstaining).

Consent Agenda
• Mr. Buckley made a motion to pay the bills for invoices exceeding $2,500, 2nd by Mr.
Creech. The motion passed (5-0).
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• Mr. Faust made a motion to pay the bills presented as well as the standard and/or
recurring bills that will come in before the next Council meeting. Mr. Fields 2nd the motion,
which passed (5-0).

Mayor & Council Members Reports
Mayor Lamb presented information about the Damascus United Methodist Church “Feed the
kids on weekends” backpack program fundraiser BBQ on Sept 19th.
Mr. Buckley stated that he is optimistic about the applicants for the Town Manager position; has
been speaking with AEP about street lights; and expressed his gratitude for Town staff, especially
the Treasurer, for making sure the Town’s finances are in good hands.
Mr. Campbell stated that he would like the agenda items to be posted online beforehand.
Mr. Creech said he appreciates the way everyone remained respectful and well behaved during
the public comment period about ALPR cameras.
Mr. Faust agreed with Mr. Creech and also shared his appreciation for those in the audience
who chose to remain for the rest of the Council Meeting after the public comment period was
over.

Announcements
UPCOMING EVENTS & OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
o Damascus Farmers Market – Thursdays from 4-7pm
o Sept 19th, Town Park - St Jude Bike-A-Thon
o Sept 25th – Celebrate Public Lands Day, Damascus Trail Center
o Sept 25th-27th, Trout Days fishing tournament
o Oct 2nd & 3rd, Town Park – Festival of Miles
o Oct 4th, Town Park – One Way Ministries’ Fall Carnival
For information on upcoming events, go to our website visitdamascus.org. For citizen info
go to damascus.org, and don’t forget our social media presence on Facebook and
Instagram!
• Mr. Buckley made a motion to recess the meeting, 2nd by Mr. Fields. The motion passed (40-1, with Mr. Campbell abstaining). 7:55pm

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Reconvene Council Meeting from September 8, 2026
Thursday, September 10, 2026
5:30pm at the Fortune House
Present: Jeff Buckley, Derwin Creech, Hunter Faust, and Charles Fields
Absent: Buddy Albro and Sammy Campbell
Also Present: Katie Lamb, Mayor
Chris Bell, Town Manager
Mayor Lamb Called the Meeting to Order

▪

•

Mr. Buckley made a motion to Recess into Closed Session for Discussion and
Consideration and interviews of prospective candidates for employment, per VA Code Section
2.2-3711 (A) (1). Mr. Faust 2nd the motion, which passed (4-0).

•

Mr. Fields made a motion to return to Open session. Mr. Faust 2nd the motion, which
passed (4-0).

•

CERTIFY (individually): We Certify that only public business matters lawfully exempted
from open meeting requirements and only such matters identified in the motion by
which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed, or considered in the
closed meeting.
Jeff Buckley– Yea
Derwin Creech - Yea
Hunter Faust – Yea
Charlie Fields - Yea

•

Mr. Faust made a motion to authorize the Mayor to extend the job offer to Isaiah Thomas
for the Town Manager position, at an annual rate of $65,000, starting as early as Oct 1,
2026. Mr. Creech 2nd the motion, which passed (4-0).

•

Mr. Faust made a motion to authorize the current Town manager, Chris Bell, to continue
working up to 45 days upon the new Town Manager start date. Mr. Creech 2nd the motion,
which passed (4-0).

• Mr. Fields made a motion to adjourn, 2nd by Mr. Creech. The motion passed (4-0). 7:41pm

___________________________________
Katie Lamb, Mayor

_________________________________
Tuesday Pope, Clerk

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