Mayor Littleton noted, "Middleburg's real tax rate was still the lowest in Loudoun County."

Praise for Salamander Resort & Spa
Vice Mayor Kirk moved, and Council unanimously approved a Resolution of Commendation for the Salamander Spa & Resort for attaining a Five Star Rating from Forbes Travel Guide. Mayor Littleton read the resolution aloud and presented a signed copy to Sheila Johnson, Prem Devadas and Reggie Cooper of the Salamander Resort & Spa. Ms. Johnson thanked the Town for standing behind her and believing in her vision. She noted that she loved Middleburg.

Middleburg Millwork's 50th
Councilmember Phil Miller's motion to adopt a Resolution of Commendation recognizing the Middleburg Millwork on their 50th Anniversary was adopted unanimously by Council. Bob Ball and the Ball Family received a signed copy of the resolution, and Mr. Ball recognized his father, David, his wife, Joyce, and his son, Robby. "They love serving the community," Ball said.

Matching Grant Application
On a motion by Vice Mayor Darlene Kirk, Council ordered the Town staff to submit an application to the Virginia Commission for the Arts' Creative Communities Partnership Grant Program in the amount of $4,500 to support the 2019 National Sporting Library & Museum Open Late Concert Series. According to Business & Economic Development Director Jamie Gaucher, the Commission was accepting applications for grants for arts specific events or non-profit arts organizations. The National Sporting Library & Museum had already filed an application with the Town for special events funding in the amount of $5,000, which would serve as the match for the VCA grant, providing a potential $9,500 nest egg for the program.

Loudoun Tourism
Councilmember Phil Miller moved and Council unanimously approved a motion to authorize Town staff to submit an application to the Loudoun County Tourism Grant Program in the amount of $60,000 to support efforts to attract visitors to Middleburg in coordination with the Middleburg Business and Professional Association and the Middleburg Community Center.

Business & Economic Development Director Gaucher saw this as "a new opportunity for the Town to feature Middleburg through marketing," noting that if received, the focus would be on Middleburg as an overnight destination, specifically with a focus on the Middleburg Community Center's Fourth of July Celebration. Gaucher also reported that Visit Loudoun was bringing their "Summer of Love Tour" to Middleburg on that date. The theme plays off the 50th anniversary celebration of the "Virginia is for Lovers" brand. Visit Loudoun, it was noted, had already acquired a VW bus to be "driven around the area by people in costume as advertising centered around 1969."

He explained that the source of the grant funding was tourism occupancy tax revenues, which must be used for marketing to bring visitors to the municipality.

Health Center 501(C)(3)
Town Administrator Danny Davis reported on the discussion of establishing a 501.c.3 non-profit organization to manage the funds to be derived from the Town's sale of its Health Center Building. The current members of the Health Center Advisory Board, Davis said, suggested either "keeping things as they were," namely having Town Council manage the funds, engaging the Community Foundation of Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties to do so.

Vice Mayor Kirk, as Chair of the Health Center Advisory Board, noted that the members were concerned not only about having to pay out money to develop a 501(C)(3) but having the funds no longer under the direct auspices of the Town.

Howard Armfield and Erik Scheps, members of the Health Center Advisory Board, appeared before the Council to say they thought the Community Foundation of Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties deserved consideration. Council agreed to hear a presentation from the Foundation before making a decision.

Foxes on the Fence
Town Clerk Rhonda North reported that she received an email from the Chairman of the Middleburg Arts Council "announcing that they had been nominated for a Visit Loudoun Tourism New Event of the Year Award" for the Council's "Foxes on the Fence" fundraiser.

Councilmember Chris Bernard noted that this year, for the first time, would also be hounded on the fence.

Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation
Andrew McClure, National Community Engagement Director for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation informed Council on April 11 that his organization was about to dedicate a "mortgage-free home to Rob Jones."

The Foundation's missions are to build and give homes to service members who have been catastrophically injured while serving their country or to Gold Star families, including the spouses of a service member killed in action.

The Foundation is named for Stephen Siller, a firefighter who lost his life in New York during 911.

Asbury Church – Loudoun Freedom Center Proposal
Pastor Michelle Thomas, of the Loudoun Freedom Center, reported to Council on the projects their non-profit organization has done "in order to preserve, protect and promote African American history in Loudoun County" and said her organization was sincerely interested in helping restore Asbury Church, the oldest church building in Middleburg, and putting the facility to good use.

If possible, Thomas said, her organization "would keep the building as multi-use and would use it to tell the history of the African American community" noting it would be a great tourist attraction.

In furtherance of those goals, Pastor Thomas sought a deed of gift of the church from the Town to the Loudoun Freedom Center.

Mayor Bridge Littleton told Council that he had "met with Pastor Thomas approximately a week earlier to discuss the project and thought that this would be a great opportunity to preserve the church."

That said, he continued, he suggested, "more details on the Freedom Center's plans were needed" before Council could take action.

Funding for Middleburg Community Charter School
On April 11 Council approved a contribution of $5,000 to the Middleburg Community Charter School to support hiring a search firm to recruit a new Principal.

Mayor Littleton, who serves on the Board of Directors for the school explained that they needed assistance in finding a new principal, the school's fourth in just five years.

Board Chair Bob Lazaro reported that "the school was doing well; that attendance was based on a lottery system and there was a waiting list of children whose parents wanted them to attend there."