Council gives nod to property swap

Sparta Town Council approved the exchange of property between itself and D.W. and Barbara Miles of Miles Companies after a public hearing on Oct. 5.

The Miles’ property, .88 acres located at 115 E. Whitehead St., has an appraised value of $95,000. This property is adjacent to Floyd R. and Sara Ellen Gambill Crouse Park. The town’s property, .45 acres located at 99 Duncan St., has an appraised value of $40,000. To further even the exchange, the town will purchase property from Farmers Hardware, whose parcel is located adjacent from the town property on Duncan Street. The property is being leased by Farmers Hardware for storage purposes, said Town Manager Bryan Edwards during the discussion of the swap. It has an appraised value of $12,000, but it is being offered by Farmers Hardware to the town for $6,000.

During the public hearing, Bob Bamberg, executive director of the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce, said he was in favor of the deal.“I would like to commend the parties involved (in this exchange),” Bamberg said. “I frequently walk Crouse Park and find it to be the finest of small-town parks.”

Bamberg further noted that the completion of the exchange is a “fitting tribute” to former Sparta Mayor Floyd Crouse.

Crouse Park was once the location of an outdoor theater production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” something that has not been repeated, Bamberg noted. The park was also once the site of the Blue Ridge Mountain Fair, according to Bamberg. The fair was subsequently moved to the Alleghany Fairgrounds and then cancelled altogether.

“The parking situation drove both of these to extinction,” he stated. With the additional parking area available, Bamberg said,“We look forward to what it will provide us.”

The exchange of property will allow for an expansion of the parking area at Crouse Park, as well as enhancing the access and appearance of the park, Edwards said. The current parking places are near capacity and with this expansion due to the exchange of property, the park can be more readily utilized by town citizens.

“This is a win-win situation for our town,” said Mayor John Miller. “I would like to commend D.W. and Barbara. This exchange will help revitalize downtown.”

“It was our intention when we bought the property to give it to the town,” D.W. Miles told the council with a smile.

Animal Control Ordinance

The council was presented with a draft of an animal control ordinance. The proposed ordinance states that dogs must display a rabies tag or other identification.

The proposed ordinance also states that “it shall be unlawful for any owner to permit his dog to run at large if such animal is reported to be creating a public nuisance and an enforcement officer determines, after investigation, that the reports are supported by sufficient evidence to establish this fact. In such cases, and only in such cases, the owner must keep the dog that has been found to be creating a public nuisance on his own property at all times, unless the dog is under restraint or control of a competent person by means of a chain, leash or other device, or is sufficiently near his handler to be under direct control and is obedient to the person’s commands.

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