BLYTHEWOOD – Three seats on Blythewood Town Council will be on the town’s election ballot Nov. 5 – two council seats and the mayor’s seat. Because the mayor’s seat has term limits, Mayor J. Michael Ross will not seek re-election. Councilman Eddie Baughman told The Voice that he will be seeking re-election. Councilman Malcolm Gordge, […]
Council to raise franchise fees
July 3, 2019 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Mayor J. Michael Ross announced Friday morning that council is planning to raise the franchise fees that town residents pay on their power and water bills from the current three percent ($3 per $100) to five percent ($5 per $100). The revelation came during the public hearing section of a special meeting called […]
Council passes $1,670,875 budget
June 27, 2019 By
Mayor, Council Get Pay Raises Dec. 1 BLYTHEWOOD – Town Council passed the first of two readings on its $1,670,875 FY 2020 budget Monday night, exceeding last year’s budget by $105,761. The only change to the town budget since the final workshop in early June is an $80,000 expense from the town’s hospitality fund for […]
Council sends Red Gate back to PC
June 27, 2019 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Approximately 60 residents filled the Blythewood Town Council chambers Monday night in Doko Manor to protest myriad aspects of a proposed rezoning of 143 acres, referred to as the Red Gate property, located along Blythewood Road between Syrup Mill and Muller Roads. The property lies across Syrup Mill Road from Cobblestone Park and […]
PC proposes allowing sandwich signs, prohibiting feather signs
June 13, 2019 By
BLYTHEWOOD – The prohibition of sandwich board signs in the town has long been the bane of many shop owners in Blythewood. Those days may be over if a recommendation made to Town Council last week by the Planning Commission comes to fruition. At the June 3 Planning Commission meeting, Town Administrator Brian Cook proposed […]
Council asks for 20% pay hike beginning next term
May 30, 2019 By
BLYTHEWOOD – When council members are seated after the November elections, they will be receiving a pay increase if Mayor J. Michael Ross’ proposed pay increase for council members and mayor is voted into the budget for fiscal year 2019-20. Ross suggested at the May 23 budget meeting that the mayor’s annual salary be increased […]
Frye: Chamber will be transparent
May 30, 2019 By
Meggs: Town Bailout of Chamber is Unlawful BLYTHEWOOD – After it was revealed last week that the Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce is $22,000 in the red and is currently operating on a $20,000 line of credit, Interim Chamber Director Phil Frye raised eyebrows on Council when he announced the Chamber would no longer request […]
Mayor questions how A-Tax and H-Tax awards are spent
May 30, 2019 By
BLYTHEWOOD – The focus of Town Council’s third and final budget workshop on Thursday, May 23, centered on expenditures from the accommodations and hospitality tax funds. In recent months, Mayor J. Michael Ross has warned event organizers that he expects those who are awarded funds from the Town to spend those awards on advertising that […]
Reception to honor Judge Robinson
May 23, 2019 By
BLYTHEWOOD – The community is invited to a farewell reception prior to the May 28 Town Council meeting to honor Blythewood’s magistrate, Judge Josef Robinson, and his staff. Robinson, who was serving his second term after being appointed to the bench by Sen. Joel Lourie in 2014, said he was notified by Sen. Mia McLeod […]
TC proposes $1,670,875 budget
May 16, 2019 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Last week, Council held the first of two budget workshops scheduled for the proposed $1,670,875 budget for fiscal year 2019-20. It exceeds last year’s budget by $105,761. The discussion on the budget was led by Town Administrator Brian Cook. Reviewing the General Fund revenue, Cook said building permits and fees are projected at […]
