Abingdon’s Town Council ended its deal to manage a historic farmstead Thursday and took up the business of leasing a tenant at the town’s former passenger train station.
The Town Council agreed to no longer manage Fairview Historic Farmstead. The decision means management of the property will revert back to its owner, Dr. James Moore.
For more than a decade, the town operated a living history farm at Fairview, which included public demonstrations and hosted school field trips. The site includes a log cabin built in the late 1700s and a barn that is more than 100 years old. The farmstead also features a blacksmith shop, antique sawmill and corn crib.
“The town won’t be managing it anymore,” Mayor Derek Webb said.
In other business, the council instructed interim Town Manager Earl Mathers to enter a yearlong lease agreement with a tenant interested in occupying a portion of the town’s train station, which is being redeveloped to house small businesses.
People are also reading…
At present, Abingdon is seeking a new town manager and a replacement for a council member to fill a vacant seat after the death of James “Scabbo” Anderson.
Five candidates are being considered for the town manager position, Webb said. None currently live in Abingdon nor are current employees of the town.
“But there were some semi-local people within 45 minutes to an hour away,” Webb said.
Interviews for the town manager position are scheduled for May 2 and 3, according to Public Information Officer Katie Garrett.
According to Webb, it has not yet been determined when the Town Council will select a person to fill the remaining term.
