News Flash

City offices will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Essential services will remain in operation. No bulk or brush pickup.

City offices will be closed Thursday, January 1, 2026, in observance of New Year’s Day. Essential services will remain in operation. No bulk or brush pickup.

In observance of the Christmas holiday, the City Municipal Building will be closed beginning Wednesday, December 24, and will reopen on Monday, December 29, 2025.

There will be no trash or bulk pickup on Thursday, December 25th. Thursday's trash pickup will be collected on Friday, December 26th.

Essential employees will continue on their normal schedule. 

The City of Martinsville is pleased to announce the appointment of Chad Rhoads as Chief of Police, effective January 1, 2026.

Chief Rhoads brings over 25 years of service to the Martinsville Police Department, where he currently serves as Acting Chief of Police. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to professional excellence, officer development, and community-focused policing.

Chief Rhoads’ key qualifications and career highlights include:

• Over two decades of progressive leadership, serving as Deputy Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Criminal Investigator, and Patrol Officer

• VACP Certified Law Enforcement Command Executive and graduate of nationally recognized leadership programs, including the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police and the VACP and University of Richmond’s Professional Executive Leadership School

• Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Administrative Leadership from Averett University

• Proven experience in policy development, officer training, grant management, and accreditation-focused initiatives

• Recipient of numerous professional honors, including more than 50 letters of commendation and multiple Outstanding Instructor Awards

As Acting Chief, Rhoads has led key initiatives, including the formation of the department’s Peer Support Team and the modernization of departmental policies. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Averett University and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who honorably served as a cryptologic linguist.

“Chief Rhoads has earned the respect of his colleagues and the trust of the community through his integrity, professionalism, and dedication to public service,” said Interim City Manager Rob Fincher. “We are confident he will continue to lead the department with excellence and vision.”

Chief Rhoads will officially assume the role on January 1, 2026.

Work on the Aaron Mills Apartments is nearly complete, and the first group of senior residents has already begun settling into their new homes. Last week, Vice Mayor Kathy Lawson, Council Member Julian Mei, Interim City Manager Rob Fincher, and several City staff members toured the building and met with representatives from Landmark Development.

Located on Aaron Street, the project will provide 52 apartments for residents aged 55 and older. The building includes 34 one-bedroom units and 18 two-bedroom units. Monthly rent will range from $542 to $650 for a one-bedroom apartment, and from $675 to $800 for a two-bedroom unit.

The focus of the development has always centered on accessibility and long-term affordability for seniors. The building was constructed with energy-efficient materials and systems in order to help limit utility expenses for residents.

The apartments are built on the former American Furniture site, which burned in 2014. In 2018, the City and Landmark Development began discussing how the site could be reused. Those conversations eventually led to the idea of transforming the property into housing for seniors.

Because the site qualified as a brownfield, the City sought assistance through the Virginia Brownfields Assistance Fund, a competitive grant offered jointly through the Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. That award supplied roughly $500,000 to remediate the property and prepare it for redevelopment.

While the construction process encountered long delays due to COVID-related cost increases, the City and its development partners continued moving the project forward.

The first group of residents began moving into Aaron Mills in early November, as all units had already been leased. 

 Residents interested in learning more about the Aaron Mills Apartments, including availability and eligibility, can find contact information on the Aaron Mills Application.

The City of Martinsville will begin its bulk paving projects starting May 22, 2025. Here’s a look at the first set of streets scheduled for resurfacing:

Auburn Place: May 22 – May 27

Cherokee Ct.: May 28 – May 31

Oakdale St.: June 2 – June 5

Virginia St.: June 6 – June 10

Spencer St.: June 11 – June 14

Please be cautious when traveling in these areas and stay alert for crews and equipment.

The City of Martinsville is excited to announce the official launch of City Fix Martinsville, powered by SeeClickFix, a new digital tool that allows residents to report non-emergency neighborhood issues directly to city departments all from the convenience of a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

City Fix Martinsville makes it easy for community members to report everyday concerns such as broken utility poles, damaged sidewalks, graffiti, pooling or ponding water, or other neighborhood maintenance issues.

The platform is accessible online and available as a free app on smartphones, tablets, and computers via the Apple App Store and Google Play. Reports submitted through the system are visible to the public and are updated by city departments as work progresses with statuses such as Open, Acknowledged, In Progress, or Closed.

"SeeClickFix is an incredible addition to our City," said Public Works Director Greg Maggard. "It has helped us stay on top of citizens' concerns, such as potholes, streetlights, you name it, by streamlining our process in logging and repairing reported problems."

Users are automatically subscribed to updates for any report they submit or comment on, and can manage their notification preferences as needed.

To learn more or submit a report, visit https://seeclickfix.com/martinsville or download the City Fix Martinsville app today.

• Moss Street and Church Street: The existing traffic lights will be removed and replaced with 4-way stop signs.
• Walnut Street and Church Street: The current stoplight will be removed. A stop sign will be installed for vehicles turning left from Walnut onto Church Street.
• Broad Street and Church Street: All traffic lights at this intersection will be converted into flashing red lights in every direction, creating an all-way stop.

• A flashing red light means stop completely, just as you would at a stop sign. Proceed only when it is safe and after yielding the right-of-way.
• At 4-way stops, the first vehicle to arrive has the right-of-way. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the one to the right goes first.
• When making a left turn from Walnut onto Church, be sure to stop and yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians before turning.

The City of Martinsville is proud to announce that its Water Treatment Plant has been awarded the 2024 Virginia Optimization Program (VOP) Gold Standard of Excellence by the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water. The award was officially presented on April 10, 2025, recognizing the facility’s outstanding commitment to water quality and public health.

The Virginia Optimization Program, established in 2004, is a voluntary initiative designed to encourage water treatment facilities across the Commonwealth to go above and beyond regulatory compliance. The program focuses on enhancing the performance and sustainability of waterworks operations while increasing the protection of public health.

Martinsville’s Water Resources Department has voluntarily committed to operating its treatment facility at a level that meets or exceeds all optimization goals outlined by the VOP. This proactive approach not only strengthens public health protections but also promotes the efficient use of resources and long-term sustainability for the community.

The City extends its sincere congratulations and gratitude to the following individuals for their exceptional efforts in achieving this honor:

• Andrew Reavis, Water Plant Manager
• Brandon Knight, Lab Manager
• Jeffery Hodges, Class I Waterworks Operator
• Brandon Cannaday, Class II Waterworks Operator
• Jacob Lemons, Class II Waterworks Operator
• Tony Hurd, Waterworks Operator Trainee
• Larry Barrett, Treatment Plant Maintenance Supervisor
• Randy Millner, Plant Mechanic II

Their unwavering commitment to excellence exemplifies the City of Martinsville’s mission to provide reliable, high-quality public services to its residents.

The City of Martinsville is proud to announce that its Water Treatment Plant has been awarded the 2024 Virginia Optimization Program (VOP) Gold Standard of Excellence by the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water. The award was officially presented on April 10, 2025, recognizing the facility’s outstanding commitment to water quality and public health.

The Virginia Optimization Program, established in 2004, is a voluntary initiative designed to encourage water treatment facilities across the Commonwealth to go above and beyond regulatory compliance. The program focuses on enhancing the performance and sustainability of waterworks operations while increasing the protection of public health.

Martinsville’s Water Resources Department has voluntarily committed to operating its treatment facility at a level that meets or exceeds all optimization goals outlined by the VOP. This proactive approach not only strengthens public health protections but also promotes the efficient use of resources and long-term sustainability for the community.

The City extends its sincere congratulations and gratitude to the following individuals for their exceptional efforts in achieving this honor:

• Andrew Reavis, Water Plant Manager
• Brandon Knight, Lab Manager
• Jeffery Hodges, Class I Waterworks Operator
• Brandon Cannaday, Class II Waterworks Operator
• Jacob Lemons, Class II Waterworks Operator
• Tony Hurd, Waterworks Operator Trainee
• Larry Barrett, Treatment Plant Maintenance Supervisor
• Randy Millner, Plant Mechanic II

Their unwavering commitment to excellence exemplifies the City of Martinsville’s mission to provide reliable, high-quality public services to its residents.

The Martinsville Fire & EMS Department would like to remind all residents of the City that the Statewide Burn Ban went into effect on February 15, 2025. 

This ban on open-air burning before 4:00 P.M. is in effect through April 30, 2025, and applies to all open-air burning within 300 feet of woodland. In addition, City code 9-61 requires all open-air burning to be complete by 8:00 P.M. The dangers of fires spreading during this timeframe are due to higher winds, lower relative humidity, and extremely dry fuels on the forest floor. 

Recreational fires are still allowed if entirely contained by a noncombustible material and covered with a metal screen containing ¼ inch or smaller openings. Please use extreme caution to remove all combustibles around the area to be burned, and all outdoor fires shall be attended to at all times.

 As always, the only materials allowed to be burned are paper, cardboard, leaves, trees, yards, and garden trimmings located on the premises. 

For more information on fire safety, please visit our website at martinsville-va.gov, the Va. Dept. of Forestry website, or contact the Martinsville Fire & EMS Dept. at 276-403-5325.

The City of Martinsville was recently honored with the "Certificate of Excellence in Reliability" from the American Public Power Association (APPA). The Certificate of Excellence in Reliability recognizes utilities that placed in the top 25 percentile of reliability nationwide in 2024, as measured against the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) data. APPA helps public power systems track outage and restoration data through its eReliability Tracker service and compares the data to national statistics tracked by the EIA. 

The City of Martinsville is beyond grateful for the dedication and commitment our Electric Department has for serving the community and keeping our city running.  It’s a great reminder of how much work goes into ensuring a consistent and reliable power supply for residents. The Electric Department's ongoing focus on proactive maintenance, quick response times during outages, and dedication to monitoring and restoring service are all integral to achieving this level of reliability. We would like to offer a sincere Congratulations and an even more sincere, thank you. 

We’re hosting Community Drop-In Events where YOU can share your ideas, ask questions, and help shape the future of Martinsville! 

• Drop-In #1: New College Institute
  • April 15, 2025 | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
• Drop-In #2: New College Institute 
  • May 6, 2025 | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Stop by anytime—no formal presentations, just real conversations about what matters to you! 

Can’t make it? You can still have your say! Take our Comprehensive Plan Survey here: surveymonkey.com/r/MartinsvilleMomentum

Spread the word and bring a friend! Let’s build a stronger Martinsville together. #MartinsvilleMomentum

JOIN US for a Community Discussion about the 2025 Tax Reassessment hosted by the Martinsville Commissioner of the Revenue! 

WHEN: April 10, 2025 | 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

WHERE: New College Institute, 191 Fayette Street

The Commissioner of the Revenue administers real estate tax relief for the elderly (age 65 by January 1) and permanently and totally disabled (any age) city residents who own real estate. 

For more information, click here. 

The deadline to apply for Real Estate Tax Relief for the Elderly or Permanently and Totally Disabled is April 1, 2025.

The Martinsville Police Department has released its 2024 Annual Police Department Report, which details the department's crime statistics and accomplishments over the last year. 

To review the report, click here.