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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-08-888414 September 8, 1988 Minutes of the special meeting of the. Pulaski Town. Council held September 8, 1988, at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Gary C. Hancock, presiding Council .Members: .James M. Neblett, Alma Holston, .James R. Neighbors, Andrew L. Graham, J. R. Schrader, Jr. Also Present: Frank Terwilliger, Town Attorney .Daniel E. McKeever, Town .Manager Anne Burgess, Assistant Town Manager Ruth A. .Harrell, Clerk Visitors: Dee Lindsey, Jessica Clarke, Bob Thomas of the news media Andy McCready Tfie invocation was given by Vice Mayor Neighbors. WAIVER OF NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING We, the undersigned, duly elected .members of the Council of the Town of Pulaski, Virginia, hereby .waive notice of a Special Meeting of said Council at 4:00 p.m., on the. 8th .day of September, 1988, for the purpose of areal estate matter. WITNESS our signatures this 8th day of .September , 1988 i ~, j 4 1 N ~ S ?;° Mayor Hancock advised the purpose of this meeting was a real estate .matter as STATION Council feels they are at a point where they .can discuss the Pulaski Passenger Station. TOWN PROPERTY Statot~.~. Councilperson Holston moved that the Town Attorney be authorized to offer the Norfolk and Southern Railroad $30,000 for the property adjoining the Passenger Stat and to accept the conveyance of the Passenger Station property, seconded by Council Neighbors. Councilman Graham read a prepared statement regarding the accepting of the Norfolk an Southern Station for the conversion into a museum, and gave the reasons why he could not vote for it at the present time. Sept. 8, 1988 September 8, 198$ Mayor Hancock and Members of the Town of Pulaski Councils I would like to express my opinion concerning accepting the Norfolk-Southern Railway Station for conversion into a museum for the Town of Pulaski and purchasing for 530,000 the adjacent building currently used as a taxi and bus terminal. I think a museum would be a wonderful addition to our town. The park that would be developed more fully from the station along Dora Highway would be an additional asset to our town. However, I believe the museum and the park should be a county-wide project, with all citizens proudly sharing our heritage. The museum should include the history of the New River, Ingle: Ferry, Newbern, Snowville, Draper, Farris Mines, the towns of Dublin and Pulaski, and mining in Pulaski County. The Town of Pulaski is only a part of the total history. As much as I would like to see a museum established in the Town of Pulaski, I cannot vote for it at this time for the following reasons: (1) The museum should represent the entire county. (2) Citizens should be involved financially and in leadership. Discussions I have heard indicate tax money will be used to establish the museum, and there has been no effort in getting the support of town citizens for this project. (3) The Town of Pulaski has no money in the budget for the museum. According to information released by the Town Manager, the cost to convert the Norfolk-Southern Station to a museum will cost 5251,000 to $300,000. This does not include removal of the asbestos shingles from the roof, an additional cost of $25,000 to $32,000. I am aware that the state has promised a $60,000 grant. If we accept this grant we are obligating the Town of Pulaski tax dollars to the total cost of converting the station to a museum. It has been brought to our attention that other grants may be available, but there is no confirmation of this. (4) An adequate annual operation and maintenance cost for the museum has not been provided from the Town of Pulaski administrative office. (5) It is_proposed that the Pulaski County_Chamber_of Commerce_will_be housed in the museum and open it to the public. In my opinion the entire space will be needed for museum displays, and I recommend that volunteer citizens work during the hours the museum is open to the public. Also, I oppose the Town of Pulaski subsidizing the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce to this extent. This is a county- wide Chamber of Commerce, and the burden of its existence should not fall exclusively on the Town of Pulaski citizens for office space, utilities, maintenance, insurance, etc. 8415 I believe it is urgent that these concerns be considered prior to voting on the museum issue. Andrew L. Graham 8416 September 8, 1988 Mayor Hancock advised that Council had addressed the questions raised by Councilman Graham during the course of their many meetings. Before we can establish a citizen commission, which is the intention of Council, to provide us with recommendations with regard to the use of the train station property, and .before we .can .begin a thorough fund raising effort, we .have to own the station. We cannot begin a project such as this if we are not the owner of the property. Motion then .carried on the following recorded vote: .James M. Neblett - Aye Andrew L. Graham - No Alma H. Holston - Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Absent Mary Lou Copenhaver -Absent J. R. Schrader, Jr. -Aye .James R. Neighbors - Aye Ira S. Crawford - Absent Councilperson Holston moved that the Town Manager be authorized to file a $90,000 loan application with the .Farmer's Home Administration and to file other grant applica- tions with public and private agencies, seconded by Councilman Neighbors... ~: Coun¢ilman~;Graham stated .that loan .was so~ethng that would .have to be paid back and he could not go along with this at this point. Mr. .Terwilliger advised that prior to loan itself actually .being consumated we would .need a written ordinance adopted at the time when all the terms of the loan are known. A public hearing would also be necessary. Motion then .carried on the following .recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Alma H. Holston - Aye .Mary Lou Copenhaver -Absent Andrew L. Graham - No W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Absent J. R. Schrader, Jr. -Aye .James R. .Neighbors - Aye Ira S. Crawford - Absent Councilperson Holston moved that the Architect be authorized to proceed with construction drawings, seconded by Councilman .Neighbors, and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Alma H. Holston - Aye Mary Lou Copenhaver -Absent James R. Neighbors - Aye Andrew L. Graham - No W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Absent J. R. Schrader, Jr. -Aye Ira S. Crawford - Absent Mr. McKeever distributed a press release to the .news media.. Mayor Hancock advised that Council .was concerned if work was not begun in the very near future to stabilize the building, that there could be other difficulties. experienced which could cause a greater expense down the road as .far as restoring; the building and might result in a total loss of this very historic structure for the. Town.. A grant from the state in the amount of $60,000 to begin restoration work on the building .has .been an encouragement to Council. Staff will try to obtain additional grant funding. He further stated that for this project to be successful, participation by the public would be .required. At 4:26 p.m. Councilman Graham made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council- man Neblett and .carried. APPROVED: ATTEST: Mayor 0~/V~''~ Clerk of the Council