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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-20-68X81 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Pulaski Town Council, held February 20, 1968, at I~:00 P. M., in the Municipal Office. There were present: Mayor C. V. Jackson, presiding. Councilmen: T. J. McCarthy, W, S. Cummings, H. H. Eggert, R Also present: Town Manager: Clerk Town Attorney: Raymond F. Ratcliff, Glen K. Aust, S. G. Frye, Adolph Farmer, C. B. Gallimore Evan Norton Gladys R. Dalton Alan Groseclose Visitors: Jane Graham, Southwest Times reporter Paul Dellinger, Roanoke Times Reporter Mrs. R. P. Hubble and son Rush Barrett Drexel L. Long Larry Hancock, Town Engineer C. E. Comer, Jr., Police Chief The invocation was given by Councilman Gallimore. flinutes of the regular meeting of February 6th were approved as recorded. Drexel L. Long, manager and owner of Sky Lanes, appeared before Council and advised that he had applied for permission to operate a Mobile Home Sales business on the parking lot next to Sky Lanes. Mr. Long advised that he would be backed by a trailer sales concern in Blacksburg, and that he would display only four (!~) trailers on the northeast end of the parking lot; these trailers to be 10' - 12' wide and 1~0' - 60' long. He further stated that only DREXEL LUNG new trailers would be displayed and all second-hand trailers secured GRANTED PERM. TO OPERATE A in this business would be taken to a lot in Blacksburg. Town Manager NUBILE HOME SALES AT SKY Norton advised this request comes under Section 12-1~ of the Town LANES Zoning Ordinance, which requires that such requests be referred to the Planning Commission for recommendation to Council since the district is zoned Business B-2 (General Business) and the ordinance does not specifically permit such uses in this district. Mr. Norton further reported that the Town Planning Commission had met on February 19th and considered the request, and it was the recommenda- tion of the Commission to Council that the permit be granted Mr. Long for the operation of this Mobile Home Sales business. Councilman Eggert stated that as a member of the Town Planning Commission, being Council's ~~~~~ Council rains. contd. 2/20/68 representative on the Commission, he moved that the application be approved, which motion was seconded by Councilman Cummiags, and carried. Town Manager Norton advised Council that in a communica- tion from Mr. Darrell Gollins, Resident Engineer for the High- way Department in Christiansburg, Mr. Collins had advised that the Town would have to pay for the entire cost of its recent request for re-surfacing of certain streets within the Town. However, Mr. Norton further advised that the matter had been gone into with the Richmond office and it was hoped this project could be done on the 85-15 ratio of costs involved. Town Manager Norton advised that the traff~.c situation at the intersection of Routes 99 and 611 was reviewed with Mr. Taylor and Mr. Collins of the Highway Department, and in a recent communication from Mr. Collins, the Town was advised that ao remedial action was necessary at this time. Later in the meeting, COUNCIL TO ASK Council again discussed the critical traffic situation at the PERMISSION TO PLACE SIGNS intersection of these two routes, and on motion of Councilman AT INTERSEC . 99 & 611 Frye, seconded by Councilman Ratcliff, and carried, it was, RESOLVED, that the State Highway Department be contacted to see if a "REDUCE SPEED" sign can be placed on Route 99 for traffic approaching Pulaski; and an "INDUSTRIAL INTERSECTION" sign be placed on Route 611 for traffic approaching Route 99 and the Town of Pulaski. Mr. Norton also advised that the Tawn had been notified BIDS TO BE REC'd. by letter that the Route 99 and Route 11 projects would be advertised on RT. 99 & ll PROJECTS on February 21, 1968, with bids to be received on March 20, 1968, and construction to begin approximately !t5 days after bids are received, and suggested that the town make every effort to have its facilities adjusted ahead of the contractor's operations to avoid delays. Mr. Norton advised that relocation of the utilities, etc., had been worked out, anti there would be no delay on the town's part. ~t"~~3 Council minx. contd. 2/20/68 Town Manager Norton advised that the Town had been BRIDGE INSPEC. BY JULY 1, 196$ 1 twice since the last Council meeting; that the original recommendation of the Cemetery Consultant, Mr. Hal Swann, was that the southwest corner of the new cemetery addition be developed first, from an CEP~TERY COMM. economical standpoint because these were least desirable and should RECOMNiEATDS TOP OF THE HILL PORTIONbP sold first. However, the Committee had visited this site along BE DEVELOPED FIRST. with the Beautification Committee and local Fun®ral Directors, and 1 instead of developing what Mr. Swann recommended, it was the recommendation of the Committee that the top of the hill, which is the most desirable area, be developed first with a circular driveway to provide access, at a cost of less than $5,000.00, which amount was within the budget and that it was the recommendation of the Cemetery Committee that the top of the hill be developed first instead of the area recommended by Mr. Swann. He further stated that developmentcf this area would provide approximately 750 grave. spaces, 1~' x 10' instead of recommended spaces of 3'~r x 9r. Mr. Frye stated the Town crews and Town Manager could proceed immediately on this work, and so moved that the top of the hill portion be developed first, that a circular driveway be cut to connect with the old cemetery road and that the grave plots be Lt' x 10'. This motion was seconded by Councilman Eggert, and carried. Town Manager Norton advised that Mrs. R. P. Hubble had asked TRANSFER OF 4 CAB PERMITS FROM HUBBLE TO BARRETT notified of its responsibility concerning annual inspection of bridges on state primary routes, and that he had asked that the two bridges in Pulaski requiring inspection be placed on the list of the High- way Department for inspection which must be done by July 1, 1968. Councilman Frye reported that the Cemetery Committee had met that her four (!~) Certificates granted her by Council in December, be transferred to Mr. Rush Barrett, who wishes to purchase these Certificates since she is no longer able to operate her cab busi- ness. Councilman Gallimore reported that the Police Committee had met that day with Chief Comer, with all members present, and r1~~~ Council rains. contd. 2/20/68 in light of her request and upon the recommendation of Chief Comer, that that Mr. Barrett will be operating these four cabs and two others for which he was granted Certificates, at the corner of Main Street and Randolph Avenue, it was the recommendation of the Committee to Council that Mr. Barrett be allowed to buy the cabs as a business and the Committee recommended to Council the approval of the transfer of the four (!t) permits to Mr. Barrett. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cummings, and carried. At this point Councilman Farmer stated that "in light of recent publications, I think it is my duty to assume part responsibility for certain acts attributed to the Mayor alone. I voted to make a study on "City Status". I voted to direct the Mayor to go to Richmond and report on "Bills" affecting "City Status'.'. I believe that studies, action and awareness are the keys to progress. I think that an elected official must be DEGRADING PRESS allowed to vote and make decisions without fear .of biased re- ITEMS CONCERN- ING MAYOR DIS- porting if he is to do an effective job. I hope we can CUSSED encourage our local writers to print only the facts. I believe the press, the governing body and the Town coulc greatly benefit from an "up-grading" of our public relations. Some facts recently asked the Mayor will only be answerable with the passing of time". Mayor Jackson advised that he did not know this was to come up, but since it had, asked that only factual information be printed; that he had always contended, and still felt, that the division of the sales tax to be unfair. There followed a discussion among members of Council of the degrading press items of the Mayor which is an elective office. It was also brought out by Town Manager Norton that the Southwest Times had had access to the Yarger report on City Study for a short period of time on a loan basis. Council agreed that the press have a copy of the report, and to do all possible to stop these news items which are very degrading to the Mayor. V.P.I. PLAN. REP. CONC. TRAFFIC COND. AT MAIN & W. &3RD&W.TO BE COMPL. IN JUNE 1 Council rains. contd. 2/20/68 Town Manager Norton and Engineer Larry Hancock explained to Council sketches which had been prepared of the intersection of Washington Avenue and Main Street, and Jefferson Avenue and Main Street, as well as Washington and Third, concerning the traffic conditions at these intersections. It was reported that these conditions were reviewed with Mr. Taylor, Salem District Traffic Engineer, and Mr. Collins, Resident Engineer, together with Sgt. Long and Engineer Hancock on February 1ltth. Mr. Norton reported that these details have also been discussed with the V. P. I. Planners for coordination with their plans, and they will have recommendations on this in their report and plans for the Central Business District which will be completed in June. He further stated the conditions are practically identical for these three intersections, and the blockage is caused by left-turn movements onto one way streets that are stalled by straight thru traffic that cause blocking of the lanes behind them, and that the cure for this would be leading green signals for the left-turn movements, allowing other movements to proceed that do not interfere with the left-turns, and removal, or no-parking during rush hours, a sufficient number of parking spaces near the corner on the right side to eliminate interference with the straight through movements. This was discussed by Council and it was agreed that further study be made and the matter be carried on the agenda for the next meeting. Mayor Jackson reported on a point session of the Finance MAYOR RE~'ORTS ON HOUSE i3c SENATE BILLS 371 & 199 1 Committees of the Senate and House concerning House Bill No. 37l and Senate Bill 199. He stated all the smaller airports in Virginia supported the bills, and the opposition came from the larger air- ports in Virginia in the area around Alexandria, Fairfax County, as well as Richmond, Newport News and Norfolk area, because of what it might do to tourist coming into their area and being charged $1.00 for enplaning fee. It was explained that the airports which generated the traffic would get 50~ of this fee and the other fifty per cent would go to the Division of Aeronautics to be delegated to Air Carrier Airports on capital improvements and not spread out all over Virginia but only to the Air Carrier Airports. He stated there was strong opposition to the Bill for tax on gasoline. ~~~ ~ Council minx. contd. 2/20/68 Town Manager Norton reported on a trip made to Richmond MR. NORTON on February 13th to attend a public hearing on Senate Bill 210 REPORTS ON SENATE BILL Transition of Towns to Cities. This Bill would provide an amend- 210 meat which would require towns to work out all financial details concerned prior to making the transition to city status.. The comments of those attendi ng both for and in opposition to the bill, were described. There was a brief discussion concerning bills of the DISCUSSION Hahn Commission that had been introduced for legislation; these OF HAHN COMM. BILLS were Senate Bill 267, that is concerned with the expansion of the State Division of Planning and the provision of state-wide planning districts. Senate Bill 266 provides for the planning district commission and also the establishment of service districts. Senate Bill 261 has to do with the disposition of fees and fines in courts not of record as well as tha jurisdiction of such courts to hear matters of service district ordinances. There were no actions taken with regard to these matters. On motion of Councilman McCarthy, seconded and carried, Council went into executive session. After a period of time Mayor Jackson declared the meeting to b e in open session. Town Manager Norton requested permission to confer with CONF. WITH the County Board of Supervisors concerning an access road to the SUP. ON ACCESS ROAD TO GATE W. proposed recreational areas at Gatewood Reservoir. Councilman RFC . AREA Ratcliff moved, seconded by Councilman Gallimore, and approved, that this. request be granted. The meeting ad3ourned at 6:00 P. M. Approved: Vii- ,--~ Attest: ayor erk