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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-03-67;~~3~6 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Pulaski Town Council, held January 3, 196?, at 4:00 P. M., in the Municipal office. There were present: Mayor C. V. Jackson, presiding. Councilmen: W. S. Cummings, T. J. McCarthy, S. G. Frye, H. H. Eggert, Raymond F. Ratcliff, Rudolph Farmer, Glen K. Aust, C. B. Gallimore Also present: Town Manager: Evan Norton Clerk: Gladys R. Dalton Town Attorney: Garnett 5~ Moore Town Engineer: E. W. Holyfield Visitors: Jane Graham, Southwest Times reporter Paul Dellinger, Roanoke Times reporter Glynn Barringer, Hayes, Seay, Mattern & Mattern of Roanoke The invocation was given by Town Manager Norton. Minutes of the regular meeting of December 20th were approved as corrected. In response to a recent communication with Hayes, Seay, Mattern GLYNPI BARRANGFR CONSULTANT ATT. MEF;TIA~G . RE: CITY STATUS. SWEET-ORR WITHDRAWS REQ. TO RENT BUNTS BLDG. HUD TURNS DOWN F.EQ . FOR ASSIST. ON SEWER & WATEP LINE EXT. & Mattern of Roanoke, Mr. Glynn Barringer of that firm appeared before 1 Council with regards to his firm making a study for Pulaski on the feasibility of becoming a city of the second or of the first class. Mr. Barringer explained to Council that his firm would make no recommendation as to whether Pulaski should become a city of either class; but stated their study would indicate to the Council the feasibility of such a change, involving tax rate changes; the operation of schools, health and welfare departments and courts. Mr. Barringer advised that his firm would not be able to attempt this study for approximately three or four months and that it would be an additional three months before the study would be complete. He advised their fee would be X7500.00, or less then X5000.00 if the Town could furnish all the data necessary for such a study. Town Manager Norton advised that Sweet-Orr, Incorporated had withdrawn their request to rent the second floor of the Bunts Building inasmuch as they had found space nearer to their place of business on First Street. Town Manager Norton advised. that in response to his request of the Department of Housing and Urban Development that the Town's application for federal assistance on sewer and water line extensions be reconsidered, he had been advised by the federal department they have on hand requests in excess of three billion dollars, and they were not in position to honor all of the request for assistance for sewer and water funds. 1 1 Council mins. contd. 1/3/67 Councilman Frye advised that the Finance Committee had met and considered the discontinuation of the tax on personal household property which has been discontinued by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Pulaski, and it was estimated by the Committee that if the Town followed the same policy as the county that the town would lose approximately X17,000.00 per year in revenue and since the town is receiving only a small portion of the optional l~ sales tax, and since inflation in both labor and materials are certain to continue, that the Town could not afford to lose this revenue and maintain a TOWN TO RETAT_N'~~ sound fiscal policy. Mr. Frye stated that several alternatitives to PERSONAL PROP. TAX. ORD. TO the personal property tax were considered and after deliberation these BE REVISE. were rejected by the Finance Committee. He further stated it was pro- `~~,~~a~ jetted by Town Manager Norton and Town Treasurer that the administration of the personal property tax on household goods would cost approximately X4,000.00 per year but that a part, if not all, of this might be recovered by efficient and careful administration in the assessment and collection of the tax. Therefore, it was the recommendation of the finance committee that the Town of Pulaski retain the personal property tax including those items of household goods and appliances being dropped by the County of Pulaski, and that the town establish the procedures required to assess, collect and administer said tax at the present rate. It was further recommended that the applicable ordinance be revised, if necessary, to provide for assessment, collection, administration, and enforcement by the town of the personal property tax. Town .Attorney Moore reported there was a good chance that the Legislature will eliminate this tax within the next few years, and the Town would then have to consider revenue from some other source. Town Manager Norton reported that the Town would have to set up some means to get the necessary information on which to base the tax, both by sending out forms and by personal contact, and that a close follow up would be very necessary by having someone in the field to make this check. Council- man Aust moved that the recommendation of the Finance Committee be accepted REC . 0~' FINANCE COMM. ACCEPTFII. and the Town Attorney be directed to prepare the proper ordinance for RE: PER. PROP. T°X• adoption by Council. This motion was seconded by Councilman Frye, and carried on the following vote, Councilman Farmer abstaining stating that he felt the tax unfair and there were other means of revenue to take its place: t9~C7 Council mins. contd. 1/3/67 Raymond F. Ratcliff -aye W. S. Cummings - aye T. J. McCarthy - aye Glen K. Aust - aye S. G. Frye - aye H. H. Eggert -aye Rudolph Farmer- no C. B. Gallimore-aye Councilman Frye advised that the Finance Committee had gone OPR. FXP. OVER BUDGET FOR FIRST MOS. over the operating expenses of the budget for the first months of the fiscal year, and it was the feeling that Town Manager Norton had done a good job in holding down these expenses. Councilman Ratcliff reported that from a study made by Town Manager Norton and Engineer Holyfield on the Howard Street and Case knife Road sewer extension, it was estimated that the Howard Street project would cost approximately X5,400.00 and to extend this on to Case Knife Road would cost an additional X9,600.00, or a total of X15,000.00 for the entire project. It was brought out during the discussion that four property owners on Howard Street had put up their HOWARD ST. CASE KNIFE RD. sewer connection deposit and one on the Case Knife Road line had made SEWER EXT. DIS- CUSSED. CARRIED his deposit. Engineer Holyfield advised it was his opinion that the OVER TO FUT. DATE. four deposits on Howard Street would be all that could be collected, and as for the Case Knife Road project other property owners on that street had indicated their willingness to put up their deposit, but it was questionable whether some would be financially able to install a bathroom if the line were built. Councilman Ratcliff moved that the matter be carried over uhtil some future date, and Town Manager Norton be directed to make application for federal assistance for building rehabilitation in these areas. This motion was seconded by Councilman Gallimore, and carried. Councilman Ratcliff advised there was no report at this time on the Sweet-Orr Incorporated sewer line extension. Town Attorney Moore reported he had no report to make, and that the Housing Authority project was still under study. Town Manager Norton advised a study is being made regarding the use of decals in lieu of license plates; that more information regarding ATTY. TO PI'EPARE insurance costs must be secured on the matter of a lease between the LE_? SE AC=REEMENT . RE: GEN. CHEM. General Chemical Company and the Town for recreational use of lands on LAND . Route 99. Later in the meeting on motion of Councilman Eggert, seconded by Councilman Farmer, and carried, it was, RESOLVED, that the Town Attorney be authorized to prepare the agreement, or contract, pending the acceptance of same by the Town. 1 1 Council mins. contd. 1/3/67 ~~~~~" The City status study was continued on the agenda, with Town Manager Norton to make further inquiry as to interested consultants regarding this study for the Town. Town Manager Norton displayed t~To plans of a new municipah bui M ing, first the building requirements should the town remain a town and then should the town become a city of the second class and then should the town decide to become a city of the first class- all of NEW Ni[1N. BLDG. said plans being one-story buildings. The second plan called for a PLANS DISPLP.YED. NO ACT. TAKEN. second floor to the building to house courtrooms etc., should the town become a city. No action was taken and it was agreed to carry this matter on the agenda. Town Manager Norton advised that he had contacted Mr. Philip TAXICAB CERT. Sadler and informed him that the Taxicab Certificates had been granted GRANTED UPON CONDITION. upon the condition of the Cab Association's agreement to furnish services after one A.M., and that Mr. Sadler had advised. they had not come up with a plan at that time. On motion of Councilman Gallimore, seconded by Councilman Eggert, and carried, it was, RESOT~V~:D, that the following supplemental resolution be adopted, with copies of same to be mailed to the State Highway Department: RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Section 33-57 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by the 1966 Session of the General Assembly, authorizes the State Highway Commissioner to acquire SUPPLEMT'DTTAL rights of way for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, maintenance and repair of public highways RES. ADOPTED. within municipalities on projects which are constructed RE: ACQ. OF with State or Federal participation; and RIGHT-OF-IniAY . HIGHWAY DEPT. WHEREAS, Section 33-57, as amended, further provides that the State Highway Commissioner may exercise such authority only upon receipt of official request from the city or town involved, now THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Council of Pulaski, Virginia, hereby requests the State Highway Commissioner to acquire the necessary rights of way for Project (1) 0011-125-101 - P. E. - 101; (2) 0011-125-101- R. W. 201; (3) 0011-125-101 - c - 501; and Project 0099- .. 125-PE-101, and Project 0099-12.5-102-R/W 201, within the Corporate limits of said Town and guarantees to reimburse the State Highway Department for fifteen percent (15~) of all costs incurred in the acquisition of such rights of way and it is understood that such acquisitions will be handled by the Co:missioner under established policies and procedures and his decision in all instances shall be final. TOWN COt1NCIL OF PULASKI, VIRGINIA ;~~~~(1 Council rains. contd. 1/3/67 A request for water and sewer services to Mt. Olivet Road MT. OLIVET RD. and Summit Street was turned over to the Water and Sewer Committees SUMMIT ST. REQ. FOR WnTER & SEW. on motion of Councilman Gallimore, seconded by Councilman Farmer, TURNED OVER TO ~W. & S. COMM. and carried. On motion of Councilman Eggert, seconded by Councilman Ratcliff, and carried it was, F.ESOLVED, that Council go into executive session. The meeting adjourned at 5:50 P. M. Approved: C~ _ --_-.-_ __ _ ___~. yor Attest: ,~ Clerk of he Council 1 it