Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 17, 1990 TAG: 9005180685
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Nester said Tuesday during council's work session that he decided to conduct the survey after talking with Mayor Charles Hill. Nester and four other town employees spent three hours May 4 checking the personal-property decals on 802 cars parked at the Lake Drive and River Park shopping centers. They were trying to determine the residency of the owners.
The startling news, Nester said, was that only 17.6 percent of the cars were registered in Vinton. Bedford County, with 23.8 percent came in first, with Roanoke and Roanoke County showing 21.6 percent and and 21.1 percent of the total, respectively.
Six and a half percent of the cars were registered in Franklin County, 3.6 percent in Botetourt, and 5.8 came from other localities.
"This reaffirms that we are a larger retail shopping center than we have been given credit for. It's something that's real healthy for us," Nester said.
The figures, he added, "might make a difference to someone looking to locate an industry here."
Although Vinton has a population of only 8,000, Nester said, the town can now prove that it serves a much larger population.
"It's what we've been trying to tell people all along," said Councilman Donald Davis.
Nester said a second study will be conducted June 1. That date was picked, he said, because it is after the end of the month, after many people are paid, and after government checks come in. Those factors should guarantee more shoppers for the survey.
In other action:
Council heard a report from Nester about an unexpected increase in funding from the state for the police department. Each year, Nester said, the state awards special compensation to municipal police departments because they, unlike sheriffs' departments, aren't partially funded by the state.
The funds are distributed according to a formula based on population, crime level and the amount of training of the officers. Last year, Nester said, Vinton was awarded $110,272. This year, because of changes in the formula, the town will receive $153,762.
Nester said the money will be put into the general fund. While the increase is welcome, he said, it is "just a drop in the bucket" compared to the police department's $881,000 budget.
Council heard a report from Councilman Ray Sandifer on this years' Progress Day June 21. Progress Day, which had been annual event until the 1970s, is designed to show government officials and business owners what the town has to offer, Nester said.
Sandifer said more than 500 invitations have been sent, but he expects only 150 to 250 participants.
The event will feature a breakfast, lunch and several presentations, as well as a bus tour of businesses, industry, schools and public buildings.
Council held four back-to-back executive sessions after the regular meeting. The first two concerned real-estate matters involving Lot 6 at the Vinton Industrial Park and the McDonald Farm property. The third covered a personnel matter, and the fourth was a discussion about consolidation.
Although council had nothing to report after returning to regular session, Nester said the the discussions were very productive.
by CNB