Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 26, 1991 TAG: 9103260460
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Councilman James Harvey said council would like to provide the service free, as it did for many years, but the city's financial crisis requires "everyone to share in the burden we are facing."
Because of the money crunch city workers won't get pay raises, water connection fees must be raised and the city has started charging elderly residents for recreation classes, Harvey said.
"If you find it is an absolute hardship and taking bread off your table, I think we will reconsider it," Harvey said.
Council said it may review the issue after Valley Metro finishes work on its budget for the new fiscal year. Councilman David Bowers moved for a $1 fare Monday, but no one would second the motion.
Joel Kelly, a spokesman for about 40 handicapped residents at the meeting, said the new fare is a hardship for those on fixed incomes. He asked council to reduce it to 50 cents.
The fare for regular bus service is $1; it is 50 cents for elderly and handicapped passengers.
Valley Metro officials said the charge partially will offset the cost of a 50 percent expansion of the service, which is provided by vans equipped with wheelchair lifts.
The bus system has provided the van service for handicapped residents free for several years, but council voted this year to impose the $1.50 fare.
Stephen Mancuso, Valley Metro's general manager, said the fare covers the same proportion of the cost for van service as the fares for regular bus service, which is heavily subsidized by federal, state and city funds. The cost of the van service averages $10.27 per trip, he said.
Mancuso said a "communication gap" caused the recent controversy over eligibility of blind people to use the van service. He assured council that blind residents who cannot use regular bus service can keep using the van service.
Mildred Brown, a blind city resident, said last week she was told that she could no longer use the van service for trips to her doctor. Mancuso said that was a misunderstanding.
Also Monday, council:
Awarded a contract to the Swanson Corp., Omaha, Neb., to provide food and beverage concessions at the Roanoke Civic Center, replacing Blue Ridge Catering, the Roanoke firm that has provided the service for 18 years.
Blue Ridge Catering is a subsidiary of Krisch Hotels. Officials estimate that Swanson's bid will produce an additional $25,000 a year for the civic center.
Asked Von Moody III, city real estate valuation director, for a report on the case of Carl Battin. The Northwest Roanoke resident's real estate assessment was reduced recently after the city Redevelopment and Housing Authority offered to buy his property.
Battin's house and lots were assessed at $43,100, then were lowered to $26,100 after the authority offered Battin $23,500 for the property. Moody said the higher assessment was a mistake, but Harvey said he wants to know "what can be done to prohibit this from happening in the future."
by CNB