Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 17, 1993 TAG: 9304170156
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
DEATH OF RECREATION LEADER MOURNED IN DUBLIN
Town council unanimously resolved Thursday to express "heartfelt appreciation" for the late Si Rasnake's contributions to Dublin's recreation programs and "sincere sympathy" to his family. Rasnake, who headed Dublin Recreation, died Sunday at 66."He was always a gentleman, whether he disagreed or agreed," mayor Benny Keister said of Rasnake.
But, some council members could not agree on how Rasnake really felt about a countywide recreation agreement that council passed next. The pact calls for cooperation among Pulaski, Pulaski County and Dublin in providing recreation programs.
Dublin recreation officials, including Rasnake, had pushed for changes to the agreement, which they felt unduly favored the county at Dublin's expense.
Pulaski and Pulaski County already had approved the revised contract, which will be up for yearly renewal. Dublin approved it Thursday on a 5-1 vote, with councilman Colbern Linkous voting no.
Linkous said the best way council could honor Rasnake's memory would be to vote against the agreement, which, he said, "would turn over to the county all that he worked so hard for."
Councilman David Stanley said Rasnake had agreed with the revised recreation pact.
"That's not the story I got," countered Linkous, who said he'd talked with Rasnake 10 days before he died.
Al Carden, one of the town's representatives to the countywide rec board, asked council to consider paving the jogging path in the Lion's Club park off Bagging Plant Road. Rasnake was instrumental in developing the park.
In other business, after a public hearing and much discussion, council approved changes to the town's zoning ordinance on a 4-2 vote. However, property owner Tom Pifer was not happy with the zoning of his land at Giles Avenue and U.S. 11. Despite Pifer's earlier pleas, the town Planning Commission has refused to rezone the tract to general business from a more restrictive business zoning.
But, the final decision on zoning changes rests with council. Several council members expressed support for Pifer during the meeting. After the vote, Town Administrator Gary Elander said he would notify adjacent landowners that Pifer intended to apply again to rezone.
In a related matter, council again held the line against allowing mobile homes in neighborhoods where zoning prohibits them. Council unanimously turned down an application to erect a mobile home on a Third Street lot that neighbors said floods following heavy rain.
In other business, council:
Approved a resolution seeking $5,100 in snow-removal assistance money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Elander said the extra labor and equipment expenses resulted from the March blizzard.
Approved drawing up an ordinance to regulate how Appalachian Power Co. trims trees along its power line rights of way in Dublin.