Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 10, 1995 TAG: 9511100059
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Now, only Pulaski Town Council can give special permission for such work.
But council's Public Operations Committee agreed Thursday morning to send recommended drainage policy changes to the Ordinance Committee. And the Ordinance Committee, in a joint session with Public Operations, agreed to present the recommendations to council at its next meeting Nov. 21.
"We've been dragging our feet for so long, we have to get moving on this," said Public Operations Committee Chairwoman Alma Holston.
The recommendations would allow Public Works Director Mike Jenkins, with approval from Town Manager Tom Combiths, to authorize curb and gutter work covering less than a block in cases where it makes engineering sense to do so.
Mayor Andy Graham wanted more flexibility to fix culverts on residential properties where they were filled or collapsed, and presented drainage problems.
But other committee members decided to stick with the town's current policy, which allows town crews to install culverts but requires the property owner to pay for the materials. Graham felt many such projects were being held up because some property owners could not afford the materials.
In another joint recommendation, the committees agreed to present to council a model ordinance governing the town's business, professional and occupational tax . The model was drawn up by the Virginia Municipal League to promote statewide uniformity in administering the tax, which business groups tried - and failed - to get the General Assembly to lift.
Cities and towns lobbied to keep the tax because its removal would mean a significant loss in revenue for municipalities.
Pulaski revised its BPOL tax structure several years ago, and it is already pretty much in line with the model ordinance.
The amount of revenue the town receives shouldn't change much if the town approves the ordinance, Combiths said. Radford and Christiansburg are considering adopting the model ordinance, too.
The two committees authorized a public hearing on granting an easement to Virginia Natural Gas of Abingdon for a new gas line across town property through the Gatewood Reservoir area and a corner of the Loving Field recreation area.
Virginia Gas is planning an 80-mile line from Saltville to Radford paralleling the existing East Tennessee Natural Gas line, which now has all the customers it can handle. The new line, which has been endorsed by the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors, would provide another natural gas source for New River Valley businesses.
by CNB