Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 12, 1994 TAG: 9410120051
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-13 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Monday night, council turned down a plan to forgive penalties and interest for two months as an incentive to get debtors to pay up on overdue personal property and real estate taxes and city utility bills.
"I'm just flat out opposed to the amnesty," Mayor Tom Starnes declared.
Councilman Bobby Nicholson said an amnesty for the city's debtors would be unfair to those who play by the rules. "It's almost saying to them, 'If you hold out a little bit longer, you'll get off scot-free,'" he said.
As part of a renewed effort to collect delinquent taxes and utilities, council also went along with a suggestion from City Manager Robert Asbury, Treasurer Martin "Jigger" Roberts and Commissioner of Revenue Cassie Turner to require all back taxes be paid before a city business license could be renewed. And, while the city plans to take old debts deemed uncollectible off the regular books, it won't give up on them altogether.
After considerable discussion, council agreed to consider working up a utility customer service contract to make it easier to collect delinquent payments. In the past, most people signed up by phone. City attorney John "Bunny" Spiers said written contracts make collections easier in court.
Council plans to talk further about how to pay for an estimated $2 million in repairs to the city's water treatment plant. Asbury has recommended pursuing a revenue bond issue that would be paid back through slightly higher water rates. Some council members suggested the city consider lumping other needed capital projects into a single bond issue. Council set a work session prior to its Oct. 24 meeting to discuss the issue.
On another matter, JoAnn Forest complained that one of her youngsters spends 50 minutes riding the city-run bus system home from Belle Heth Elementary School two miles away. Forest called on the city put more school buses on the road.
But Starnes told her the city already subsidizes the bus system and can't afford to spend more without readjusting its other priorities.
Asbury - who already had discussed the issue with Forest by telephone - was more direct. "It's a modified, limited system, it is not a school bus system," he said, pointing out that the city is not required to have school buses. He also revealed that City Council was near agreement on a plan to turn over to the School Board responsibility for hiring drivers and other employees.
In other unanimous votes, City Council:
resolved to let the Radford Heritage Foundation look into historic district designations and develop a historic preservation plan for Radford.
named the city's new softball park "Radford Veterans Park." A plaque at the park will note the role of Sterling Nichols, head of DMI, the company that donated land for the new park.
awarded a contract for $37,250 to Pearson's Appraisal Service of Richmond to reassess real estate in the city.
by CNB