ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 20, 1996 TAG: 9606200038
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
The town of Pulaski is backing the concept of a New River Valley intermodal transportation center, which means a combination of systems for moving goods or people in a seamless fashion.
What would be seamed together in this case is the Dublin rail outlet from the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, a number of warehouses that could be used for storage in the Dublin Industrial Park, the New River Valley Airport near Dublin and access to Interstate 81.
Pulaski Town Council passed a resolution Tuesday night supporting the concept, which has been pushed by the Pulaski Encouraging Progress organization and studied by both the New River Valley Planning District Commission and New Century Council.
Councilman Roy D'Ardenne said it is an opportunity to bring a lot of international trade to the New River Valley, in the same way that a seaport attracts such trade. "There really is a great opportunity for the area here," agreed Assistant Town Manager Rob Lyons.
Council also expressed support for the efforts of Pulaski Encouraging Progress to organize a transportation summit sometime in September, bringing together federal, state and local political leaders and transportation experts.
In other business, council postponed until a special meeting at 7:30 a.m. June 28 some wording changes in ordinances governing nuisance and litter abatement. Town Attorney Frank Terwilliger suggested some editing in the changes, and this will give council members time to review them before adopting the new wording.
"In essence, this improves and cleans up our town," said ordinance committee Chairwoman Bettye Steger. The changes, if adopted, would be effective July 1 and cover a variety of matters from unlawful dumping to failure to keep weeds cut.
The special meeting June 28 is to name the New River Valley Planning District Commission to represent the town in dealing with the New Century Council. The commission is expected to approve an agreement with the council, which covers localities in the Roanoke and New River Valleys, at its meeting June 27.
Council got a financial break in its property and casualty insurance for the next three years, after issuing a request for proposals and getting four bids. The one from USF&G Insurance is more than $57,000 less than the $151,967 price tag for the current fiscal year.
Lyons said he contacted the company to make sure it had not overlooked something it was supposed to cover. The town had estimated that its insurance costs would increase by 10 percent in the coming year.
The new insurer increases the town's overall umbrella coverage from $4 million to $5 million, and adds coverage for sewer backups which the town does not have now. "It's probably a combination of the market and our experience," Lyons said.
Council decided against taking part in a July 4 event at the Pulaski County Fairgrounds at Dublin, after learning that Pulaski County is not participating. The Independence Day event is being sponsored by Columbia Pulaski Community Hospital and radio station WPSK.
Town Parks and Recreation Director Dave Hart said Pulaski had been spending $3,000 on fireworks for its own celebration, and it made sense to him to kick in $1,000 if other governments in the county also participated financially for an even larger celebration. However, it appears the other localities will not participate.
Vice Mayor W.H. "Rocky" Schrader said the emphasis previously has been to bring people to Pulaski to celebrate the day. "To me, it doesn't make a lot of sense," he said. "We're taking them somewhere else and paying for it, too." Council agreed and voted not to contribute.
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