Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 22, 1990 TAG: 9006220516
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By RICK LINDQUIST SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
Topping the agenda was a public hearing to formally revise the water rate schedule to help fund the proposed 1990-91 budget.
The meeting was the second in as many weeks as the town struggles to meet the June 30 budget-approval deadline. And it's not over yet. Council is expected to finally approve the $1.56 million spending plan next Thursday.
At last Thursday's public budget hearing, town residents learned officially that the minimum residential water bills would go from $6 to $8.50, in part because of a 23 percent increase in the cost of water to the town. Minimum bills for out-of-town Dublin water customers will take an even larger jump - from $8 to $12.50.
"I don't think it's fair," said out-of-town customer Carvel Brumfield, who called the new rate "pretty steep."
"How could this council allow that to happen?" town resident Roger Akers demanded, when told there was $35,000 outstanding in delinquent water accounts.
"This council did not allow that to happen," Mayor Benny Keister and several council members responded, nearly in unison.
At one point, Keister had to gavel down one man who insisted on speaking out of turn from the back of the room.
Several residents called on the town to start cutting off service to those who fail to pay their bills on time.
"You're right, and that's the way we've been doing it," said Keister.
The largest, single delinquent water bill amounted to about $3,700, according to Town Administrator Gary Elander, who also caught some of the public flak.
When the new budget goes into effect July 1, Elander will go from a part-time administrator/consultant to a full-time town manager, a move that does not sit well with some residents.
"Well, I feel like, if they were so hard up, they shouldn't have hired a town manager," said Towle, who suggested the town is too small to justify the expense.
Elander began in February on a consulting basis. He'll receive $35,000 a year as a full-time manager.
On a related matter, Elander outlined a $1.4 million water improvement project the town expects to undertake this year. The renovations would replace several miles of water pipe in the town system and eliminate low pressure and leakage problems.
Council also voted unanimously to approve ordinances to double both vehicle decal fees and the town's meals tax. A revised fee schedule for trash collection was approved.
Council also accepted the resignation of Town Treasurer and Council Clerk Alice Linkous, who has been treasurer for eight years and clerk for the past three.
by CNB