
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 27, 1990                   TAG: 9006270041
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-6   EDITION: 
SOURCE: KIM ZEOLI
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

CITY COUNCIL WILL ASK THE STATE TO PROVIDE MONEY FOR MANDATES

If the state wants it, the state should pay for it, as far as City Council is concerned. So Council unanimously endorsed a House of Delegates bill that would call for state funding of state mandates.

Council agreed Monday night to draft a resolution in support of the house bill that would establish a State Payment for State Mandates Act. If passed, this bill will replace the existing procedure of local governments having to find the money to pay for programs and projects that the state requires.

"The state is killing us with their mandates. If the state mandates it, then they should come up with the funds," said Councilman David Worrell.

Councilwoman Polly Corn wasn't sure that the bill meant that the state would automatically fund the mandates, but she supported it. She said any money from the state would be helpful.

In another matter, Radford City Council decided to request bids for designing improvements to the municipal parking lot on Third Avenue.

After hearing from Stuart Mackler, chairman of the Main Street Radford Design Committee, Council chose not to spend any money yet on the project, but to accept bids.

Mackler said the improvements are badly needed.

"The economic situation in downtown could be improved if shoppers had better access to the stores. We should enhance it [parking lot] and make it more attractive and safer," Mackler said.

The design committee suggested that trees and shrubbery be placed in the parking lot to make it more attractive. Trees that would need little maintenance were recommended. Signs also would be installed to guide shoppers to the stores.

In other business, City Council:

Refunded $96 in building permit fees to "The Long Way Home."

Wrote off $1,121 in bad debts as requested by Martin Roberts, city treasurer, and reimbursed the petty cash fund by this much.

This is the only amount that has been written-off since 1977, and Council commended the treasurer's office.

Approved reserving three lots for Virginia Mountain Housing in the Wilson Heights Subdivision.

Approved the selling price of $1,050 for a surplus ambulance.

by CNB