Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 22, 1991 TAG: 9103220698
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
"I wonder if it isn't an idea that should be investigated to . . . becoming a part of the county," Stanley asked during a public hearing on Dublin's comprehensive plan.
"It would certainly lift the tax burden on a lot of people," Stanley said. He said many Dublin citizens and property owners think they are paying too much in taxes for too little in town services.
"I personally pay better than $1,400 a year in taxes - real estate and personal property and business taxes, and I say to myself, `For what?' " said Stanley, who operates a veterinary clinic next to his home, which abuts the town line.
"If my business were just a hundred yards further down the road, I would save myself $700 or $800 a year in taxes.
"I may be against it in the final analysis," Stanley said. "But I see no problem in pursuing it."
Planning Commission Vice Chairman Dallas Cox said, "I would second Dr. Stanley's position that we at least consider this as an option."
He later said Stanley's idea could help to "galvanize" townspeople. "I think we, as a town, have to make some very hard decisions."
Planning Commission Chairwoman Patsy Akers disagreed. "I'm going to defend Dublin," she said. "Don't turn your back on us yet."
Akers, a former town councilwoman who headed the boundary change study committee, said annexation of Pulaski County neighborhoods was vital to the town's growth and future.
In the face of heavy opposition from affected residents, the county Board of Supervisors has ended boundary talks with the town.
"We can go to court. We can win some land," Akers declared. "Let's make this the best small town there is."
"I'm not anti-Dublin," countered Stanley. "I've lived here for 34 years and would like to spend another 34 years here in Dublin.
"There are [unorganized] communities that have just as much identity as we have," he said, citing Newbern as one local example. "They don't pay any town taxes.
"We have a budget of $1.5 million and 2,000 people and six policemen," he said. "Fairlawn has no policemen. Do we have more crime than Fairlawn, or do we have less crime than Fairlawn?"
Town Councilman Colbern Linkous - an outspoken annexation advocate who also opposed a plan voters defeated in 1983 to consolidate Pulaski County's three governments - said, "I'm not worried about what the supervisors want, because it's going to be the judge that's going to decide what we get in the long run.
"They've told us they're going to court, and I have no doubt we'll win it," he said.
Linkous also left no doubt as to where he stood on the idea of giving up the charter: "My vote is `no.' It will be `no' from now on," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.
Mayor Benny Keister said, "I'm not sure the people of this town would support it, after the consolidation vote." He said expanding the town would not be as expensive as some estimates have indicated.
Stanley, though, predicted the annexation fight "will be a losing battle, and it will be a costly battle."
"We've already spent $26,000 investigating this thing, and that's just the tip of the iceberg," he said.
As Keister closed the public hearing and began the regular town council session, he joked: "Now we'll get to town business while we still have one."
by CNB