Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 27, 1991 TAG: 9103270325
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Town Council on Tuesday appointed Sheri Daniel, a self-employed architect, and Charles Peter Kesler, who works at Blue Ridge Bank in Christiansburg.
"I'm ecstatic," said Daniel, reached at home after the meeting. "It's with mixed emotions, though, because I understand the importance of the position."
Daniel, 39, came to Blacksburg as a Virginia Tech student in 1969. She has lived here since then except for a few short periods, including three years on the planning staff of Cambridge, Mass., in the mid-1970s.
"I've been on the other side of the table," said Daniel, who never has served on a governing board.
"I have a genuine interest in seeing Blacksburg continue to develop under managed growth, and to see it continue to be a special place to live," she said.
Kesler, also reached at home after the meeting and informed by a reporter of his appointment, replied, "Oh, did they? Well, that's nice."
Kesler, chief administrative officer at the bank, said his experience with the financial end of commercial and residential development would contribute to the town's planning.
Kesler, 43; his wife, Patricia, a teacher at Bethel Elementary School; and their three children moved to Blacksburg three years ago.
They had lived in Floyd County, where Kesler grew interested in planning issues. Floyd County has no zoning.
"I saw quite often the problems that led to," he said.
The council received letters from 10 applicants, and voted unanimously to appoint Daniel and Kesler.
The two new commissioners do not know each other.
The appointments bring to 11 the number of members on the Planning Commission.
In other action, council:
Hired a North Carolina lawyer to collect $4,277 in meals taxes from Fisherman's Net Restaurant.
The restaurant, owned by Ruben-Wright Inc. of North Carolina, closed last summer after four years on South Main Street.
Town Attorney Richard Kaufman recommended the town hire Phillip Berger in Eden, N.C., to try to collect the taxes.
"Efforts to collect this money short of litigation have failed," Kaufman said in a memo to council. The town claims the company didn't pay the meals tax from March through June last year.
Scheduled April 23 for a public hearing on continuing the Two Town Trolley route between Blacksburg and downtown Christiansburg, with stops at the New River Valley Mall and the Market Place.
The towns and Virginia Tech agreed to a 14-month trial run of the extended bus service. A recent survey of Blacksburg residents showed 60 percent in favor of making it permanent.
by CNB