Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 18, 1991 TAG: 9104190668
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
During a public hearing before the regular meeting, council adopted a 5 percent admissions tax that will be levied against any "public amusement, entertainment, performance, exhibition, sport or athletic event," the ordinance read.
Events sponsored by schools and charitable organizations will be exempt, said Town Attorney Frank Selbe.
The ordinance, Selbe said, "mirrors the Roanoke County version," recently passed by the Board of Supervisors.
Mayor Charles Hill and other council members expressed concern over whether the ordinance covers such activities as bowling and swimming.
"We need to make sure it's an admission fee and not a participation fee," said Councilman Ray Sandifer.
Selbe told council that the town treasurer could be asked to draw up a list of what is covered under the ordinance to prevent such an occurrence. The ordinance also can be changed later, he added.
Henry Brabham, owner of the LancerLot sports complex and part owner of a Vinton bowling alley, came to the meeting to protest the measure. Brabham also asked that the amount of the 5 percent tax that will go to sellers of admissions tickets to cover bookkeeping expenses be raised from 3 percent to 5 percent.
Council left the ordinance as it was, however.
Council also approved an ordinance assessing a transient occupancy tax on hotel or campground stays of fewer than 30 days. That tax will be 2 percent of the total cost of occupying the room.
The taxes will go into effect May 1.
In other action:
Selbe informed council that the town no longer will receive $2 from court costs in Roanoke County traffic cases tried at the town hall in Vinton. The General Assembly has revoked the ordinance granting the town the fee, which went into effect only 9 months ago, Town Manager Brad Corcoran said. The fees would have brought $5,000 a year to the town. The money was to be used for upkeep and repairs to the town hall related to its use as a courtroom.
Council approved a 12-year franchise agreement with Cox Cable Roanoke that also has been signed by Roanoke and Roanoke County.
"It was truly negotiated as a valley," said Selbe, who with Councilman Roy McCarty, was on the team that negotiated the agreement.
The 65-page document calls for expanding the system's capacity to 62 channels; providing an institutional cable distribution network; public-, education-, and government-access channels; the establishment of a community studio; free basic service to each elementary- and secondary-school academic building; a capital grant of $480,000 to the three governments; reimbursement of franchise award expenses; and a franchise fee of 5 percent of gross revenues.
Bernie Langheim, vice-president and general manager of Cox Cable Roanoke, thanked council for passing the ordinance.
"I feel very good about Cox's position in this valley, and what we as a corporate citizen will be able to do."
Brabham presented council with a petition signed by 1,263 residents asking for a traffic light at the intersection of Vinyard and Hardy roads. After an event at the LancerLot complex, which is on Vinyard road, "it's impossible to get out," he said.
Area resident Christine Bryant said the intersection was dangerous. "Let's don't wait until somebody gets killed," she urged.
Council accepted a bid of $198,428 from the American Fire Equipment Corp. for a new crash truck for the First Aid Crew.
by CNB