Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 23, 1993 TAG: 9310260318
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
Any change that might be adopted would not affect those who have already paid deposits.
Also scheduled for future council consideration is a possible ordinance governing tree trimming.
Town Attorney Tommy Baker said the state has enabling legislation allowing towns to pass ordinances governing noise and weeds, but he was unsure about trimming of trees. Localities in Virginia can only adopt ordinances on matters specifically allowed by state law.
Because Dublin would be breaking new ground in this region with a tree-trimming ordinance, Baker said he wanted to check with the State Corporation Commission to see what localities elsewhere have on their books regarding it.
In other business, Dan Brugh, resident Department of Transportation engineer, told council that the Transportation Board in Richmond had approved a contract with Pulaski contractor Richard Meador to improve storm water drainage facilities in downtown Dublin.
The work will involve enlarging and relocating drains, Brugh said, and removing some that are inadequate.
``I believe it'll work. Our drainage people seem to believe it will,'' he said. The work could be finished before winter.
One reason water tends to back up in Dublin has been because of big drains feeding into smaller ones that are unable to handle the volume of water, he said.
Council also agreed Thursday to write off an estimated $19,000 in unpaid taxes dating back to 1986 as uncollectible. About a quarter of that amount stems from a bankruptcy, Treasurer Becky Ratcliff said.
The treasurer's office now requires more information from taxpayers and should have less trouble tracking down those who owe taxes in the future, Mayor Benny Keister said.
Council declined to adopt a resolution setting Wednesday, Oct. 27, as ``Unfunded Federal Mandates Day,'' apparently because most of its members felt it would be a waste of time and paper.
Town Manager Gary Elander read the resolution offered by the National League of Cities, complaining about federal agencies placing requirements on communities without making available any money to help pay for them.
``It's kind of a fun thing to do,'' Councilman David Stanley said of the resolution, but he expressed doubt that it would accomplish anything. Even if the federal agencies did start providing funding, he said, ``Where does the federal government get its money from? Us.''
``They don't seem to think these things out before they make the mandates,'' Councilman Colbern Linkous said.
Councilwoman Elsie Repass moved adoption of the resolution, but the motion died for lack of a second.
``For what it's worth, the General Assembly does the same thing. They don't pay any attention to anything I say,'' said Baker, the town attorney who is also a member of the House of Delegates.
The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors has approved a resolution setting Wednesday as Unfunded Mandates Day for both state and federal levels, and criticizing both levels of government for not helping to pay for what they require localities to do.
by CNB