Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 24, 1993 TAG: 9311240114
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
City Attorney John Spiers and Treasurer Martin "Jigger" Roberts were unleashed by City Council on Monday to stalk tax deadbeats or seize their property.
Over the past decade, nearly $900,000 in local taxes and utility payments has escaped collection in Radford.
Spiers believes the city needs a "big push" to tighten its leaky tax net and said hiring a collection agency or additional legal help may be the answer.
Locating tax deadbeats and bringing them to court is a time-consuming and expensive process, Spiers said.
Yet council told him and Roberts to go full-steam ahead. "We need to show that we mean business," Council Member Polly Corn said.
It's about time, replied Roberts, who said his office has been understaffed and poorly supported by council.
He said council has been delinquent by not helping his office aggressively pursue unpaid taxes and bills.
Not since 1986 has a sale of delinquent tax property been held in Radford, he said.
Tax sales recoup revenue and illustrate the city's determination to hold taxpayers accountable, Spiers said.
The Treasurer said he has delivered to council an annual list of delinquent taxpayers and asked for the go-ahead to chase them but received no encouragement or financial assistance.
"I have gotten absolutely nowhere," he added.
This time, however, council unanimously told Roberts and Spiers to sic 'em by any necessary legal means.
Meanwhile, lists of delinquent taxpayers will be placed in Radford's Municipal Building and in the city's library.
In other action, council was told that additional maintenance to save 278 recently planted trees will cost about $27,000 annually.
Over the past several years, Radford's spent $84,000 in federal and local money to spruce up the city's appearance by landscaping and planting trees.
But the Beautification and Municipal Forest Commission told council earlier this month the trees may die unless they receive more regular care.
City Engineer Jim Hurt told council the trees can be serviced by a joint force of landscaping businesses hired by contract and supplemented by city employees.
The $27,000 is an estimated cost based on preliminary bids, he said. Council told Hurt to continue negotiations.
"We want this as a priority item," Mayor Tom Starnes said.
Peggy Huber, chairwoman of the Beautification and Municipal Forest Commission, said council's action is "a step in the right direction."
She said she's still hoping the city will designate an individual to coordinate tree maintenance.
by CNB