Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 22, 1994 TAG: 9409230090
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-13 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The increase had been requested by Herman Largen, owner of Blue and White Cabs in Pulaski, who said insurance and other business costs have gone up since the last increase at the end of 1990.
He said his company made a net profit of just over $1,400 for the 12 months preceding March 31, amounting to only .042 percent of sales. The previous 12 months showed a loss of nearly $23,300, he said.
``As president, I receive no salary on bonuses,'' he said in a letter to Town Manager Tom Combiths. ``Would any council member be satisfied to have no income from so much money invested?''
Councilman John Stone said at council's meeting Tuesday that he favors the increase. ``To ask anyone to operate at a loss is more than any of us could do ourselves,'' he said.
But Town Attorney Frank Terwilliger advised that, as the new rate ordinance is written, it would require all cab fees to include the 25-cent increase. He said the ordinance could be revised to allow fee increases up to a 25-cent maximum instead, he said.
The town has another cab company, Jim Dandy, which has not taken a position on the increase.
Vice Mayor W.H. ``Rocky'' Schrader and Councilwoman Alma Holston said they favored the version setting a maximum rather than requiring all rates to go that high. Terwilliger will present a revised ordinance at the Oct. 4 meeting.
That may be council's only meeting next month. Its second regular meeting would have fallen on Oct. 18, which coincides with a Virginia Municipal League conference most of the members will attend. Council decided to skip that session and will schedule a special meeting if it becomes necessary.
Council agreed to a loan of up to $39,600 for the Casimir Company, a new business which recently opened at 69 W. Main St., which will renovate its top floor for residential use. The owners, Pat Gooch and Michael Dowell, will move there from Rural Retreat.
The retail store will also offer custom framing and include a design studio and workshop. Gooch is a graphic designer and her husband is executive director of the Fine Arts Center of the New River Valley.
The loan will come from town Urban Development Action Grant funds earmarked for economic development. A matching loan will come from Signet Bank. The loans will go toward the purchase, repair and renovation of the building the couple is buying and to provide equipment and inventory.
Council approved a Planning Commission recommendation to allow three pool tables at the Beijing Restaurant and Motel under a conditional use permit. It first had to approve rezoning the property from B-1 to B-2 business, because pool tables are not allowed even conditionally in B-1.
The restaurant had operated a billiard parlor from 1990 to 1992, when it was remodeled. When the owners planned to reopen the three pool tables, they learned that this was not allowed in B-1 zones.
Owner King Chan noted that the tables had caused no problems before and were a source of entertainment for people in the community. ``There are not many forms of entertainment within Pulaski and it needs as many as possible in order to keep it a growing and vibrant community,'' he said in a letter to Mayor Andy Graham.
The Planning Commission also recommended a conditional use permit allowing pool tables and a game room with video machines for Pulaski Lodge No. 154 at 143 Randolph Ave., in a B-3 zone. The commission recommended that alcoholic beverages not be permitted in the game room, and hours of operation would be from 1 to 11:30 p.m. Sundays and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. all other days.
Council will hold a public hearing before acting on that recommendation.
Councilwoman Bettye Steger called for enlisting citizens in townwide cleanup efforts of vacant lots and the removal of discarded appliances.
Graham told town staff members to prepare a schedule for when the Raymond Ratcliffe Memorial Museum would be open at the town train station and an update on when the New River Trail would be extended to the station.
by CNB