Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 30, 1994 TAG: 9409300015
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-13 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The plan calls for hiring an economic development director and appointing a board to fine-tune the activities outlined by the committee, organized by Councilman John Stone.
Stone had recommended an annual budget of about $100,000 for the initiative, about half of which was for personnel.
At a Finance Committee meeting attended by all eight council members Thursday morning, Roy D'Ardenne said the need for such a program had been discussed for years and Stone's committee had brought back a strong plan to get it started. "Personally, I'm ready to move on it," he said.
He moved that the committee recommend a $150,000 appropriation for the first year of the initiative, with $55,000 coming from the town's Urban Development Action Grant fund and $95,000 from money the town is now spending on other economic development projects. Those projects include the Pulaski Main Street program, the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance, the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and the New River Valley Airport Commission.
Vice Mayor W.H. "Rocky" Schrader said the town already is committed to those contributions this year. He also was concerned about spending money from action grant funds which would not be repaid, as they are when loaned to a new business. "I just can't see bleeding our UDAG funds dry."
"This is a beginning place. If somebody else has a new idea, throw it out," Stone said. "I just think we're wasting a lot of money because we got everybody and his brother in charge of something. ... I'm not sure we couldn't spent the money we're giving to some of these agencies more efficiently than they do."
He said he also thought the town was "missing the boat" by not having its own industrial park, as the town of Dublin does.
The vote on D'Ardenne's motion deadlocked 4-4, with D'Ardenne, Stone, John Johnson and Eddie Hale voting for it and Bettye Steger, Alma Holston, E.G. "Junior" Black and Schrader opposing it.
Mayor Andy Graham had to break the tie, and he voted against it. "I believe that we need more details from the town manager on how it's going to fit into his system," Graham said. "We need more discussion is what I think."
"I don't want it dropped," Holston said.
Although the committee will bring no recommendation on the plan to Tuesday's council meeting, the topic is likely to be discussed. Stone said he was somewhat disillusioned that the full council seemed to lack a complete understanding of the committee's recommendations, which the governing body has had since Sept. 6.
by CNB