Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 30, 1994 TAG: 9409300018
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Pulaski Mayor Andy Graham said more dialogue is needed between town and county officials to resolve this and other differences that have come up. "The issues facing our two governments are so formidable and important that there is no room for us as elected officials to be vindictive," he said.
The review board had approved the county's war memorial plans except for several sidewalks, one flagpole and the use of the old courthouse bell. The county appealed that decision to Town Council, which upheld the review board. The county is appealing it to circuit court.
Since then, the county supervisors have made several moves which some town officials believe were prompted by the war memorial disagreement.
The supervisors discussed the possibility of demolishing the old Pulaski Theatre building on the town's Main Street and using the space for parking. It offered a surplus county building in the town to the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, which is supposed to move from the town's Municipal Building to its Train Station building. The county also delayed an agreement on joint sewer line improvements until it included a provision allowing the county to litigate against the town over future disputes.
Council members agreed at a committee meeting Wednesday to sign the sewer rehabilitation construction contract with the changes requested by the county.
Graham said it has been understood since 1990 that the chamber would move into the town's Train Station once renovations were complete. "The town has no objection if the Chamber of Commerce relocates to county facilities," he said. "However, it would be appreciated if we were notified of their intentions."
He said the suggestion that the theater building be torn down "comes as a total surprise. It was council's feeling that the board had abandoned the idea of tearing down the theater building in the Historic District of our town."
Graham noted that a group called Friends of the Pulaski Theatre is seeking funds, developing architectural plans and developing a restoration and operational plan for the building as a community facility. The town has budgeted $10,000 this fiscal year toward the project.
"The committee is made up of citizens very much interested in preserving the heritage of our town, and the furthermost thing from their minds is to develop a parking lot on this site," he said.
He said it is unfortunate that construction of the war memorial in front of the old courthouse has been delayed, but said it does provide time for the supervisors, review board and town "to work together to come up with a satisfactory final design."
Graham said the town and county "have so many positive areas of agreement that parties on both sides need to improve communication in order to avoid disagreements. We must put our citizens first."
by CNB