Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 16, 1994 TAG: 9404180155
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Roupas was willing to do whatever it took to ensure that he got the first three automobile decals that went on sale Friday - even if it meant ruffling a few feathers at the Municipal Building.
Each city sticker has a number, and Roupas wanted numbers 1, 2 and 3 to display on his '54, '55 and '56 Buicks.
Roupas, a ballroom dancing instructor, bought the three low-number stickers last year, and he was determined to repeat the feat again.
''I just couldn't believe I got the No.1 sticker last year, and I wanted to try to do it again,'' he said.
But Roupas' plan ran into a snag when he called City Treasurer Gordon Peters to find out when the new decals went on sale.
Peters told Roupas he wouldn't get the No.1 sticker, because the first 100 stickers weren't even going to be sold.
``[Peters] just didn't want me to have it, and that wasn't very nice,'' Roupas said. ``It was like a first-grader saying, 'No, you can't have my lollipop.' ''
Roupas became so upset that he called several other city officials, including Mayor David Bowers, Assistant City Manager Jim Ritchie and Commissioner of Revenue Marsha Fielder.
``I told them that it wasn't fair,'' Roupas said. ``Whoever gets in line first should get the No.1 sticker.''
Roupas said Peters called him late last week to say that would indeed be the case.
``I couldn't believe he changed his mind,'' Roupas said. ``I was just so happy.''
Personal property tax bills, which everyone must pay before they can buy a city decal, weren't mailed out until Friday, but Roupas paid his in advance on Thursday.
Roupas arrived at the City Treasurer's Office at 7 a.m. Friday, an hour before the office opened and the decals went on sale.
A few minutes after the door was unlocked, he walked away with the coveted stickers.
Roupas was giddy, almost like an archaeologist who had stumbled upon the Holy Grail.
``I'm just overwhelmed,'' he said. ''I feel like I've won the lottery for the second time.''
Peters said he first told Roupas he wasn't going to sell the first 100 stickers after several callers inquired about getting the first decal.
The city used to reserve the low-numbered stickers for city officials, but that practice was discontinued when the sale of decals was computerized.
The treasurer said he didn't mind that Roupas got the first few decals.
``So be it,'' he said.
Peters said he was bothered that Roupas complained to so many city officials.
``That was a bit uncalled for,'' he said.
Fielder, the commissioner of revenue, said the last day to pay personal property tax without penalty is May 31, and she urged residents to pay their tax and purchase their automobile stickers by mail.
``It's much more convenient for us and them,'' she said.
The city expects to issue roughly 70,000 decals this year.
As for Roupas, Fielder said: ``I'm just glad we were able to make him happy.''
by CNB