Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994 TAG: 9406150020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Only one of the council members at a budget workshop Tuesday opposed town funding for other parts of the 1994-95 programming for Pulaski Main Street Inc. ``I'll go on record as saying I'm against any funding for PMI, period,'' said Don Crispin.
Councilman Roy D'Ardenne brought up the idea of combining a part-time PMI director with a townwide public relations director, who could recruit new businesses and coordinate advertising for PMI but would also promote business and industry in other parts of town.
D'Ardenne made it clear that he would want the person to answer to Town Council, although the PMI board would be asked to help draw up the work program. That met with agreement from other council members present, including Mayor-elect Andy Graham. ``Main Street is most important ..," Graham said. ``People enjoy coming to downtown Pulaski. They used to not enjoy it. ... We've got to keep the momentum going.''
He favored leaving town money for PMI in the budget but having a townwide public relations director instead of a PMI director.
John Stone, who joins council in July, suggested placing the entire amount under an economic development category, assembling a committee of business people from PMI and elsewhere in town, and putting together a five- to 10-year business plan for Pulaski. He said PMI would be part of that process. ``A big part. Their input would be necessary.''
Eddie Hale, another incoming councilman, said that - as a pharmacist on Main Street - he got no benefit from an interstate billboard and other advertising aimed at visitors. He said there is a need to get more people downtown.
``And then when they get here, the stores are closed,'' Crispin said. If Pulaski advertises itself as a center for antiques and other goods, he said, its antiques and other stores catering to visitors need to be open when visitors come.
Council, meeting as the Budget Committee, also killed a proposal to create a revenue enforcement clerk position to work on collecting $243,657 in delinquent taxes as shown in the 1993 audit. D'Ardenne said he doubted a qualified person could be found for the budgeted $20,400 salary to computerize the back tax records, which would have been part of the job. Instead, council decided to put the $20,400 into a fund for improving collection rates, although they were uncertain what direction that would take.
They encouraged the town administration to include an estimated $26,477 for a computerized meter-reading system, which would be more efficient. ``This is not in the current water fund budget so, if you want it, we're going to have to re-balance the budget,'' Town Manager Tom Combiths said.
Council is expected to act on the 1994-95 budget at its meeting Tuesday.
by CNB