Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190077
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Council endorsed a list of 32 members Tuesday night nominated by its Human Resources Committee. The members represent a variety of areas, from education to government to human services. A health industry representative is still to be named.
``This committee can have a real impact on our town and I believe they will,'' Mayor Andy Graham said.
The board resulted from an initiative started by Councilman John Stone shortly after his election last year.
Council had been discussing funding in its budget of programs such as Pulaski Main Street, which had been successful in attracting many new businesses downtown. Stone suggested a unified economic effort that would cover the entire town and organized a series of citizen conferences for suggestions on how to bring that about.
The recommendations included the economic development board, with interim funding to carry it through the first six months of 1995 until the town prepares its next budget. Roscoe Cox, former director of the Main Street program, has been named as its director for that period.
The Human Services Committee and Town Attorney Frank Terwilliger have also completed a set of proposed bylaws for the board. Those will be considered by the board once it gets organized.
In other business, council voted to apply for $950,000 under the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to enhance two miles of New River Trail State Park, which would bring the trail into the town.
The funds require a 20 percent match from the applicant, and that $190,000 will come from money approved in a 1992 state bond issue for parks and recreation.
Mark Hufeisen, manager of the state park, said the grant would enhance what the bond issue already covers: acquisition of property to extend the trail to the town's train station. He said the state would probably know by June if the grant had been approved.
``By June 31, I'm expected to have a time-line,'' Hufeisen said, on developing the extension. He said the extension would look like the rest of the trail, which follows a former Norfolk Southern Corp. rail line right-of-way through several counties.
The town is also looking at helping to fund a study of emergency medical services in the county.
Pulaski County has offered to pay $22,000 toward the study, which will cost an estimated $30,000, and has asked the towns of Pulaski and Dublin to help pay on a population basis.
But Councilman Eddie Hale, at a Finance Committee meeting prior to Tuesday's council meeting, said the town is actually paying twice because its citizens also pay county taxes.
Councilman John Johnston also urged caution, suggesting that future emergency medical service costs might be divided among the various governments on whatever share they pay toward the study.
``The figuring of this right now is going to set a precedent,'' Johnston said. ``I think you're setting the form now.''
The study is a response to the dwindling number of volunteers for rescue squads, especially during daytime hours. It would define the present level of emergency care in the county, suggest what level is appropriate for the future, analyze the recruiting and retention program of rescue squads, look at future funding sources, evaluate alternate delivery options and lay the groundwork for a five-year and 10-year emergency medical services plan for the county.
by CNB