Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 4, 1995 TAG: 9504040075
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Only one occupant, a renter in one of the three homes on Whitethorn, wants to connect to sewer now. The others told town officials they would connect when their existing septic systems wear out.
But that one home at 1409 Whitethorn has been facing periodic septic problems such as sewage backing up. J.B. Warner, who brought the problem before council on behalf of the home owner about a month ago, said the area was supposed to have gotten service from the town decades ago when it was annexed.
Town officials at a Utilities Committee meeting Monday agreed that there is no way to extend a sewer line to Whitethorn this fiscal year. There is not enough money in the sewer budget and not enough time to get the work done.
Committee Chairman John Johnston suggested, and the committee agreed, to propose funding for the project in the 1995-96 budget and talk about it at budget time. "I think we're going to have to work with the people out there, see what kind of problems they have," he said.
But any actual line construction is at least six months to a year away, the committee members agreed. "They need to know that," Councilwoman Bettye Steger said of the Whitethorn residents.
Town Manager Tom Combiths advised the committee that one house on Oakwood Avenue and three on Whitethorn in the area involved in Warner's request are not connected to sewer.
A search of town records has failed to turn up a sewer connection fee being paid by any of the four homes, Combiths said, but the residents at the Oakwood home believe their fee was paid in 1960, "which would be consistent with other connections in the area but no record was found."
An existing sewer line comes to the rear of the 805 Oakwood Ave. property. "I was told by Mr. Warner that all fees had to be paid before the line was installed and that seems consistent with some of the older records in the treasurer's office," Combiths said.
The Whitethorn connections, whenever made, will be complicated.
"All three houses have basements that they would want to connect to sewer. This necessitates going through the rear yards of this property or a very deep line in Whitethorn," Combiths reported. "If the rear yards are used, a careful survey will be needed. ... It will be very difficult to miss the existing septic tank drain fields since there are trees on the property and several utility buildings."
The council meeting will start at 4 p.m.
Another item to come before council is consideration of declaring May a spring cleanup month for the town, with the town staff developing a plan to improve the town's appearance by cleaning up inoperable vehicles, trash, vacant or rundown businesses, unsightly outdoor storage and substandard housing.
Pulaski officials hope to build on efforts already made by the town's Beautification Committee and use volunteers from civic groups, churches and others to help in the fix-up and cleanup work on the first three Saturdays next month - May 6, 13 and 20.
The town's recently formed Economic Development Committee had targeted improvements in the looks and cleanliness of Pulaski as a step toward improving the town's economic climate. The downtown Pulaski Business Alliance has expressed similar sentiments.
by CNB