Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 18, 1995                   TAG: 9504180112
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

COUNT PULASKI FESTIVAL'S DAYS COULD BE NUMBERED

In a meeting of Town Council's Public Operations Committee on Monday, members recommended contacting the Pulaski Business Alliance of downtown merchants about supporting the festival. The merchants spearheaded the effort last year.

The festival is usually in October, and last year the town put in about $1,600 to help support it.

The town is funding up to $10,000 for the second annual Depot Day Festival June 24, and committee members questioned whether council could afford to support both.

Committee Chairwoman Alma Holston suggested combining the two festivals. "I think we should put all our eggs in one basket," she said, "and have one huge success."

Councilwoman Bettye Steger agreed, "because the bottom line is money."

"I think we ought to get feedback from the Alliance," Councilman Eddie Hale said. "We need to let them know now we're going to put the ball in their court."

The next meeting of the Alliance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. May 9 at the Renaissance Restaurant. Mayor Andy Graham suggested talking to the economic development board as well as the Alliance about future support of Count Pulaski Day.

The committee also got an update from Public Works Director Mike Jenkins on a plan developed more than a year ago to ease flooding problems by cleaning out Peak Creek and removing debris from along its banks.

So far, he said, the plan is stalled at the first step which was to get rights-of-way and easements from property owners along the creek for the work. Some of the residents planting gardens in the area were hesitant to allow work crews to come onto those properties, he said.

There also was a question as to where the estimated $26,000 to $34,000 cost of cleaning the creek would come from, since it is not in the budget.

In other business, Town Council members are moving quickly to address concerns raised at last week's town meeting. A full report on responses to problems mentioned by citizens at the April 11 town meeting at the Howard Community Center will be presented at council's meeting at 7 tonight.

Complaints from citizens included:

A trash problem at an Altoona Street residence (Town staff members had arranged for the Public Service Authority to pick up as much as possible over the weekend and will take court action if the problem continues);

An empty house on Maple Street which is becoming a health hazard (The owner died and town officials have had no luck in locating any current owner. The town will look into condemning the building);

A ditch where Magnox Street intersects Magazine Street with a hole that could be a safety hazard (The hole cannot simply be filled in because there is a drainage pipe beneath it. The town is looking into costs of other options);

A lack of street lighting on Magazine and Altoona streets (Appalachian Power Co. will be contacted);

A need to broaden the types of music offered in town summer concerts at Jackson Park and the need for a movie theater (Concert planners and the town's new Board of Economic Development will be contacted on these matters);

The need for a town basketball court (The town is still looking for a suitable site).