Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 19, 1995 TAG: 9504190061
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
But many weren't there to speak out on the those issues.
The item drawing the most interest was a hearing on a request to build a convenience store next to Penhook United Methodist Church off Virginia 40.
The supervisors tabled the matter two months ago to give members of the church and the applicant, Danny Perdue, a chance to discuss a compromise.
Many in the church's congregation were concerned about the store's being built next to the entrance to their sanctuary, and about the traffic and other nuisances it might cause.
Michaux Raine, a Rocky Mount attorney representing Perdue, told board members Tuesday that a middle ground could not be reached.
A spokesman for the church, Nelson Amos, said he thought a compromise had been reached for the store to be built on a different piece of property on the other side of the church. Amos said he was surprised to find that Perdue's request Tuesday remained the same.
Perdue is seeking removal of conditions placed on the site five years ago. The conditions were established when lake developer Ron Willard, whose company owns the land, asked for a rezoning to refurbish an old house on the property as a bed-and-breakfast inn - plans that didn't materialize.
Willard's company also owns the piece of property Amos mentioned on the other side of the church.
After listening through a second public hearing on the issue, the supervisors tied 3-3 on a motion to leave the conditions as they stand. The board will vote on the motion again at its next meeting.
Board Chairman Gus Forry was absent from Tuesday's meeting.
Returning to the budget hearings, three county residents lambasted the board's decision to set a preliminary real estate tax rate of 55 cents per $100 of assessed value.
County property owners were paying 60 cents, but as a result of a reassessment this year, the rate could have been lowered 10 cents with no impact on revenues.
The reassessment raised property values an average of 21 percent countywide.
"The people in the county are angry," said Ferrum-area resident Lester Thompson. "People are going to fall over when they get their tax tickets in October. And that's three weeks before the election."
A large portion of the crowd cheered Thompson's words.
The board took no action on the tax rate or the budget Tuesday.
The budget is set at $51.8 million, a $6.8 million increase from 1994-95.
The supervisors will meet April 27 at 4 p.m. to consider final approvals of the budget and tax rates.
by CNB