Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504260074
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
First, Worrell cast the lone vote against the city's new schedule of higher taxes to support the 1995-96 budget. City Council gave final approval to an additional 5 cents in the real estate levy plus higher rates for two business taxes.
Worrell's beef was not that taxes were too high, but that his colleagues didn't take what he saw as a golden opportunity to raise them even higher "to take care of some of the inequities" in city spending, he said.
Because of an accounting error in preliminary budget estimates, council had advertised a possible increase of up to 10 cents in the real estate tax rate. It turned out only half as much would suffice to balance the approximately $45 million budget, but in the meantime, Worrell pointed out in comments before the vote, no public objections were raised to the 10-cent jump.
Among other things, Worrell would like the city to spend more money to hire additional police and to help the schools.
As they did the last time - when Worrell's motion to approve the whole 10 cents failed for lack of a second - the other council members ignored his pleas.
Council also gave final approval to the new budget for 1995-96.
Later, as if to add insult to injury, his colleagues rebuked Worrell's suggestion that the city agree to match "up to $10,000" in donations from businesses and individuals to help those suffering in the wake of the Oklahoma City federal building bombing.
Mayor Tom Starnes said such contributions "should be on an individual basis," while Councilwoman Polly Corn suggested council would set a bad precedent if it OK'd the idea.
At meeting's end, the usually affable Worrell promptly left the session grim-faced and silent.
In other action Monday, City Council:
OK'd a plan to extend for two years a $500,000 loan arrangement between the Industrial Building Authority and the city. The loan proceeds helped pay for a shell building in the Radford Industrial Park that's soon to be purchased and occupied by a manufacturing company expanding its operations to Radford. The company wants $250,000 to $300,000 to help it set up shop, City Attorney John "Bunny" Spiers told council.
Approved a $27,454 contract with Valley Modular Offices Inc. of Abingdon, Md., to erect a temporary structure outside the Municipal Building to provide interim space for court offices until the Municipal Building can be expanded. "It's actually a double wide and it's assembled on site," City Manager Robert Asbury explained. He said the building would be delivered and set up by the end of August.
Agreed to a $36,616 bid by E. Scott Luper and Sons of Fries to restore damaged areas in the city's new Veterans Park. Some 1,400 feet of guardrail were uprooted and ballfield fences, field surfaces and seeded areas were damaged earlier this year during flooding in the riverfront park.
Agreed to consider transferring title to a 1934 fire truck to Benny Ridpath, who wants to restore and show the vehicle. The proposed contract with Ridpath would give the city first refusal to buy the truck back if Ridpath later wished to sell it.
Approved spending $2,305 to demolish a dwelling and shed on Clay Street that have fallen into disrepair and have been condemned.
by CNB