Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 27, 1995 TAG: 9504270040
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Roscoe Cox, who has been the director since the town formed the group several months ago, will step down at the end of the 1994-95 fiscal year.
"Roscoe's letter said he would finish June 30," Sybil Atkinson, chairwoman of the board's Executive Committee, told the other committee members Wednesday.
The town has already started recruiting for his successor, with a deadline of May 27 for applicants and a salary to be negotiated depending on qualifications. The position will be advertised in the Virginia Municipal League magazine as well as newspapers.
Cox, who returned to Pulaski several years ago when he retired, found himself tapped almost immediately to become the "part-time" director of Pulaski's Main Street program. In that position, he recruited new businesses emphasizing antiques, arts and restaurants to fill what used to be vacant stores in downtown Pulaski.
When Pulaski Town Council decided to try and expand that success townwide through the formation of an economic development board, it again called on Cox to direct the effort during its initial months.
Now, Cox is raising money from outside sources to match a $10,000 amount from the town for the second annual Depot Day Festival, which will start May 24 at the Memorial Square Shopping Mall and move downtown May 25 featuring special events and guest musicians including the Bellamy Brothers.
The development group's Executive Committee also discussed its budget for the coming year. It will seek $180,000 from the town, an increase of about $61,000 over the funding level for its organizational and early work this year.
Its Finance Committee will look at budget details today.
The Executive Committee looked at several illustrations of signs proposed for entries into Pulaski. One of the needs cited at previous meetings has been cleaning up town entrances and improving their signs. Similar concerns have been expressed to Town Council, most recently at council's town meeting Tuesday night at Pulaski Middle School.
The committee recommended wooden rather than aluminum signs for two U.S. 11 accesses to Pulaski, as well as on Virginia 99 and Bob White Boulevard. The Marketing Committee will consider the matter at its meeting Tuesday.
The full board will meet from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Renaissance Restaurant.
by CNB