Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505040079
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: B. LYNN WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
Pearisburg is in the final stages of its effort to annex surrounding residential areas in Giles County. It has received approval from the state and will hold a hearing next month on annexing several subdivisions, including Virginia Heights, Ingram Village and Bluff City among others.
To support her claim of widespread opposition to the proposed annexation, Webb presented a petition signed by 89 Virginia Heights residents to the board Tuesday night. The supervisors earlier had agreed to the annexation.
She did this after a meeting with Pearisburg officials, which she said failed to address her concerns
Asked later about the conversation, Pearisburg Mayor John Harvey Givens said he and Town Manager Ken Vittum explained the proposed boundaries and tax maps to Webb. The town supplies water to all of the communities that will be annexed, he said, rebutting Webb's contention that residents would receive no benefit from the agreement.
"If you are privileged to use our library, recreation center, water, fire or police protection, [you need to] join us and help pay for those services," Givens commented.
Webb said the people who signed the petition object to the annexation because "we don't feel we're going to get anything out of it." Everybody she has talked to has expressed satisfaction with county services and has no desire to become part of the town, said Webb.
She told supervisors that she and other residents have written the Commission on Local Government in Richmond to voice their feelings.
The commission has the authority to endorse or deny annexations. If it approves - as it has in Pearisburg's case - a public hearing is scheduled. The town's request will be heard June 5 at 7 p.m. in the Pearisburg Community Center.
The county reached an agreement with the town with the intention of avoiding future annexations until 2010. But this moratorium does not cover requests from citizens who may petition to become part of the town at any time.
Supervisors urged Webb to attend the public hearing.
In other business, local resident Ernie Miller asked the board on behalf of farmers to remove the tax on farm equipment. County farmers pay $7.00 per $100 on 12.5 percent of the item's original cost, even after depreciation occurs.
Reporting that the Commissioner of Revenue's office collected only $26,456 from the 1992 assessment, Miller explained that many farmers were successfully dodging the fee. Calling it "grossly unfair," he asked for repeal of the tax, saying that Giles was the only county among those he recently surveyed that continues to assess this equipment after five years of depreciation. Commissioner of Revenue Shirley Wheeler said the only way the county knows about this equipment is if the owners file a federal form with their taxes showing depreciation.
In a later comment, Wheeler said the tax is not exclusive to farm machinery. It is assessed on business furniture, construction equipment, boats, campers, and all types of machinery and tools. Giles "does not allow depreciation on any equipment."
The commissioner of revenue also said that county farmers receive a break when they receive land-use status that reduces their real estate taxes a great deal. The county loses $136,000 annually by giving farmland this option.
The supervisors took no action.
Supervisors voted unanimously to reactivate the "damage stamp" program, assessing a $1 charge per stamp on regular hunting licenses. Under the law, residents may petition the board for damages affecting "crops, fruit trees, commercially grown Christmas trees, nursery stock, livestock, or farm equipment caused by deer, bear or big game hunters."
Supervisors voted to earmark $3,794 raised by selling damage stamps in previous years for the county "pumper fund," which assists local fire departments when they purchase new apparatus.
After nearly three hours in executive session, the board approved a personnel change. They took no action on items relating to contracts and acquisition of property. Supervisors also received notice of several upcoming public hearings:
Road-naming ordinance for E-911 on May 16 at 7:30 p.m.
School board appointment on June 6 at 4:45 p.m.
Six-year plan for roads and rural additions on June 6, time not announced.
by CNB