ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605230034
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
Pulaski residents will be paying a little more for water and sewer after their June meter readings.
Pulaski Town Council approved a 9 percent water rate increase and 5 percent sewer rate increase following public hearings Tuesday night.
The hearings also may have foreshadowed some confrontational council meetings to come. Polly Mitchell, who returns to council next month after 12 years, took the governing body to task for the rate increases and lodged other complaints.
"You're going to have to work these next four years, Polly, to keep these sewer rates down," Mayor Andy Graham advised her.
"Well, we're just going to have to work harder. And, when I get on there, we will work harder," Mitchell said.
The rates could have been higher. The town administration had suggested a 14 percent water rate increase. A sewer rate study last fall had recommended a 10 percent increase for sewer rates.
Town Manager Tom Combiths said the increases are needed for equipment and lines that are wearing out. Outside water gets into sewer lines, for example, and is pumped 17 miles along with sewage for treatment. "It costs a lot of money to do that," Councilman John Johnston said.
"Council didn't make this decision very easily. We cut it down by almost half," Graham added. "I wish I had an alternative."
Mitchell, who is retired, joined several others living on fixed incomes in complaining about the rate increase. She also complained about charging industries less for bulk water rates.
"You're putting the load on the people of the community," she said. "There are people out there - you don't realize how tight money is to them ... I want you to consider this and consider it very thoroughly before you pass this."
"I'd just like for you to live a few months like we have to," said retiree Elton Dickerson.
"Every time you turn around, you're into someone's back pocket," complained Glennwood Perdue, another citizen.
But the council vote for both increases was unanimous, except for Alma Holston who was sick and unable to attend. Holston, Roy D'Ardenne and E.G. "Junior" Black will leave council this month, and be succeeded by Mitchell, Jim Neblett and Charles W. Stewart Jr.
Mitchell served a four-year term on council from 1980 to 1984, and ran for re-election every two years since then. This year she won.
Neblett, a retired educator, has 16 years of council service off and on between 1974 and 1992. The May 7 election was the first race for Stewart, a retired businessman. Johnston, another retired educator and with 14 years of council service over the years, was the only incumbent re-elected.
Holston had been on council for 12 years, and D'Ardenne and Black for four. Black was the only incumbent whose term was up who did not seek re-election.
Of the remaining council members, Lane Penn joined council in March when he was appointed to complete the term of a member who resigned. Eddie Hale and Bettye Steger are midway through their first four-year terms.
Vice Mayor W.H. "Rocky" Schrader, midway through his third term, has the longest uninterrupted time on council right now. Graham, elected this month to his second two-year term as mayor, is the real veteran with 24 years on council before he ran for mayor the first time.
Council also held a public hearing on its $5.7 million budget Tuesday, but will not adopt it until June 4. There were no tax increases. The budget reflects a 2 percent spending increase, less than inflation.
But Mitchell had something to say in that hearing, too, stressing the need for new curb and guttering where water runoff has caused ditching in front of people's homes. "You've ruined their property. You've ruined their driveways," she said.
Combiths said there is some money budgeted for new curb and guttering, with the property owner paying half the costs. "We won't be able to do the whole town this year, but we'll certainly hit those that have the biggest priority," he said.
"If anybody calls me, I'll say you've got the money, go 50-50," Mitchell said.
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