THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 23, 1997 TAG: 9701230304
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY YOUNG, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 74 lines
If a citizen in Deep Creek happens to wait until the last minute to pay his taxes, dog license fee or any of the other fees that go to the city treasurer, no problem. He can make a quick jaunt down to City Hall.
If the lights are green, the traffic is light, there's a reasonably close parking space and the lines aren't too long, the whole process shouldn't take much more than an hour.
In other words, forget lunch.
Some residents in Deep Creek would like to make that process a little more convenient by adding a satellite treasurer's office to the new public library that, when built, will replace Major Hillard Library.
Currently, there is no money in the budget to include the construction of the office with that of the library.However, the proposed library is designed in such a way that would allow expansion once money becomes available.
The satellite office - estimated to cost $692,000 to build - is included on the city's list of unfunded projects. But that list is a long one and adds up to more than $300 million over the next five years. Add to that the city's projected $14 million shortfall over the same period of time, and the city isn't promising anything.
``I need to tell you that this budget is very tight,'' City Manager John L. Pazour told residents assembled for a public hearing on the capital budget last Thursday at the Deep Creek Community Center, where some spoke in favor of the satellite office. ``It will really come down to priorities.''
City Treasurer Barbara O. Carraway is one who thinks the satellite office should be a priority.
``Deep Creek is the fastest growing area of the city. It will exceed that of Western Branch,'' said Carraway. ``The area is large enough to accommodate another office.''
Carraway said the city has satellite offices in South Norfolk and Western Branch that are used ``extensively.'' The one in Western Branch is attached to the library.
``We have received very favorable comments about them,'' she said.
Carraway said the city's $692,000 estimate for the office is ``overstated to an extreme,'' adding that the city was figuring on a much larger office than was needed. She said an office about the size of that in Western Branch would be sufficient, and estimated that the price would be no more than $400,000.
``It would be less to construct it at this time. It makes sense to do it now,'' Carraway said, adding that if necessary, the city could phase the cost in over two years.
Kathy Kirsch of Deep Creek couldn't agree more.
``Don't wait. The price is only going to go up no matter what. Do it now,'' said Kirsch, an office manager who both lives and work in the community.
``I think the accessibility is well worth it,'' said Steve Rodriguez, an engineer who works in Deep Creek, ``but I don't think people want to see their tax money wasted.''
Rodriguez, who grew up in Deep Creek and has watched its rapid growth, agreed that building the satellite office now as part of the library would be a smart use of tax money.
``There needs to be some long-term planning,'' Rodriguez said.
Both Kirsch and Rodriguez said they have heard people complain about having to drive to City Hall and of the difficulty in finding a parking space once there. Both said they would probably use the satellite office if it was built.
However, fellow Deep Creek resident Carmen Gonzales advised those who didn't like the drive to City Hall to make a trip to the mailbox instead.
``Put it in the mail and you don't have to worry about it,'' Gonzales said, adding that she wouldn't use the satellite office even if it were built.
``I think it's a waste of funds,'' she said. ``It's a whole lot handier to mail it (checks to the city), and if you don't have to be on the streets, that's even better. ILLUSTRATION: JIM WALKER
The Virginian-Pilot
Some Deep Creek residents want a satellite Treasurer's Office, like
this one in Western Branch, in their area. They say the office can
be added to the plans for the new public library.