Roanoke Council approves $6.4 million dollar budget

Roanoke City Council approved amendments to the animal ordinance and the 2018-2019 budget at Monday’s meeting.

The 2018-2019 budget is $6,491,300. It contains a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment. The 2017-2018 budget was $6,272,167.

Councilman Mack Bell made a motion to approve the budget with two amendments, changing the appropriation for the animal shelter from $15,000 to $10,000 and removing the dump truck and bush hog from the street department’s budget.

After extended discussion, the council agreed to delay buying a requested bush hog for the street department. Parmer said he had learned more about the need for the equipment and made the motion to add the dump truck back in which the council approved.

The two parts of the dump truck are $83,594. It was agreed they would get pricing on the bush hog, and if they need to amend the budget, they will.

Councilman Mike Parmer made a motion to accept the budget, which Councilman Smokey Cole seconded. It was approved by everyone except Bell who opposed it.

Animal ordinance

It was noted there were a couple of changes in the dog ordinance. The new section to the ordinance says owners will not be prohibited from allowing dogs to be attached to overhead runs, such as a leash attached to an overhead wire at least 10 feet long that allows dogs to move unheeded with sufficient shelter and access to clean drinking water. It shall be unlawful to use a heavy gauge log-type chain to restrain a dog.

Street dept.

The council approved a low $11,900 bid from Triple C Properties. The resolution awards the bids for the storm water pipe replacement on Industrial Boulevard. Sealed bids were accepted for the replacement of 80 feet of 48-inch double-wall plastic pipe for the storm water project on Industrial Boulevard that were received and opened Sept. 21.

Bell brought up in the past pipe was bought and lay out there. Streets supervisor Chuck Holloway said it did lay out there and dry rotted. The bid was approved.

Bell said he wants to do something to show the citizens of Roanoke they are trying, and he asked to pave the road from Superior Gas to Three Points, something he has frequently pushed for. Purchasing agent Tim Jacobs said there is a set of plans on the shelf. Bell said he just wants the bids. Jacobs said they have already been paid for and they had hired Harmon Engineering to work on LaFayette Highway. Bell asked if it takes a rocket scientist to do this. He wants to make a motion on the specifications — not to hire an engineer.

Councilwoman Tammi Holley asked about the cost overrun on the work on the Satterwhite Bridge, which is still impassable. Jacobs said they had been given an estimated cost of $400,000. The council paid for specs and agreed for them to be bid out. The Satterwhite culvert is in Holley’s district, and she was frustrated by the council not moving forward to finish the work, which she said was a waste of money. She did not get a second to complete the work at a cost of $30,000. The bridge is impassable.

Holloway said part of it had washed away, and he had problems with contractor cost, which was more than it should have been. There was money in the budget for the problem.

Mayor Mike Fisher asked what percentage was complete, and Holloway said 65 to 70 percent. Holloway said they had to keep the excavator, which added a month’s cost.

Holloway said they found garbage bags and tires. Nobody knew what was in there, and all that had to be cleaned up. He said the $30,000 remaining will be enough. Holley said they cannot leave it unfinished.

One person said there is one house on the road and that homeowner said he did not care if it closed. Holley said they cannot use it. Holloway said he had talked to the mayor about the project. The mayor said they need to finish the top. Holley said it is a waste of the taxpayers’ money to not finish it. She made a motion to complete the whole project, but it died for the lack of a second.

Holley said, “All that money wasted on that bridge – it’s a shame and pity.”

Bell asked Holloway for his honest opinion, and Holloway said two big rains washed the rock away. If everything had gone according to plan, it would be all right. Now, he knows how to deal with contractors, he said.

Councilwoman Bronwyn Bishop had asked everyone to look at Johnson Street. She has had several calls from people there. The mayor said he had been out there and it is bad. There is damage from the cutting of the trees. The point was made if there is logging in the city, they have to put it back the way it was.

Holloway said several things drive through there and the loggers did do some damage, but it was damaged before. Bell said it was needing resurfacing/repaving. He said he talked to CSX several times. Someone asked if tarring and gravel would help and was told no.

Fire Chief Ron Cameron said there had been a fire down there, and the mayor and council agreed to pave the road to get their fire truck out.

Animal shelter

Chuck Smith, director of the Randolph County Animal Shelter board of directors, attended along with April Richardson, kennel director, and Rhonda Blackstone, shelter manager.

He said 42 percent of the dogs come from Roanoke. “We’ve adopted out over 6,000 to nice homes and set up a spay and neuter program. We have received accolades and other shelters come and look at what we do. I think were are one of the bright spots of Randolph County,” he said. They have a nice association with Mike Cofield, the nuisance officer, he said.

Dogs that come in on an average cost them $40 to $50 to prepare them to adopt. Smith said they give them shots and find a place for them inside or outside. They do a lot to cut expenses, he said, working with rescues.

Richardson said the dogs have to be de-wormed, given a couple of medicines and watched for diarrhea. They keep them in quarantine. Asked by Cole how much do they spend on them, she said about $50. One medicine is a 10-day dose, some are twice a day. They get flea treatment and shots for parvo and distemper.

Smith said there is no way to recoup costs on cats. They cost $5.75 a day. The mayor said there are cat-loving people.

Smith thanked the council for letting them come, and he invited everyone to visit the shelter. He would like for them to be part of it. The books are open. The mayor said he had been there a couple of times and Bishop said she had also.

Other business

The council accepted Dan Hernandez’s low $2,250 bid to demolish the Thompson property on Randolph Street. Sealed bids were accepted and opened Sept. 21 in the council chambers. Trinity Construction submitted the low bid. The last recorded deed was Jerry Thompson. The house will be torn down.

The mayor said a kid came to council meetings and said he would clean it up, but now it looks worse than it did.

Because of the Columbus Day holiday, the council will not meet Oct. 8 but will meet Oct. 15 and Oct. 22. The change was approved.

On another subject, Holley asked Police Chief Adam Melton about nuisances, and he said the paperwork at attorney Tinney’s office has been remailed and city clerk Pat Truitt said they are fixing to send it to her.

The council passed a resolution naming the planned community center on Price Street the Poole-Fisher Community Center. It will be in the Price Street building formerly known as the doctor’s office of Chester B. Primm. Plans are to develop the building into a community center. The mayor did not vote for the name, which includes his name.

Truitt said everything is in order for the alcohol license for Downtown 56 and the council approved it.

Bishop said she has heard comments on the LED lighting and it not being bright enough. Cole said people are coming to him saying the new LED lighting is not as bright. They are streetlights. About five people said they are not as bright. Holley said she has been told the same thing. Holley said they had been told they would be brighter.

Rules for the outside basketball goals are to have on shoes; there would be no profanity or drug use and no glass containers. The mayor told Eric Tucker of the recreation department to keep a check on the profanity.

Tracy Parmer of the Utility Department, said there was a water leak on Lamar Street and people who like to go to church were thankful the workers got it repaired. They bragged on the utility department’s work.