Richlands council hears complaints about electricity cost

RICHLANDS - A local attorney, who is suing the town, presented a petition to have electrical rates lowered to town council May 13.
Shea Cook filed suit earlier in the month seeking to have the town’s policy for billing for electrical services declared unconstitutional. Cook presented a petition to council bearing 500 names.
He asked the audience how many were there because of the electric rates and about half raised their hands. Mayor Ken Wysor accepted the petition and told Cook council would give it consideration.
He said council could not discuss the matter with Cook due to the pending suit. The petition asked that council give serious consideration to reducing the cost of electricity in town.
Cook was not the only one voicing concern about the power rates. Tommy Shortt a resident of Second Street said he agreed with Cook on the electrical rates. Shortt also asked that the town put down water in areas where they use the street sweeper and also expressed concern about the condition of sidewalks in his end of town.
Billy Henry expressed concern about the impact the increased cost of electricity was having on the town’s elderly and people on fixed or low income.
Later in the meeting, Ernest Edgell asked Town Manager Tim Taylor about the town’s markup on electricity for the month and how the town went about recouping its cost. Taylor said the town’s rate is figured on a per year basis.
Taylor reported that the town’s bill for electricity for the month was $353,334.64.
[In other business council:]
*Jane Martin of Brown Avenue spoke first and expressed two concerns.
First, she asked for help in getting the lawn mowed at 442 Brown Avenue. She said the house was empty and the lawn is overgrown.
Second, in the interest of her grandson, she asked about trash pick up on Mitch Lane where he resides.
She said the town was still not picking up the trash along Mitch Lane even though the residents are being billed.
The same subject has been addressed in the past. Because Mitch Lane was a private, unpaved street, the town’s garbage truck could not traverse it without doing possible damage. The town also has not been pursing payment.
Martin informed council that that the street is now paved.
With this information, Town Manager Tim Taylor told Martin he would revisit the issue.
* Following Martin, Carroll Lee Wolfe addressed council as spokesperson for her neighbors.
She told council that traffic has picked up in their Pennsylvania Avenue neighborhood. As a result, a heavily used alley with a temporary surface is beginning to reach the end of its life. She said the alley is now full of potholes and is quite uneven.
“This alley is used everyday,” Wolfe said. “So we would like to petition you to put it high on your list of paving projects for this summer.”
Taylor told Wolfe that the town didn’t normally pave alleys.
“It hasn’t been paved,” he said, “but it has been chip sealed. I think we should at least have that put back.”
Taylor said they could have it paved, but the residents would have to pay for it.
Wolfe replied that many of the neighbors could not afford such an investment.
Wolfe polled some of her neighbors who were present and they said that resealing the alley would be fine.
“We’ll try to do that this summer,” Taylor told the residents.
* Northwest District Supervisor Seth White then addressed council.
He thanked everyone who was involved in the recent election.
“I appreciate all of you and your involvement in the town over the years,” he said, “but I am here to address you as a member of the Board of Supervisors. I want to make myself available to you more. If you need anything, let me know.”
He gave his residential address and said anyone who needed him could come to his home or call him at any time.
“I am a citizen of Richlands first, and the county second,” he said. “Some things I can’t talk about, but economic growth looks good. We’ve had budget cuts, but we can move along. I am committed to this process and the town.”
White then shifted from board member to property owner.
He asked the town for help with sidewalks at a property he owns in downtown Richlands. He told council he would do what was necessary to help out with the process.
Council member Richard Brown asked White about the Bluestone Industrial Park.
Progress on the site was recently held up because of Native American artifact discoveries.
“As far as I understand, nothing of significance has been found,” he said.
* Sandra McCracken addressed council.
“Have ya’ll forgot about my part of town?” she asked.
McCracken has addressed council for a lengthy period concerning drainage in her Jewel Street neighborhood.
Taylor told McCracken that he had not forgotten about her and that, in fact, he had been investigating the drainage problem.
He said he had worked out a plan to deal with the drainage and council authorized him to move forward
McCracken then asked about cars speeding on Sayers Avenue.
She asked about putting up signs.
Taylor told her he felt signs would be ineffective. He said a patrolman would be the answer.
“Tickets will do it,” Taylor said.
* Brad Hess was then called before council.
Hess had requested a rezoning of a property located on Front Street from industrial to business/commercial so that he can open a pawnshop.
Town attorney Lewis McNeace told Hess that the request to rezone the property was only part of the process.
“Currently, a pawnshop is not a permitted use in any zone in the town,” McNeace told Hess. Therefore, your request must also include the inclusion of a use not currently provided for.”
McNeace then explained what would happen if both requests were made.
He said the Planning Commission would have to advertise the request for two weeks and then hold a public hearing. He further explained that the commission would have to first move to allow a pawnshop. Once that is done, they will address the rezoning.
“They will then submit a written recommendation to council,” McNeace said. “Once you get over that hurdle, you will have to get an attorney and file a petition in the Tazewell County Circuit Court. The court will authorize the town to issue a license to operate a pawn shop at a specified location. However, the court has no authority to direct the town to do so.”
McNeace also explained that there was a non-prorateable fee of $750 a year payable to the town for the operation of a pawnshop.
He explained that there are also stringent record keeping duties required with operating a pawn shop.
“So, there are a lot of things to consider here. Is it your desire that the Planning Commission move forward with your request?”
Hess responded in the affirmative.
“I have done a lot of research on pawnshops and feel that one could be an asset to the town,” Hess said.
“Well, approximately 90 to 95% of all property crime committed in this county are accomplished for one purpose and that is to get money for drugs,” McNeace said. “Mr. Lee (the county’s Commonwealth Attorney) says that wherever he goes, and the Chief (William Puckett) will tell you the same thing. That is why police oversight is very important in this process. We don’t want a pawnshop to become a fencing shop. That is disturbing, that’s why there are such strict requirements. They (enforcement officials) will be on pawnshop operators like white on rice.”
* Downtown Coordinator Brian Wright reported to council. He said that he and Chief Puckett had worked hard to raise funds so that the town could hold a fireworks event on June 21 at the conclusion of the Greater Richlands Area Festival.
“Some really great and supportive businesses have stepped up to sponsor the cost of these fireworks and I just want to ask your permission to move forward with the project,” Wright said.
Council voted to allow the fireworks.
* Following Wright, individual council members gave their reports.
Council member Richard Brown requested that copies of the agenda be made available to the public so that they could follow along with the meetings.
He also asked Taylor for clarification as to cleaning and mowing responsibilities at Williams Field.
Brown said there had been complaints from out-of-towners concerning cleanliness.
Taylor said that during the season, it was the league’s responsibility.
“We supply the supplies, they keep it up,” he said.
“We also mow outside the fields, they mow inside,” Council member Eric Newberry said.
Brown also said that some of the playground equipment at Critterville is in need of repair. He said he saw seven different issues in a recent weekend visit to the park.
Council member Diana Taylor asked for clarification about new signage at the traffic light and railroad crossing at the Dalton addition.
Tim Taylor explained that a no right on red sign had been added. He said it is now illegal to make a right on red at the Dalton addition light. He said this move was necessary for town liability issues.
Newberry told council that the fire and public safety committee voted to recommend that the speed limit on route 609 (Kents Ridge road) be reduced to 35 from the town limits at Davis’ Chapel. The committee also recommended that the 25 mph sign be moved as well.
Newberry also reported that the fire and public safety committee recommended that rumble strips be placed in two places on Cresswood Drive in Hidden Valley.
Council member-elect Doug Ratliff asked about their placement on Plantation Drive as well.
Newberry said the committee would look at the prospect.
Newberry also set a fire and public safety committee meeting for June 3 at 5:30 pm at the town hall.
Council member Rod Cury announced that historic district consultant Sherry Joines Wyatt may be able to start work on a potential second historic district in June.
Member Larry Worrell moved that John Berry be appointed to the town’s Industrial Development Board to fill a vacant position left by Worrell when appointed to council.
Mayor Wysor expressed gratitude for all the help he received in campaigning for reelection.
* McNeace reminded council that next month’s meeting would include voting on the next fiscal year’s budget and four resolutions would have to be addressed.
* He said three companies had responded to the town’s request for service: Spectrum, Lane, and Thompson Litton.
He said council would begin the review process on May 20th at a budget work session.
Taylor also told council that the mural on the W.B.F. White’s building needed to be refurbished.
Taylor said the town did not have the money to pay for artist Ellen Elmes’ fees this fiscal year, but they did have the money to purchase the supplies. He said Elmes had directed them to a supplier where they could purchase the necessary items at 50% off.
Taylor also said that Elmes told him this would probably be the last time she would be able to refurbish the mural in question. However, he said council agreed to keep up the mural years ago and a town employee may need to learn how to refurbish the mural.
Charlie Lawson, who owns the building on which the mural is painted, offered to allow an eave to be built if the town thought that might help protect the mural.
Taylor then asked council to approve a wording change in the employee handbook dealing with bereavement leave.
Taylor also reported that the Hidden Valley water tank is in the process of being refurbished. He said the tank was in better shape than was anticipated. He said that after proper testing, the tank will be returned to service.
Taylor also told council that the west end bridge replacement project has not yet been affected by state budget cuts. He said if things go according to schedule, construction should start by next spring.
With this, council adjourned.