Town Council having public hearing on decals

by Wanda Combs
Editor

A public hearing on a proposal to eliminate town vehicle decals and replace them with a vehicle license tax has been set for November 6. The Board of Supervisors recently approved and instituted a similar policy for county residents and has sent out the bills for their vehicle fees with their real estate taxes, which are all due on December 5. The town would hope to use those mailings to include their bills for the vehicle license tax, if the tax is approved.
At last week’s Town Council meeting, Council members talked about the proposal and details surrounding it. Since town residents have paid for their vehicle decals through April 15, there was a discussion about making the switch to the law effective January 1, 2009 and prorating the tax (to December), to credit taxpayers for what they had already paid. Vice-mayor Will Griffin said to avoid double charging town residents in 2009 for the period from January 1-April 15, a bill for 8 ½ months should be sent. “That’s the fair thing to do.”
In other business Thursday night, town manager Korene Thompson asked Council to consider a cease on spending for the time being. “We’ve still got a good ways to go on this existing budget.” She said the town has had several expenses that have “eaten into” budget carryover money. She mentioned computer work, office lights, park development, restrooms, work on Old Hensley, and salary increases.
Also at the meeting, Thompson informed the Board that $12,000 in regenerated funds from the loan pool money is now available. The money can be used for job creation. Every three months the loan pool generates $10,000 in available money. “I have a feeling people will be lining up for it,” commented Mayor Robert Shelor.
Also, last week, Council discussed hours of operation for the new public restrooms. Griffin suggested the Council give more thought to leaving the restrooms open on Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5. Council had recently cut back hours due to vandalism at the restrooms.
During the citizens’ comments period, town businessman Daniel Bower had harsh words for the Mayor. He said he believed Shelor had been singling out his property at 111 Wilson Street (the former Dale’s Garage property) in making comments about weeds. Bower said there were weeds growing out of plants in front of the courthouse, and there were other “violations” in town, in regard to four-foot clearance on sidewalks and “architecture” on sidewalks.
Later in the meeting Shelor told Council, “The shrubbery at the courthouse is not our’s. It’s the judge’s.”