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Council seeks citizen input
By MARK THOMAS/Altavista Journal Editor
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:53 AM EDT
Altavista Town Council will turn to citizens for help on two controversial issues.
Tuesday night, council appointed a committee to work with Town Manager J. Waverly Coggsdale III on the proposed property maintenance code. Named to the committee were Ralph English, Dale Moore, Joyce Henderson, Ike Monroe, Ernie Blessard and Councilman James (Jay) Higginbotham.
In another matter, the town will hold an open forum to allow citizens and groups an opportunity to say what they'd like to see in the next Uncle Billy's Day festival.
No dates were set for either issue.
Following a public hearing last week, the Altavista Planning Commission, in a 4-1 vote, recommended council adopt the property maintenance code in its current form. The code covers all structures in town and deals with the exterior and interior of buildings, rodents, garbage, ventilation, lighting, plumbing, heating, occupancy limits, electricity and fire protection.
That recommendation came despite strong opposition to the code at the commission's Aug. 4 public hearing. Opponents said with tough economic times, now wasn't the time to enact the code. They said it could pit neighbors against each other.
Councilman Bill Ferguson, who recommended the committee, said he supports the code, but also wants to address the concerns voiced by citizens.
One of last week's opponents was Tim Thacker, who's running for council. He was at Tuesday night's meeting, this time with complaints about the Planning Commission and the public hearing process.
"You called us into a public hearing meeting, but yet one word is not heard," Thacker said. He said most people felt like they were smacked in the face. He noted the public hearing speakers in opposition to the code outweighed those in favor. He said speakers were also limited to three minutes.
Thacker said the commission needed more diversification among members.
After Tuesday night's meeting, Commissioner Tim Wagner said he was all for diversifying the group.
"You've got to have people come forward who want to be on the Planning Commission," he said. He said if people want to expand the number from five commissioners, they should talk to council.
Supporters of the code say it will improve the quality of life in Altavista, enhance the town's ability to attract new jobs, protect the health, safety and welfare of people who live and work here, and increase property values.
"We've got to educate ourselves," Higginbotham said. "This thing is massive."
Mayor Rudy Burgess said he'd asked for detailed minutes of last week's commission hearing. He said council's consideration of the code, including the citizen committee's review, would take two or three months.
As for Uncle Billy's Day, the Finance Committee suggested having a community meeting to gather input about the festival, which has been going on 59 years. The idea had support among council.
"It would be nice to know what the citizenry would really want. I think it's a good starting point," said Councilwoman Beverley Dalton.
Besides having an open forum, the town will also set up a suggestion box or other way of allowing citizens to stop by town hall and give ideas about Uncle Billy's Day.
Coggsdale was asked to set things up.
The action is coming after the Altavista Volunteer Fire Company indicated it didn't want to continue organizing the festival under the current agreement with the town and manpower requirements.
The fire company has organized the festival the last two years.
Council approved allowing residents and property owners to pay any town bills online with a credit card. Customers can also pay bills at town hall with a credit card.
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Carla L Ross wrote on Aug 19, 2008 4:22 PM:
Thanks for your help "