South Boston Town Council had to call on the Mayor Carroll Thackston to
break a 3-3 tie vote Monday night concerning the addition of an
amendment to the Town Code which would require commercial
establishments to install equipment which would prevent blockages in
sewer lines caused by the accumulation of grease, fats and oils. Siding
with Council members Morris Bryant, Sandra Thompson and Coleman Speece
in supporting the addition, Thackston voted for its approval.
Opposing the measure were Councilmen Bill Snead, Chris Elliott and Ed
Owens. Elliott pointed out that the Public Service Authority would be
responsible for water and sewer operations after January 1, 2008 and
asked why South Boston was making the decision about the blockages at
this time with other members of the Authority, namely the Town of
Halifax and the County of Halifax, not doing the same thing.
Council members also discussed yet another controversial issue, that of
a mandatory utility connection policy approved by the Halifax County
Service Authority. They took no action on the issue, which is slated
for a vote at next Monday night's joint session of the governing bodies
of South Boston, Halifax and the County. Several members had questions
about the resolution calling for mandatory connections for new
customers in areas served by municipal water and sewer services. The
resolution exempts those persons having a domestic supply or source of
potable water, saying they "shall not be required to discontinue the
use of such water. However, persons not served by a water supply system
producing potable water meeting the standards established by the
Virginia Department of Health may be required to pay a connection fee,
an availability fee and an extension fee, and a monthly nonuser service
charge..." Council members asked Town Manager Ted Daniel to present
some of their questions to the Authority's lawyer, Sam Darby, for
answers before next Monday's vote.
In other business Council approved an amended fiscal year budget
including carryover requests from the previous year's budget. They also
authorized Finance Director Erle Scott to publish the Town's delinquent
tax list.
Council also approved the sale of Lot 8-A in the Houghton Park to VASAP
for a price of $14,000 and they named Jim Burton to the Town Industrial
Development Authority to fill the unexpired term of Bob Reish, who has
moved from the community.
They also reappointed George Leonard and Coleman Speece to new two year
terms on the Lake Country Development Corporation to serve along side
Eric Roberts and Erle Scott.
Marcus Hargrave was named to the Roanoke River Rails to Trails Board to
fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Lee Pambid earlier this
year.