February 23, 2018
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Distributed Free Each Friday Since 2009 February 23, 2018 www.pcpatriot.com Locally Owned And Operated 2018 PILLARS OF PROGRESS We Recognize Local Businesses From The Oldest To The Newest. Inside Today’s Issue Council grapples with three old issues and have for some time. Take home vehicle In the past, the town has allowed employees subject to call back to take home a vehicle if they reside within a 15.8-mile radius of town, and policy, tobacco use within a 45-minute response time. However, Town Manager Shawn Utt told coun- and VuhVanagon cil he had allowed four employees to drive town vehicles beyond the 15.8-mile radius as part of a By MIKE WILLIAMS "pilot program" to gauge the overall costs related The Patriot to expanding to a "response time limit" vs. a "dis- tance limit." Pulaski Town Council grappled again Tuesday with three old issues - take home vehicles, tobac- Three of the four employees are police officers co use in town vehicles and VuhVanagon. and one is in administration. One of the police During Tuesday's work session, council all but officers resides in Woodlawn, while the other two WEEKEND WEATHER resolved the tobacco issue. However, the other live in Christiansburg. The administration SATURDAY SUNDAY two remain unsolved. employee also lives in Christiansburg. Most of Tuesday's discussion centered around The amount of miles being driven by town A chance of showers. Mostly Showers, mainly before 1pm. take home vehicles. vehicles irked at least two members of council. cloudy, with a high near 68. High near 67. Chance of precip- "How in the world can we justify to citizens Chance of precipitation is 30%. itation is 80%. In recent months, council has heard from at how one of our vehicles is being driven to Saturday Night - A chance of least one citizen questioning the practice of town Woodlawn 19,136 miles a year on non-town busi- showers. Cloudy, with a low Sunday Night - Mostly cloudy, employees - especially police officers - driving ness," asked councilman Jamie Radcliffe. around 57. Chance of precipita- with a low around 45. police cars to and from home and work. A couple Especially, he said, during the last four or five tion is 30%. members of council said Tuesday they hear more from citizens about the issue than anything else, See COUNCIL, page A2 At session’s midpoint, 40% of bills still alive By George Copeland Jr. and Irena Schunn issues like marijuana decriminalization and gun Capital News Service violence have failed, having never made it out of committee. RICHMOND - The Virginia General Assembly's Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, criticized the GOP 2018 session has reached its midpoint, with more majority in the House for killing legislation such as than 1,000 bills passing between the House and his proposal to create a legal process to temporari- Senate, including potential changes to health care, ly remove the firearms of someone who, according criminal justice and transportation. to family members or friends, is a risk to himself or Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment Jr., R- others. James City, was pleased with what his party has "These bills never received a subcommittee accomplished this session. assignment, let alone a hearing," Sullivan said. "From measures that will make healthcare more Tuesday, Feb. 13 was "crossover day," the dead- accessible and affordable, to meaningful legislation line for bills to clear their house of origin: to grow our economy, Republican senators have •Of the 1,609 House bills, delegates passed 589, been unified in their commitment to improving the or 37 percent. They now will be considered by the lives of all Virginians," Norment said. But more than 1,500 pieces of legislation on See HALF-WAY, page A2 Page A2 - The Patriot - Friday, February 23, 2018 Council Blacksburg Rotary Club Continued from page A1 gift to boost childcare, years when taxes have been increased. look at different options and pick one," he said. Radcliffe said, according to mileage informa- Council will re-visit the issue with more data preschool for NRV kids tion presented by Utt, town vehicles are being from staff. driven outside Pulaski County on non-town busi- Council quickly approved - on a 5-1 vote - Thanks to Blacksburg Rotary a family of four earning 175% of ness to the tune of 69,732 miles. changes in the town's vehicle use policy pertain- Club's $10,000 donation to the the Federal Poverty Rate "How can we justify this," he asked again. ing to smoking and tobacco use that council Alliance for Better Childcare ($43,050) would have to spend Councilman Joseph Goodman echoed believes will likely result in phasing out tobacco Strategies (ABCs) scholarship 45% of their gross income to Radcliffe's sentiments. use in town vehicles totally in four to five years. fund, local working parents will access quality care for their "In talking with members of this council I think Changes involve making those vehicles pur- have the opportunity to access infant and preschooler. what I've been hearing is we don't want town chased after Jan. 1, 2018 to be considered tobac- high quality full-time early edu- This generous gift from the vehicles leaving Pulaski County without there co free. Those purchased after Jan. 1, 2013 and cation. Blacksburg Rotary Club will being a business need for it - like going to a con- where regular use of tobacco products have not The Blacksburg Rotary Club help children and families to ference or driving someone to the appropriate occurred will also be considered tobacco free. gave a $10,000 contribution to access quality childcare. This hospital," Goodman said. Vehicles purchased before Jan. 1, 2013, or ABCs' scholarship fund for supports both our local economy And, he added, in situations where it is justified those purchased afterwards and the regular use of preschoolers, Bridging the Gap. and the health of our community Goodman said permission from council should tobacco products have occurred will not be con- This large gift will serve as seed -- benefiting employers, parents, have to be gained. sidered "non-smoking vehicles." money to incentivize employers children and our childcare infra- Radcliffe said councilmembers cannot justify Clark said the changes will result in all town and individuals to build this crit- structure. to citizens how an employee can drive a town property effectively becoming smoke free in four ical fund for early education. Just how important is a good vehicle 19,136 miles in the course of a year on to five years. ABCs launched the Bridging the preschool education? Findings non-town business. Only Radcliffe voted against the proposed Gap scholarship fund in late from a continuing study of 4,000 "We cannot explain that to these people who get changes. 2017 to enable local 3 - 5 year children in Tulsa, Oklahoma these $90 a month water bills and taxes," Vice Mayor Greg East expressed concerns over olds to access quality early edu- show that high quality preschool Radcliffe said. "If we're ever going to get our VuhVanagon - the Volkswagen van lot along Lee cation and full-time childcare. has an effect that is powerful and budget in line, when do we start?" Highway leading into downtown. Ferne Moschella, President of does not fade out. Quality pre- Goodman said citizens who see town vehicles the Blacksburg Rotary Club, school dramatically narrows the outside the town limits might have questions. East said the issue has lingered since first stated: "It is a privilege for our disadvantage gap through to "But if they see them outside the county, they go emerging in 2009. While he said some progress Club to be able to support the middle school, high school and - to be blunt - 'what the hell are you people has apparently been made over the past 18 important work of ABCs. We even into college . doing,'" he exclaimed. months, he is concerned about possible environ- wish to recognize two Club Quality reliable childcare is "For as long as I've set here around this table, mental issues and any liability the town could members, Dick Bohlin and Doug also essential for our working it's the thing I've heard the most about. Since I face in the future from the issue. Smartt, whose initial donations parents and our local economy. first ran for council in 2010, it's what I've heard to the Blacksburg Rotary Fund at A Cornell University study the most about. 'Why do you guys (council) have "We still have the potential for seepage from the Community Foundation of found that the availability of police vehicles at the mall in Christiansburg,' peo- the 300 to 400 vehicles parked at the site. I want the New River Valley, made this high-quality childcare decreased ple ask. Other than water bills it's the complaint I to make sure we've got a good understanding with gift possible. As Rotarians, we employee absences by 20-30% hear the most about," stated Goodman. DEQ (state Department of Environmental are dedicated to doing good in and reduced turnover by 37- Police Chief Gary Roche, speaking in defense Quality) and that they bless all the plans," East the world and in our community. 60%. of the practice, said the problem lies with how said. Two of Rotary's stated areas of In a 2015 Washington Post often police officers are called back to work. focus are maternal and child survey, more than 75% of moth- "They're called back so much that we're at a "I'm starting to feel like maybe we're trying to health, and basic education and ers and 50% of fathers said they serious business issue if we can't bring them accommodate what has been illegal for over a literacy.