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Construction company hired for Seminary Street project

The Roanoke Town Council was busy at its meeting on Tuesday, April 21. During the course of the meeting, the council discussed the coming construction project on Seminary Street, resolved the monetary issues concerning Republic Services and made final decisions on the previously proposed flood ordinance.

At the last Roanoke Town Council meeting, the council awarded the spring construction projects on Seminary Street to Wayne Asphalt and Construction Company pending ultimate approval by the town’s engineers.

At the town council’s most recent meeting, the engineers voiced approval of the bid’s design plans and cost.

The Roanoke Town Council signed contracts with Wayne Asphalt and Construction Company and the planned projects on Seminary Street will begin in the near future as the company moves forward.

The previously discussed issues with sanitation billing and the contract between the town and Republic Services have been resolved.

A sanitation audit proved that several individuals in town have been choosing to opt out of the town’s curbside services, yet placing bins on the curb for trash pickup. These people have been billed for March.

In wake of the concerns with billing and dishonesty, the Town of Roanoke has elected to create an ordinance detailing a utility and sanitation billing system that is more similar to systems used by other small towns.

The new ordinance will state that anyone paying a utility bill to the Town of Roanoke will automatically be required to purchase sanitation services.

The council says this rule will not bring about any noticeable change in billing for most Roanoke residents.

The ordinance to repeal and replace the previous flood zone construction regulations and requirements was discussed a final time and put to rest.

Mark Mussman, executive director of Huntington Countywide Department of Community Development, was present again to answer questions and note the council’s decision.

The Roanoke Town Council has decided to accept the new flood ordinance with the exception of the higher elevation requirement for new construction projects in special flood hazard areas.

Mussman and the Huntington Countywide Department of Community Development advised against the decision, but the Roanoke council members said they do not see the necessity of increasing the required building elevation in those areas above what is specified by the state.

However, while the town has agreed that it should not dictate requirements over the state minimums, it acknowledges the benefits of building higher in special flood hazard areas and recommends that new projects be elevated to three feet.

In other business:

• Issues with solicitation in town are affecting local businesses have caused the council to reconsider the town’s solicitation ordinance.

Currently, the ordinance is geared toward individuals selling merchandise or services.

After the council discussed the matter, it was decided that the peddling of opinions and religion should fall into the definition of solicitation as well.

The ordinance will be further discussed at the next Roanoke Town Council meeting.

• It has been decided that Todd Inc. will now be working with the town to help mow and care for the park grounds.

• The Roanoke Park Department asked the council to approve a raise to an employee.

The employee was awarded a three percent raise that was consistent with those awarded to other town employees at the end of the last fiscal year.

• Main Street will be closed on May 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.