Residents urge alternatives to tax hikes and restoration of rec center hours; council to review brush-drop costs

Several Radford residents used the public-comment period Monday to press the City Council on budget choices, recreation hours and the future of the brush drop center amid ongoing budget work sessions.

Carol Andrews, of 2001 Preston Street, told council she was "very worried" about rising utility rates and higher real-estate assessments. Andrews said tax breaks granted to Radford University and a $128,000 item on the city budget that she understood as a return of taxes to the university are contributing to strain on the city’s finances and said she opposed shifting the burden onto residents.

Multiple residents urged the council to restore early-morning hours at the Radford Recreation Center. Nicole Watson, a longtime fitness instructor who said she has taught classes at the rec for more than 17 years, said limited morning hours deprive working residents of a place to exercise and said access is "really great for my mental health." Richard Fisher, who said he typically uses the facility between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m., and others said events and tournament scheduling in the evenings have prompted changes that remove morning availability.

Wilson (Wills) Rankin and other commenters urged the council to keep the city drop (brush) center open. Rankin said city residents use their own vehicles and fuel to bring debris to the site and that closing or restricting the facility would increase littering and roadside dumping. He called the drop center a key asset for neighborhood upkeep.

Councilors acknowledged the concerns and said staff would review the operational costs. Councilor Jesse asked staff to check whether the brush pile sits on city property and to confirm hauling and grinding expenses; staff responded that city forces haul the material but that the principal expense often comes from paying a contractor to grind brush into mulch after haul-off. Councilor Kelly said she had asked city staff to review rec-center hours and that Charlie Goans (staff member) was tasked to evaluate schedules because evening activities often extend into late hours; adjustments to morning hours would affect weekend and evening programming and require further review.

Council members reiterated that they are reviewing every line in the budget and said a sequence of budget work sessions will continue weekly through April. The city manager also noted the city will present a budget overview next Monday and that councilors will meet frequently to finalize decisions.