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October 28. 1969
<br />
<br />At a regular meeting of the City Council~ held on October 28, 1969, there were present:
<br />
<br />Jack P. Barnes, George D. Bastes, James }?. Holley~ Burrell R. Johnson, Isaac W. King, R. Irvine Smith,
<br />Raymond Turner, A. P. Johnson, Jr., City Manager.,~and M. A. Korb, Jr.~ City Attorney.
<br />
<br />The meeting was opened with prayer by Mr. King.
<br />
<br /> 69-328 ~ Tile Chair welcomed members of Cadette Girls Scout Troop 109, who are working on government
<br />badges.
<br />
<br />69-529 - The following hearing on zoning changes was held:
<br />
<br />Petition Z 69-27 - Peck Iron and Metal Company
<br />
<br />~e following spoke:
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<br />~;~ S. Livesay, attorney for Catalina Development CorPoration.
<br />Willard J. Moody, attorney for Cradock Property Gwne~s.
<br />~.~¢ ~ Vogler
<br />Mrs. Dorothy Vaughmn
<br />Mrs. Gene Keever
<br />Capt. White, ~mmunition Depot
<br />Albert Cross
<br />J~Lmes Jefferson
<br />Gene Luke, who presented the following letter:
<br />
<br />"My name is Gene Luke, a property owner of 25 Kennedy Drive, Cradock.
<br />
<br /> You have heard what you are going to collect in taxes and business licenses, now let's see what
<br />it will cost in school construction and operating expenses.
<br />
<br /> First, I would like to read a letter dated August 8, 1969, from Dr. M. E. Alford to Mr. I{. T. Goode,
<br />Chairman of the Planning Commission of which a copy was sent to Mayor Barnes, Mr. Aubrey Johnson, and
<br />Mr. Brewer Moore. I further request this letter to be recorded in ~e council minutes.
<br />
<br /> James Hurst School was constructed in 1942. It is termite ridden, the roof leaks, and is not
<br />scheduled for replacement until 1974. Five portable classrooms serve the first grade which arec~n shifts -
<br />two classes in each portable unit. As of September 30th~ a total of 1126 students were enrolled. There are
<br />41 teachers and some have 34 students per class. There is only one principal. The playground is not of
<br />adequate size to accommodate more students. With the proposal of 440 additional students, the principal fore-
<br />sees shifts through the third grade.
<br />
<br /> Alf J. Mapp Jr. High is 200 students over capacity at present, with 9 portables, inadequate physical
<br />education space. Some teachers are teaching classes of 56 students per class. As of September $0th, a total
<br />of ~225 students were enrolled in this school.
<br />
<br /> With Municipal borrowing pegged at 6% maximum, no school construction money can be assured for new
<br />developments. --
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<br />1. ~ne first grade in schools from Churchland to the Southside are on shifts.
<br />
<br />2. No funds were available to enlarge I. C. Norcom cafeteria this fall.
<br />
<br />$, Due to inefficient funds, a request for a portable classroom at James Hurst to replace
<br /> the inadequate library has been detained.
<br />
<br /> It is ~]thinkable that we should have to provide for children we don~t have yet, at the expense
<br />of those who ha~e been waiting.
<br />
<br /> I ask eacJ~ of Mou, could you go home tonight and tell your wife ~and friends that you have just
<br />approved a 2S0 unit trailer park, knowing full well that it would not only be detrimental to the Cradock area,
<br />but to the whole city of Portsmouth.
<br />
<br /> I would like to take this opportunity toothank each person for their attendance tonight and also
<br />those who could not be present, but share equally in our opposal to the trailer court. All who are present
<br />nlease stand."
<br />
<br /> The following letter from the Superintendent of Schools to W. T. Goode, Chairman, Planning Commission,
<br />was read:
<br />
<br /> "Attached is the information requested by the Planning Commission regaMding fae impact of the proposed
<br />trailer park on sc~hool expenditures.
<br />
<br />The information was presented to the school board at the regular meeting on /~nursday, August 7, 1969.
<br />
<br />If I can be of further assistance to you, please ad9ise.
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<br />Attachment:
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<br /> 'The City Planning Commission is presently considering a re~est for the development of a proposed
<br />250 unit trailer park near Victory Boulevard in Cradock. At their request, the following data have been
<br />prepared depicting the impact of the proposed mnit on school ex"penditures.
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