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Advocates name 'sorriest' Roanoke bus stop

An outlying bus stop on Orange Avenue was named the “sorriest” in the Valley Metro system Tuesday. 

The Bus Riders of Roanoke Advisory Group (BRRAG) surveyed riders for its annual Sorriest Bus Stop Contest. The most votes went to a patch of grass on U.S. 460 East at Moriah Lane across from Market Square East shopping center, BRRAG spokeswoman Laura Hartman said in a news release.

An official bus stop marked by a sign, it lacks a sidewalk, seating and lights. Given the lack of amenities, BRRAG wrote in a release, “there is no protection from the cars whizzing by and patrons must stand in a ditch in order to avoid standing in the road. It seems impossible for a wheelchair user or anyone with mobility challenges to use this bus stop. And yet, use it they do.”

During the past 12 months, 230 riders boarded the bus at the stop, while 800 riders disembarked there, Valley Metro said. That’s a relatively low level of ridership. Some stops handle hundreds of riders daily.

Valley Metro General Manager Kevin Price said authorities have upgraded various locations in the network of more than 800 stops Valley Metro serves and that his agency works with municipalities on such projects. Asked if the bus stops are Valley Metro’s responsibility, Price said “yes and no.” 

Valley Metro has an interest in seeing that riders have a safe place to get on and off and wait for busses and has a say in bus stop locations, he said. But Valley Metro doesn’t own the stops. “We don’t specialize in infrastructure,” Price said. 

Price said his office would evaluate the stop cited by BRRAG. 

Last year’s so-called sorriest bus stop — at Orange and King Street — has been upgraded since it took the honor, thanks to efforts by the city, Price said.

“Riders now enjoy an ADA-accessible paved bus stop in this location, with a bench and shelter on the way,” BRRAG said.

School board applicants talk relationships

Two appointments will soon be made to the Roanoke School Board by City Council during a time when members of the two bodies are facing a tight budget year with likely difficult discussions to come.

City Manager Valmarie Turner has said that the city should adjust its school funding formula, which earmarks 40 percent of budgeted dollars to the district. 

Two school board incumbents — Franny Apel and Joyce Watkins — are seeking reappointment. There is also newcomer Adam Markwood, who decided to apply because he said he’s always felt civic involvement is important.

The candidates were interviewed by the council on Monday. They were asked how they view the school board’s relationship with the council.

Apel, a city math teacher and coach and the school board’s vice chair, said she believes there must be a collaboration with transparency.

That is “good for the health of the city overall,” she said.

Watkins, sales director for Elevance Health, said that at times “passion and emotion” must be set aside so the line of communication remains open.

It’s important to focus on “listening to understand,” she said.

Markwood, managing director of investments at Brian Wishneff & Associates, talked during his interview several times about the need to understand realities.  For instance, he said the tumult at the federal level currently — which includes the paring down of the U.S. Department of Education — brings additional pressure on local school boards.

“Collaboration creates the best result,” he said.

A hearing is scheduled for April 21 during the council’s 7 p.m. session for the public to offer support for the candidates. Council will make the appointments at some point after that. The new three-year terms start July 1. School board members are paid an annual stipend of $4,200.

Tax exempt status heading toward new process

The city is moving toward a new system for organizations seeking tax exempt status.

For years, the Council has had to make decisions on such exemptions simply upon such requests. That’s raised questions about fairness and a lack of a more thorough process.  Roanoke has over 2,000 tax exempt properties representing $2.5 billion, which is about 20 percent of the city’s entire portfolio.

According to the proposal, a nonprofit would first request tax exemption via a form distributed by the director of real estate valuation or commissioner of revenue. Those offices would review the application and make an initial determination whether the applicant is already exempt under state law.

If the organization is not exempt, a committee made up of representatives from the offices of the director of real estate valuation, commissioner of revenue, city manager and city attorney would meet to review the application and to provide a recommendation to the city manager. 

The Council would then consider that recommendation. Any organization granted status would then need to reapply after three years, according to the proposed ordinance. 

“While state law does not require codification of this process, codification will make the process more transparent to the public and is consistent with the practices of other localities that have included this process in their city codes,” the proposed ordinance reads.

The Council is scheduled to vote on the matter at its April 21 meeting.