The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1970 Businessmen Bend Council Ear1 4�� r/xs/70 Anderson Sets `Listening' Meet For Businessmen College Station Mayor D. A. (Andy) Anderson will conduct a listening session for business- men operating in College Sta- tion at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the City Hall. Resident as well as nonresi- dent businessmen are welcome, the mayor said. Anderson said he hoped the session would be the first of many with various groups of the city. The purpose of the meeting is to give businessmen an opportunity to discuss any problems that are city govern- ment - business oriented, ac* cording to Anderson. "Perhaps the council can un- dertake some action favorable to the business clime, but un- less we know of particular problems, the council can't act on them," the mayor said. Now if You Want to Vote in 1970 THE DAILY EAGLE Application Form, Page 3 . Since 1876 Bryan- College, Station, Texas thursday, January 29, 1970 12 Pages 10 Cents Businessmen Bend Council Ear I, 3 -Hour Session 'I Hot, Humorous By FRANK GRIFFIS Eagle Staff Writer The listening session for College Station businessmen Wednesday„ evee,,��ing was a j potpourri of emd�fbns as about 2 0 businessmen growled, I yelled, cursed, and laughed for three hours. The city council heard complaints about the city's personal property tax, school taxes, Planning and Zoning Commission policies and the lack of an industrial park. Mayor D.A. (Andy) Anderson said he hoped the session would be the first of many. Councilman Bill J. Cooley said he believes a major problem facing the businessmen is the personal property tax. "I believe we should drop the t a x altogether or make everyone pay it. It's not much, hilt it'c nn aggravating thinLy." "I don't want to pay it but I do. I think it's double taxation without representation," one businessman commented. Mayor Anderson asked Ran Boswell, city manager, J_o much the city receives from he personal property tax. "The whole tax takes in about $159,000, eight or 10 per cent of which is taken from personal property," Boswell said. "I think if you ask most of the folks in here, you'll find th b t 60 b I "Could you tell me how much taxes Jim Garner, who is on the Planning and Zoning Commission, p a s ? ' ' Pugh asked. "I don't think he pays any," he added. Cooley said Gardner was n on the city tax rolls at the time, but that he was renting. "I feel it is wrong for him to tell me how to use my land' it's inequitable." Pugh said. Councilman Joseph J. McGraw said no planning at a ou usmessmen In commissioner has more than this community pay a whole lot • more than 33 or 40 per cent of the taxes paid by the com munity," Marion Pugh of Pugh Lumber Co. said. one vote. on "D't tell me that," Pugh said. "He doesn't tell you hcw t' use your land," McGraw sapid. "Hell if he doesn't. It's inequitable because I'm not represented," Pugh said. McGraw said he believed most lafidlords raise the price of rent to include property ! taxes. "I don't think a renter - is a second - class citizen," lie added. Another objection about the Planning and - Zoning Com mission was brought up y DQp .Dale. He told the council `submitted a plat to fission a number of" ad it deferred each ti i "I told a membe ' of 0 e iPlanning and Zoninoi* Com- ffiissioh I didn't want the ty zzo�nned as residential; (azoned business. The mmissioner then told me he 'dn't want anything to do with t," Dale said. Dale told the council he had See BUSINESSMEN, Page 3) Businessmen. G Council Plenty of Talk Continued from Page 1) Association said he thought the read the new subdivision or- most helpful thing the council dinance and he didn't think it could do would be t6 meet with was equitable. the school board. "I don't think that's the way Joe Sawyer, president of we were meant to operate," University National Bank, asked Dale said. the council what ti ieir counsel "The new subdivision or- was concerning ant industrial dinance hasn't come up before park for College Station. the council yet. Believe me, we "I am personally in favor of don't mean to hurt business," it," Anderson said. Anderson said. Sawyer said they should ask The businessmen then com- assistance from the Bryan - plained that Bryan receives College Station Chamber of much of College Station's Commerce in demeloping an business. industrial park. He said Bryan One of the businessmen said had received assisl:ance from he believed Bryan received area banks in fia ancin,g the more business because taxes Brazos County Ind'e1strial Park are lower in Bryan. and had received help from the "Why do you think we have chamber. taxes so low? The City of "H we establish an industrial College Station and the A &M park, could we attritct industry Consolidated School District are when Bryan already has a two different entities," Coun- Park? If we had Iny industry cilman James Dozier said. it would probably l;ravitate to Dozier said taxes are not that the established park," Dozier much higher in College Station said. than they are in Bryan. "Didn't the B -CS 1' hamber of "Someone has been snowed. Commerce push the; industrial This is a snow - job." park in Bryan? Dej you think "One disadvantage we have they would push onma in College is that we buy water and Station"' asked. Adams said he died not think electricity from Bryan which the chamber _would,romote an makes our utilities higher," i Councilman Dan Davis said. industrial park in College Station. _. Anderson said the Millican "1 was tickled td death that Dam Project would alleviate the Bryan got an induritrial park, problem of buying utilities from but we need one, tioo. I hope Bryan. the newspaper doesin't get the "Andy, you and I will both idea that we are . griping at be dead when that comes Bryan because we are working about," Homer Adams said. together," Ransdell ;said. Dick Hervey, vice president Bill Fitch said tht s one thing of Commu Savings & Loan the council could dc to attract - - more residents woi uld be to d e v e l o p the tb toroughfare "Both cities have grown together. You can't tell where Bryan ends and College Station ends. We could have one central government which would probably reduce costs by one - third and we could .get a helll of a lot more done," Pugh said. "We might become part of Houston and be better off. We just don't want to lose our identity," Dozier said. Anderson pointed out the council of government idea is growing widely, especially in California and Dallas. Dozier reported two industries from Houston recently ex- pressed interest in moving to the Bryan - College Station area. "They went to Bryan because there were no buildings ready in College Station and they wanted to move in right away." "How long would it take to get the land rezoned ?" Adams asked. "Where in the hell would anyone build anything after we rezoned it? They wouldn't because the people are making a profit from selling the land,' Dozier said. I "I challenge you to tell me the procedures of rezoning," Adams told Dozier. "Homer, I challenge you to a fist fight, arm wrestling, church going, anything" Dozier blasted, leaning across the desk. "James, this a business matter, not a personal argument," Randsdell said to Dozier. Dozier sat down quietly. "I'm proud of tl ie manner the council has upl traded the street system in tile last 10 years," Fitch said. He said many city streets nee !d improve- ment and lengtheninlg. "I think it would !be to your advantage to press .forward on completion of a gooet thorough- fare system to enable the people to get to where they want to go in College Station . This can offset the taxes we! can't do anything about them. anyway, Fitch said. Arthur Vinzant of the Red- mond Terrace Barber Shop said what the city lacks a ;•e locations for businesses that are abailble now. "We need key locations to serve the permanent people within the city" Vinzant said. McGraw said the city had Picked out sizable .tracts and designated them ats business zones, but nothing had been developed on the propierty yet. A question was asked where an automobile ages icy could locate in College Station. McGraw pointed out: on a city map areas along Tey:as Avenue that were zoned for t!ommercial use. McGraw askjed the businessman how they felt about Sunday closing laws. "As a councilman„ you will never get a vote from me against Sunday openinigs. I think a businessman should be able to open on any day Ate wants," McGraw said. p, "I'm surprised at you, Joe. It's the Lord's Day," Male said Buford Craig, develloper, sair he felt everyone who wants t, should be able to shop ei Sunday. Pugh told the cgiuncil th solution to all the pru wa to form a singil count government for B1 yan an College Station.