I have lived in the city limits for seven years and have paid quarterly fees since. I’m not sure why these fees are due the city of Bluefield, other than the fees for garbage pick-up. I know that there are hundreds of people in the city who would agree with me in this respect. First there are fees the city calls “street fees.” What a joke this is. There was an article in the Bluefield paper in early spring where the city said they were waiting on the asphalt plant to open so they could begin repairs. I haven’t seen a road anywhere that has had any repair. Where is this money going? It’s sure not going for what it is intended for.
The city manager is not managing very well. I called Friday, Nov. 13, to talk to someone about this. I asked where the money was going for street fees and I was immediately directed to wait for a call from the city manager on Monday, Nov. 16. I never received the call. This money is not benefiting the citizens of Bluefield.
Second, there is the fee each citizen is required to pay for parking in his or her own driveway. This is absurd. Maybe the citizens should start charging the city for each city vehicle to park in the city. Sounds silly but it’s true. The city should be required to pay the state for each vehicle parked on city streets or private lots. The city needs a manager with a backbone that will stand up for the citizens. There are holes in the streets that will destroy any vehicle that hits one, but all that the city manager will do is beautify the city. Don’t try to cover up the problems of Bluefield by adding such things as stone structures, streetlights through the city, hanging flowers, etc. This only makes the surface of the city look better. It does nothing for the problems.
I guess the money for the street fees the citizens have been paying is being paid out for all the pretty things.
Third, the city manager wants to raise the garbage fee. He wants to raise our rates just because Princeton’s rates are higher. The board voted this down. Maybe he can use our street fee money to cover this because the money is definitely not being applied as expected. We, as the citizens of Bluefield should stand up for our rights as citizens.
James A. Willis Jr.
Bluefield
Letters to the Editor
November 24, 2009
How is city using street fee funds?
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