Evening star., 1950-08-22
a|IsChurch Hits
Fund Trouble in
Annexation Suit
Action Cost $40, 900
More Than Expected;
City Seeks Solution

suit against Fairfax County cost
about $4,000 more than the city
had expected, City Manager Roy
S. Braden told the City Council
last night.
The manager said he is check
ing available revenue to meet the
bill.
I'm probably going to have to
cripple some department to do it, :"
he predicted.
Clarence Eckert, director of
finance, said $4,000 was budgeted
for annexation suit costs this year
and $4,000 last year.
Annexation "Foes" Blamed.
? The city, lost its suit in Circuit
Court to annex approximately
1915 square miles of adjacent
county territory. An appeal from
the decision by the three-judge
court has been ordered by the
council.
La Rue Van Meter, city at
torney, attributed the extra cost
to foes of annexation within the
city"
Mr.. Van Meter said it was nec-
essary to employ the city man
ager of Petersburg, Joe Hatchett,
to prepare budget \ testimony
Ordinarily the city manager said,
the city manager would do this
work. Roy F. Dunn was Falls
Church manager at the time.
The refusal of the county" to
permit ready access to its land
records required the city to spend
money to obtain this information.
Mr.. Van Meter said.
Testimony Was Expensive.
The city also found many local
businessmen and residents reluc-
tant to testify the city attorney
said, because they feared the ILL
will of the anti-annexationists. 4"
This required professional prepa-
ration of testimony, he said. again
adding to the cost.
In other action, the council
gave preliminary approval to a
proposal by the city manager that
would attempt to eliminate COM
petition from private water Sys-
TENS in areas surrounding the
city.
Under the proposal, the city
would agree to compensate de-
velopers for the cost of extending
the city's water system to a SUBJ
division. The amount to be paid
is tentatively set at 10 per cent OF
the revenue the city derives from
the sale of water to the subdi-
vision for 10 years.
Mr.. Braden said the plan should
increase revenues and might help
to prevent the installation of little
private systems.
Water Facilities Ample.
Up to now. developers have been
required to pay the entire cost
Of connecting with city lines.
Private water companies already
in existence have obtained con-
tracts to service some new sub
divisions near the city.
In other cases, subdivision de-
velopers have installed their own
systems.
The city now has facilities, the
manager reported TOR supplying
about z million gallons a day.
Less than LIS million gallons is
being used.
The council voted to authorize
filing of an injunction suit against
the Tyler Corp, 399 West Broac
street for violation of the zonine
ordinance"
Mr.. Van Meter reported thai
the firm has been using it's prop
erty, zoned retail commercial, fol
storage of construction machiner,
and materials. The latter use, MI
Van Meter said, calls for indus
trial zoning. He said that repeated
attempts have been made to ge
the firm to comply with the ordi
nance.
The council refused, however, tt
order legal action against Thomai
H. Woods, dry cleaner, of II:
Shreve street, for alleged violation
Of fire regulations.
Mr.. Van Meter said the fire code
could be used to force Mr.. Woods
to remove a sign on top of his
building. The council refused tx
"take advantage of technicality,
however, and asked the city man
ager to "try to work 1t out with
Mr.. Woods"