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<br />28 <br /> <br />TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1986 <br /> <br />Council acknowledged receipt of the 1985 Annual Report of the Martinsville Volunteer <br /> <br />Fire Company and, in so doing, commended this organization for its outstanding com- <br /> <br />munity service over the years. <br /> <br />Council, too, acknowledged receipt of a progress report from City Manager Brown on <br /> <br />on-going improvements and changes being made in offices and office-relocations in the <br /> <br />City's Municipal Building, for which funds were provided in the City's current <br /> <br />(1985-86) budget. <br /> <br />By formal prior notice from Southwestern Virginia Gas Company and in person by its <br /> <br />Vice President-Treasurer, Mr. Ralph J. Pruitt, Council was apprised of the filing of <br /> <br />an application by Southwestern Virginia Gas Company (Martinsville, Virginia) with the <br /> <br />(Virginia) State Corporation Commission seeking an increase in rates estimated to <br /> <br />yield an additional $256,768.00 over current revenue which, if approved, might enable <br /> <br />the applicant to achieve a return on equity found reasonable by the Commission in the <br /> <br />prior test period of 1982 for the revenue increase allowed by the Commission in 1983. <br /> <br />In response to questions posed by members of Council, citing in particular the recent <br /> <br />downward trend in the cost of crude oil and the wide-spread positive effect thereby <br /> <br />upon other costs, Mr. Pruitt pointed out that, as cited in paragraph 5 of the appli- <br /> <br />cation, " The Company has experienced increases in premiums of 400% for some (insurance) <br /> <br />coverages and, while less dramatic, 200% for other coverages" and, at the same time, <br /> <br />other expenses have been effected by inflation. <br /> <br />Council discussed and acknowledged progress reports on the following matters: <br /> <br />A. As mentioned by Councilman Oakes and published in recent local <br />newspaper accounts, the recent occurrence of offensive odors <br />emanating from the City's sewage treatment plant as a result <br />of excess detergents reportedly being put into the system by <br />one or more local textile manufacturing industries and the ina- <br />ability of the City's plant to inject sufficient oxygen neces- <br />sary to complete treatment processes: <br />