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TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1998 <br />The Reverend Curtis Hairston, Pastor of Waller Memorial Holiness Church, expressed his concern for the <br /> <br />current quality of education in the City School System. observing that student test scores had dropped, that <br />parental involvement needed to be improved, and that although some children might be considered <br />incorrigible many others could be helped if the right things were done to reach them. Mayor Adams agreed <br />with Reverend Hairston on the importance of parental involvement, and Council Member Haskell encouraged <br />Reverend Hairston to attend the School Board's meetings and share his comments with them. <br /> <br />Mr. James Cfigger of 122 S. Askin St. came forward to express his thanks for Mayor Adams' service on <br />Council, complimented the Gateway Streetscape organization for its work throughout the City, complimented <br />Council on the work that had been done to dean up the appearance of the Bridge Street railroad overpass, <br />and expressed his pleasure at seeing the new businesses which were establishing themselves on Starling <br />Avenue, as well as the plans for the new Virginia Museum of Natural History building there. Mr. Crigger also <br />complimented the family of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Martin for the business development work they were doing <br />throughout the City. <br /> <br />Mr. D. Franklin Clark of 1124 South Askin Street spoke to commend the City Council for the good work <br />being done within the City, noting that it was dear that considerable effort was being applied to dean up and <br />improve the City' s neighborhoods. <br /> <br />Mr. Ralph Draper of 816 Keel Street stated that the property maintenance code the City has in place is good, <br />but that he did not feel it adequately addressed problems in industrial property areas, where junk is also a <br />problem. Mr. Draper also expressed his disappointment that the process to deal with the problem of <br />dilapidated houses and overgrown lots in the neighborhood seemed to take so long, referring specifically to a <br />house at 107 Spring Street. Mayor Adams stated that City staff would look into both these issues. <br /> <br />Mr. Marshal Nelson of 205 Emmett Street stated that he had been a resident of the neighborhood for fif~y-five <br />years, and that he hoped that the City would find a way to accomplish the removal of the old abandoned water <br />tank adjacent to his back yard. <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br /> <br />