A movement is under way to bestow a special honor on a man who led the local Habitat for Humanity group before passing away last week.

Tim VanHoy, 42, died last Friday after suffering a massive heart attack earlier in the week. VanHoy’s passing came as a shock to the community that had been continually touched by his efforts to provide affordable housing to many deserving families in Surry County.

A possible way to honor VanHoy’s contributions emerged Thursday night at a meeting of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners. During a public-comment portion of the meeting, mayoral candidate Paul Eich — also a Habitat for Humanity volunteer — asked if there was some way that VanHoy, who resided in Fancy Gap, Va., could be designated an honorary citizen of Mount Airy.

Eich said that although VanHoy did not reside here, his service as Habitat director affected many citizens and taxpayers in this community.

“I think it would be good ... if we could honor him as a citizen,” said Eich, who added that he was unclear as to the procedures and legalities of such a move. “I’ll leave it to the attorney and you folks at this point.”

“We have not had a program of that nature (in place),” Mayor Jack Loftis responded. But the mayor said such an honor certainly could be arranged. “So we’ll consider that,” he told Eich.

The suggestion also was supported by Commissioner David Beal. Calling VanHoy’s death at age 42 “tragic,” Beal said he wanted the city’s official records to reflect sympathy for the late Habitat director’s family.

“Tim is one of those people who may be gone, but not forgotten, and let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Primary Questioned

In other business Thursday night, Commissioner Dean Brown relayed a concern he said had been received from several citizens regarding an upcoming primary for the mayor’s office to be held on Oct. 6. Four candidates will be involved in the primary that will be a preliminary step to a successor being chosen for Loftis, who opted not to seek re-election this year.

The two top-vote getters in the primary will square off in the general election in November. However, the anticipated $8,000 to $10,000 cost of the primary has raised some eyebrows.

Brown said there is sentiment in the community for eliminating the primary and having all candidates for a particular office simply face each other in the general election. “I believe it was discussed several years ago, but it might be time to do it again,” Brown said of such a move.

The board member added that he is not advocating any particular option because he recognizes the pros and cons of each.

If Mount Airy officials were to make such a change, it would not affect the mayor’s primary scheduled in October, but elections in future years.

“It might be something we could discuss at our January retreat,” Brown suggested, referring to an annual planning session in which Mount Airy officials address long-range issues.

Action Urged On Utilities

Also Thursday night, Commissioner Jon Cawley said he would like to see a resolution soon on an issue brought before the city council last month by a local businessman.

Gene Rees, who owns a cleaning company on Frederick Street in addition to other local business interests, asked city officials on July 16 to consider implementing an “evaporation credit” for utility bills. That credit would address the notion that water consumed by a business such as a cleaning firm is not necessarily re-released back into the municipal sewage system.

Under present city policy, utility customers are charged an identical amount for sewer and water service, under an assumption that the quantities associated with each are the same.

But Rees has said a professional study showed that 34 percent of his company’s water intake is lost through evaporation. He told board members that the extra expense involved is hurting the ability of his company to be competitive in the services it provides, which include washing rental uniforms, restaurant linens, towels and other items.

While City Manager Don Brookshire was instructed in July to research a possible solution, Cawley said Thursday night that he wanted a resolution sooner rather than later.

“I hope we will take action on that quickly,” Cawley said. “He (Rees) employs more than 40 people.”

Added the board member, “I hope we have an answer for him at our next meeting.”

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.