Hillsville Town Council closed a loophole that allowed Carroll County to charge the difference in the localities’ vehicle registration fees during its July 27 meeting.

Beginning in 2010, Hillsville will charge $25 for a vehicle registration sticker — the same price charged by the county. Before the Town Code was amended at the Council meeting, Hillsville charged $15 for a decal, and Carroll County could charge Hillsville residents $10 to make up the difference in price.

Also as part of the ordinance, Hillsville will issue $10 vouchers for residents who purchase decals, as a way to make up for the increase in sticker price. Those vouchers can be used for taxes, business licenses, parking tickets or to pay for any other town services apart from water and sewer bills.

Council held a public hearing in the July 27 meeting to address the subject, but no citizens spoke. However, Council members said they have received positive feedback on the subject.

“Citizens I’ve spoken to are in favor of the increase. I haven’t heard any negative aspects of it,” said Vice Mayor Orba Alderman.

“Everyone I’ve talked to has been supportive,” said Laurel Fork Councilman Greg Yonce.

When time came for Council to discuss the matter, Pine Creek Councilman Ed Terry asked for a little clarification on registered, but nonmotorized trailers.

“(Treasurer) Judy (Bolt) handed me a copy of the state code and it gives counties and towns the right to assess fees on motor vehicles, trailers and semi trailers,” Town Manager Larry South said. “It doesn’t specify any further. My guess probably is if it’s got a title to it, they can charge the decal fee.”

Alderman noted that nonmotorized trailers weren’t included in the public hearing language, which made that discussion moot. Terry then made the motion to increase the fees and issue the vouchers, which was seconded by Yonce.

“I will move that we amend Town Code 163-4 to increase motor vehicle decal fees, effective April 15, 2010 from the current $15 to $25 on cars and trucks and from $6 to $15 on motorcycles and to authorize the Town treasurer to issue general fund voucher credits in the amount of $10 for each car or truck decal and $9 for each motorcycle decal purchased between March 1 and Oct 14 and that those vouchers be valid until June 30 of the year following the purchase date and the vouchers will be valid for credit on any general fund account,” Terry said.

Following Terry’s motion, Bolt noted that he said April 15, but decals would begin going on sale March 1, 2010. With that said, Town Attorney Gregory G. Goad wondered if Terry needed to amend the motion, but he said it could be read either way. Terry argued that since he included the March 1 to Oct. 14 window in the motion, and since the motion could be read either way, it should be able to stand as is.

Yonce then asked if passing the change in code would bind the town to the $25 rate in the future in case the county’s fees ever increased.

“You can change the fee structure by going through the same process, a public hearing and you can do the same thing,” South said.

“I wanted to make sure we didn’t lock ourselves in,” Yonce said.

Following discussion, the motion went to a vote and passed unanimously.