
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 28, 1993                   TAG: 9307280083
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short

$20,000 FIRE VEHICLE QUESTIONED

When former Fire Chief "Cabby" Whitt became the city's new fire marshal, he moved to new digs in Radford's Public Safety Building. His city-owned sedan apparently moved with him.

So, some City Council members were a bit perturbed Monday when City Manager Robert Asbury proposed spending $20,000 or more to replace the sedan with a new "command-utility vehicle" for the new volunteer fire chief, Martin "Jigger" Roberts.

Asbury said the Fire Department has been left with "an aging pickup truck that's now undergoing extensive repairs."

The Radford Volunteer Fire Department has agreed to equip the new fire vehicle, he said.

Councilwoman Polly Corn asked Asbury if Whitt could "use something else."

The new chief "needs more than four wheels, needs more than a sedan," Asbury replied.

He also said Whitt still needs the sedan because he's responsible for hazardous materials situations.

He recommended council pay for the new vehicle out of the city's vehicle fund.

Asbury told council the city soon will face the cost of replacing other worn-out city equipment as well.

Council unanimously went along with the recommendation, but not before Mayor Tom Starnes and Councilman Bob Nicholson expressed concerns over the city's recent spending habits.

"Look at the money we've appropriated just in the month of July, and we have 11 more months" in the 1993-94 fiscal year, Nicholson said.

"It's frightening."

by CNB