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

DATE: TUESDAY, November 23, 1993                   TAG: 9311230423
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL AT A GLANCE/ IN OTHER ACTION MONDAY:

Council learned about a $150,000 leak: City officials briefed council about a leak at the sewage treatment plant that could cost an estimated $150,000 to repair. They said contractors will have to be hired,for because city crews are not experienced in repairing such a large pipe (48 inches in diameter), which is beneath the plant's laboratory. The plant might have to be partially shut down for the repairs. But city officials hope the sewage can be held in a retention pond while the repairs are made so no untreated sewage is discharged into the Roanoke River. Federal and state reimbursement for storm damage: The city has received $56,858 in reimbursement for part of its expenses in cleaning up after the March 12 snowstorm (the Blizzard of '93), which dumped 18 inches of snow on the Roanoke Valley. Federal and state agencies declared an emergency for the snowstorm, City Manager Bob Herbert said, but not for the June windstorm that caused heavy damage in the valley. Hot weather produced more taxes for the city: Local tax collections increased by 11 percent during the first four months of the fiscal year, partly because of hot weather last summer. Consumers used more electricity during the summer to keep their air conditioners going. The city collects more utility taxes (the tax rate is 12 percent of a consumer's bill) as electricity use increases. Meals taxes are up 8.7 percent, and sales taxes have increased by 2.9 percent.

Roanoke's sewer rates will increase by 51 percent over the next three years to pay the city's share of a $41.5 million expansion of the sewage treatment plant and replacement of major sewer lines.

The charge for a residential customer using 5,000 gallons of water a month - the residential average - will increase from $6.47 to $9.80 by 1996.

Kit Kiser, Roanoke's director of utilities and operations, said the financing plan calls for proportionate increases in the rates for commercial and industrial customers.

The charge for sewage treatment is based on the customer's water consumption.

The rate increases were approved without dissent Monday by the city's Water Resources Committee.

City Council is expected to approve the higher rates next month. That should be a formality, because a majority of council members serve on the water committee and supported the increases Monday.

The new rates would take effect March 1.

Even with the increase, Roanoke's sewer rates would remain below the statewide average of $15.73 a month and below those of the other Roanoke Valley localities, Kiser said.

The Water Resources Committee also approved a contract with the other valley localities for sharing the cost of upgrading the plant.

Roanoke's share is $15.7 million, covering 38 percent of the project's cost.

The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors voted in principle last week to pay its $12.3 million share.

The shares for the other localities considering the issue are: Salem, $10.5 million; Botetourt County, $1.9 million; and Vinton, $990,000.

Council member Elizabeth Bowles, the committee chairwoman, said she hasn't heard any opposition to the rate increase. "I believe the people understand the need for higher rates," she said.

Each valley locality can use whatever method it chooses to pay its share for the Roanoke will issue $15.7 million in bonds to finance the project and will repay them with the higher sewer rates. The city plans to sell the bonds without a referendum. plant expansion. And each locality also can decide whether its rates will increase - and by what amount.

Roanoke will issue $15.7 million in bonds to finance the project and will repay them with the higher sewer rates. The city plans to sell the bonds without a referendum.

Council has scheduled a Dec. 13 public hearing on the sewer bonds, which will be part of a $35.8 million bond issue for several projects.

The plant has a rated capacity of 35 million gallons a day, but it has exceeded that volume on many days in recent years.

The plant will be expanded to a capacity of 42 million gallons a day. The flow allocation in millions of gallons daily for each locality will be: Roanoke, 19.2; Roanoke County, 10.3; Salem, 7.8; Botetourt County, 2.6; and Vinton, 2.1.

Heavy rains and melting snow can overload the plant. Infiltration through joints and cracks in sewer lines can cause the daily flow to exceed 40 million gallons during wet or stormy weather. Some storm-water drains are illegally connected to sewer lines, making the problem worse.

Without the plant expansion, the valley localities face the threat of a ban on all new sewer connections, which would halt growth. The state has the authority to ban connections in localities with overloaded sewage treatment plants.

by CNB