ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 5, 1997 TAG: 9702050073
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN AND MARK CLOTHIER
*The Montgomery County Public Service Authority voted Monday to give its workers a one-time $500 pay adjustment.
The PSA's 1996-97 budget was approved without a cost-of-living salary increase for employees. While money is still not available to give the employees such a raise, the authority members voted to give the one-time $500 adjustment effective with the February payroll. The authority operates small public water and sewer systems in the county's unincorporated areas. The money will come from funds accumulated in the Merrimac-Upper Slate Branch sewer project. The board will consider additional salary increases when it adopts the 1997-98 budget for the authority.
"We drained the pot just to do this," Chairman Ira Long said. PSA workers, unlike other county employees, did not receive a 5 percent across-the-board salary adjustment this fiscal year. The authority promised to revisit the issue later in the budget year, and "We're just trying to do what we said," Long said.
*Switching gears, the same seven members of the authority reconvened as the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors to interview a final candidate to replace County Administrator Betty Thomas, who is retiring at the end of March. The supervisors will meet Feb. 17 to discuss how to proceed now that the eight semifinalists, including Assistant County Administrator Jeff Lunsford and Finance Director Carol Edmonds, have been interviewed.
In other business, the supervisors voted to apply to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for access-road funding for the Falling Branch Industrial Park. Access into the park is essential for construction and for marketing the park to prospects.
Upcoming:
*Several local government officials are headed to Richmond on Thursday, including members of Blacksburg Town Council and the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. They will visit with local legislators and watching the General Assembly in action. Blacksburg's Town Council, Town Manager Ron Secrist and Town Attorney Kathleen Dooley will make the visit as part of the annual Virginia Municipal League Legislative Day meeting. The Montgomery County supervisors and County Administrator Betty Thomas will also be in Richmond for the Virginia Association of Counties 1997 Legislative Day meeting.
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