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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990                   TAG: 9004190099
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: PETER MATHEWS NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

DRAINAGE PROBLEMS CALLED TO TOWN COUNCIL'S ATTENTION

The residents said water draining from under nearby Interstate 81 causes flooding problems that will worsen if more homes are built.

They asked council to require Dale and Freda Teel, the landowners, to put in a retention pond before rezoning the two sections from agricultural to residential. Forty-one lots are involved.

Council members explained that they can't attach conditions to a rezoning, which they approved. But they indicated the problem would be solved when the Teels submit their site plan, which must meet the town's drainage and erosion requirements. Town Manager John Lemley said the Teels already had been asked to include the pond in their plans.

On another matter, council approved a new health care plan for town employees. Called Local Choice, it is underwritten by Blue Cross/Blue Shield and administered by the state.

The current plan costs the town $127.50 a month for each of its 130 employees. That figure was expected to rise to an estimated $153 in the next fiscal year. Under Local Choice, the cost will be $114 a month, saving the town more than $60,000.

The new plan will reduce employees' cost to cover their families. It also includes prescription drugs.

In exchange for the savings, deductibles will go up $50 to $250 and maximum out-of-pocket costs, now $1,000 for employees and $2,000 for family coverage, will double.

In other business, council:

Declined to adopt development standards proposed by the landowners' committee of the Route 460/114 Corridor Planning Advisory Council. The group proposed standards regulating signs, landscaping, parking and other development features of the corridor.

Gave developer Sam Simpkins approval to build three single-family homes on Chrisman Street. About 60 people, one of the largest crowds in years, came to the April 3 council meeting to oppose Simpkins' earlier plan for three duplexes.

Accepted the low bid of $127,400 from a Danville contractor to resurface all or part of 11 roads. Lemley said the town may have enough money to add one more road to the list.