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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 25, 1990                   TAG: 9004250161
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PETER MATHEWS NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOLS, LIBRARY TOP $33 MILLION PLAN

The list totals more than $33 million, although some of the estimates are believed to be outdated.

Some of the projects have been around for years. A new building for the health department, for example, was proposed in 1978.

Not all of the projects will make it onto the ballot, however.

The Board of Supervisors will pare the list May 15 after determining how much it can ask for without incurring the disapproval of voters.

To evaluate the projects, the board asked county staffers to grade them on a point system designed to measure the need and support for each proposal.

The high scorers were projects that meet health and safety needs, areas where the county had clear deficiencies and projects that affect a large number of people, said Joe Powers, the county's planning director.

Here are the major projects, how much the county would need to borrow and how they scored:

Services

\ Expand the recycling program and improve the recycling center ($900,000, 53.5 points).

Purchase and develop about 100 acres for a future landfill ($3.6 million, 52.5 points).

Build a fire and rescue substation in Shawsville ($200,000, 45.5 points).

Extend water service to the Bethel-Radford area; extend sewer service to the mid-county area between Blacksburg and Christiansburg and the Belview School area ($3.1 million, 43.5 points).

Acquire land for an industrial park. ($1 million, 39 points).

Schools

\ Build elementary schools in Christiansburg ($4.5 million, 46 points) and Blacksburg ($5 million, 44 points).

Replace five boilers in county schools ($1.5 million, 43 points); replace synthetic flooring with hardwood floors in the four high schools ($460,000, 42 points).

Construct athletic facilities at Shawsville High School ($315,000, 39 points) and additional classrooms at Shawsville and Elliston/Lafayette elementary schools ($1.1 million, 34 points). Make renovations at Christiansburg Middle School ($350,000, 37 points), improve miscellaneous facilities ($350,000, 32 points) and construct physical education facilities at five elementary schools ($500,000 to $700,000, 31 points).

Recreation

\ Develop parks on the New River in the Peppers Ferry area ($1.5 million, 46 points) and on the Little River in the Riner area ($200,000, 31 points).

Build an indoor pool in Blacksburg ($600,000, 39 points); an indoor recreation center in Christiansburg ($1.5 million, 30 points); and a recreation complex with indoor pool ($1.9 million, 28 points).

Develop a 15- to 20-acre soccer complex ($250,000, 33 points).

Government buildings

\ Construct a health and human services building ($1.9 million, 42 points), a county administration building ($1.5 million, 38 points) and an office facility for the Public Service Authority ($200,000, 38 points).

Build a new library in Blacksburg ($700,000, 40 points).

In 1986, voters approved $2.4 million in bonds for new roofs for 14 county schools and $2.5 million for fire trucks and an expansion of the jail and sheriff's office.

Two years ago they rejected a request to give the supervisors the authority to finance projects through bonds without going to the public.