Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 20, 1991 TAG: 9102200617
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The county has asked the board to review the membership issue as a result of 1990 census figures.
The regional agreement, which was approved in the mid-1970s when the landfill was developed, provides that each participating locality have one board member for each 35,000 people or fraction thereof.
The six-member board includes three representatives from Roanoke, two from the county and one from Vinton.
The county has raised the representation issue on several occasions in recent years as its population has increased. But no change has been made because of differing views on whether Vinton should be excluded from the county's population in apportioning representation.
Roanoke officials have argued that Vinton's population should not be counted twice. The city paid nearly two-thirds of the cost of developing the landfill and dumps more trash there than the county and Vinton combined. City officials have contended that it wouldn't be fair for the city to have less than half the board members.
The latest census put the county's population at 79,332, up 6,387 since 1980. County officials think the county can qualify for three members now even if Vinton's population is excluded.
John Parrott, board chairman, said today that County Administrator Elmer Hodge has asked the board to reassess representation. Parrott appointed a committee, composed of one member from each locality, to review the county's request and the census figures.
Also today, the board approved another increase in dumping fees at the landfill as part of a $4.4 million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The new rates will be $20 per ton for local governments, up $1, and $25 per ton for private and commercial trash haulers, up $2.
Higher fees are needed to provide more money to help pay projected costs for closing the existing landfill and replacing equipment, according to Kit Kiser, a member of the budget committee.
The fees have risen steadily in recent years to meet new state regulations on landfill operations and create a reserve fund to pay for closing the landfill.
Kiser said the new fees should be adequate for the next year, although consultants have predicted they could be as high as $35 per ton when a new landfill is developed.
The budget, which is up about $480,000, includes $1 million to pay for closing the landfill and $800,000 for replacing equipment. No pay raises have been budgeted for landfill employees,Kiser said.
On another matter, the board was told that the county has almost completed negotiations with Norfolk Southern Corp. on the rates and conditions for hauling trash by train to the new landfill at Smith Gap.
John Hubbard, an assistant county administrator, said the county and railroad are "finalizing a memorandum of agreement."
by CNB