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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 7, 1991                   TAG: 9103080689
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH/ SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VINTON COUNCIL EXTENDS FREE PARKING TIME IN DOWNTOWN

As soon as new parking signs can be made, shoppers in downtown Vinton will be able to linger in the stores a little longer. At its regular meeting Tuesday, Vinton Town Council voted to extend parking on downtown streets from one to two hours.

Town Manager Brad Corcoran said the idea for the extra time came from the merchants, who made the request in January.

Last month, the Public Works Department sent out surveys to the merchants. Of the 27 who returned the surveys, 21 were in favor of extended hours, he said. Six thought the hours should remain the same.

In other action:

Council granted a request from Gary Janney, president of the Dogwood Festival of Virginia Inc., for a raffle permit. During the 36th annual Dogwood Festival, planned for April 27, organizers hope to sell 3,000 to 5,000 tickets at $1 apiece, Janney said. The proceeds will go toward next year's festival, and the winner will receive a free trip to Disney World.

Janney said he is hoping for a large turnout. "I just hope it doesn't rain," he said. Last year, 25,000 people attended.

Council also approved a $2,000 donation to the event, the same amount as last year. "I think we should continue to support it with our monetary efforts," said Councilman Don Davis.

Corcoran informed council that the Public Works Department has received three bids for three replacement sewage pumps for the Hardy Road pump station.

He recommended that council accept a bid of $20,090 from Sydnor Hydrodynamics of Richmond. The amount of the bid is less than the $20,500 that was budgeted for the project, he said.

The pumps are 26 years old, said Assistant Town Manager Bob Benninger. The new pumps have 50 percent more capacity, he said, "so we won't have to do this again for another 25 years." The pumps will be delivered within 10 to 12 weeks.

Mayor Charles Hill recognized Police Chief Rick Foutz for his appointment as secretary/treasurer of the Blue Ridge Association of Police Chiefs.

"This is the year for our supervisors," Hill said. In recent months, the fire chief and the captain of the First Aid Crew have also been elected to regional boards.

Council officially appointed the officers who were elected by the Vinton Fire Department for 1991. They are: B.L. Fuqua, chief; B.L. Powell, assistant chief; S.T. Maxey, deputy chief; P.W. Fisher, first captain; G.L. Houff, second captain; A.L. Corbin, first lieutenant; J.F. Barbour, second lieutenant; M.W. Stovall, president; T.A. Fuqua, vice president; G.P. Stone, secretary; W.L. English, treasurer.

The officers will be installed Saturday at the Fire Department's annual banquet.

by CNB