Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 9, 1991 TAG: 9103090149
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Four-fifths of those responding were from Moore's north county district, which includes part of Blacksburg. Local civic clubs and Virginia Tech students assisted Moore in making the survey.
Besides solid waste, other subjects dealt with included use of the Angle's property in Christiansburg, safe drinking water, bond referendum projects, and the county budget. Moore said he was inspired to try his own poll by the annual legislative survey by Del. Joan Munford, D-Blacksburg. He said he may continue it yearly.
The survey was not a scientific sample of county residents, so it cannot be said to represent the opinions of county residents as a whole.
Moore said 111 said a regional incinerator, with pollution controls and which could produce electricity, would be the way to handle county garbage after the current landfill closes.
Another 12 said the county should consider using Roanoke County's new Smith Gap landfill; 11 said the county should develop its own new landfill.
On the the Angle's property next to the courthouse in Christiansburg, a strong sentiment - 81 responses - was expressed for remodeling it for county offices. Thirty-six said it should be demolished for a new county building and 44 said it should be put to some other use. Support for remodeling was probably the big surprise in the poll, Moore said.
Eighteen percent said the county should not seek other funding for projects in the defeated bond referendum. Of those saying other funds should be found, the Blacksburg library was at the top of the list, followed by a Shawsville fire station and a human services building.
Strengthening regulations for well-drilling and educating the public about limestone terrain were how the respondents felt the county's water pollution problems should be dealt with.
In reducing the county budget, 19 percent said cut capital spending and 18 percent said cut administration expenses.
The preferred method of raising new revenue to balance the county budget was to step up delinquent tax collections. The county had $2.4 million in delinquent taxes at the end of the last budget year.
The next-most-popular method for raising money was to increase the county sales tax.
Moore thanked Blacksburg, Montgomery County, and Christiansburg-Blacksburg Rotarian, the Mount Tabor and Ellett Valley Ruritan clubs, the League of Women Voters and Virginia Tech's Young Democrats for helping conduct the survey.
by CNB