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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 14, 1991                   TAG: 9103140064
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: STEVE KARK CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PEARISBURG                                LENGTH: Short

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS OPPOSED

Curve Road residents opposed improvments to their road, but Town Council approved a plan in November to widen the road and increase visibility.

The Virginia Department of Transportation plan also calls for upgrading the water pipes under the road to 4-inch lines required by the State Health Department.

In some areas along Curve Road, the pipeline ranges between three-fourth of an inch and 1 1/2 inches - not enough, says Town Manager Ken Vittum, to fight a fire in that neighborhood.

By a unanimous decision Tuesday night, the council agreed to pay the $14,600 difference to upgrade the proposed 4-inch lines to 6 inches.

In other matters, the towns of Pearisburg and Narrows have agreed to establish a joint fund to pay for maintaining sewage treatment equipment they already share.

Council members also unanimously agreed to establish a joint certificate of deposit account in which each town would initially deposit $1,750.

Narrows town council approved the idea Monday night.

Also, council unanimously agreed to raise water reconnection fees from $2.50 to $20.

Council members said that was necessary to "discourage" users from allowing their water to be disconnected and later reconnected.

Town engineer Steve Stafford said he estimated that over the last three months, water services had to be reconnected about 30 times.

He said the $2.50 rate, established in 1967, does not cover the cost of having a town engineer disconnect and reconnect the water services today.