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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991                   TAG: 9104110243
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: STEVE KARK CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PEARISBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

PEARISBURG COUNCIL WARY OF PROPOSED GILES WATER PROJECT

Engineers from Thompson and Litton in a report to county officials last month said using two of the town's wells would be essential for the first phase of the five-phase project. Water also would be piped to Narrows, Glen Lyn, Rich Creek and Pembroke.

The four remaining phases of the project depend on construction of a $3 million water-treatment plant to take the burden off the town wells and provide all the water for the countywide system.

The town draws water from five sources - a spring and four wells, two of which have been designated surplus.

The wells were donated to the town by Fairchild Corp. on condition that Pearisburg guarantee 100,000 gallons of water per day to the company should it decide to develop in the area.

It is this commitment to local industry that has council members worried. Town Manager Ken Vittum said there is no way of assuring that enough water would be left for town residents if Fairchild decided to develop.

He suggested there also would be increased water demand if anticipated development in the new industrial park became a reality. Considering these possibilities, he said, "how do we decide what surplus really means?"

Vittum also said it would "not be feasible for Pearisburg to solve the water problems for the entire county."

Councilman Daniel Robertson added that the town "ought to be careful about a long-term contract" to a proposed county Public Service Authority. "We don't want to give it away and then have to buy it back."

Town Attorney James Hartley said the county was "trying to piggyback on the good planning done in Pearisburg." He advised the town to keep control of the wells.

Vittum ended the discussion by proposing that even if the town ends by selling water to a Public Service Authority, it should do so only on condition the project make a commitment to build the water-treatment plant.

No formal action was taken, although council members were unanimous in their concern.

In other matters, council said it was worried about the increase in overtime that has resulted from the town's new mandatory garbage pickup.

Garbage is collected twice weekly with one truck and three town employees. Council members Rebecca Moses and George Psathas were appointed to a committee to study the situation.