RECREATION AUTHORITY SEEKS COUNTY AID FOR PARK'S EXTRA COST

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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 20, 1992                   TAG: 9202200184
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: FLOYD                                LENGTH: Medium
RECREATION AUTHORITY SEEKS COUNTY AID FOR PARK'S EXTRA COST
Floyd County's park cost more than anticipated to build, so Recreation Authority board members Terry Slusher and James Gay found themselves in front of the Board of Supervisors Tuesday to request county help.
The Floyd-Floyd County Recreation Authority asked for a one-time $10,000 donation during the morning portion of the supervisors' meeting. The matter was tabled until Supervisor Jerry Boothe mentioned it just before adjournment - at 6:55 p.m.
"Realizing the situation with the recreation department, I'd like to see us deal with that," Boothe said. "I really think people have their minds made up and we should give them an answer right away."
The board decided to wait until it meets next - either on March 16 or if a special meeting is called before that - to decide whether to make the contribution.
The authority had estimated the park's cost at $161,950. It received an $80,000 state grant and borrowed $130,000 for the project, but costs have totaled more than $275,000 and the authority has two outstanding excavating bills from Terry Reed for between $16,000 and $19,000.
In other business Tuesday, supervisors:

Sought state help to control the deer population. The board asked the state to extend the county deer season by 12 days for both sexes. Floyd's last deer season ran Nov. 18-30, with seven days - Nov. 23 and 25-30 - for both sexes.

Heard from a disgruntled citizen who thought her charges for information under the state Freedom of Information Act were unrealistic. Linda Snell Jones told the board she was charged more than $168 for two sets of information about the county's dealings with Quadrex Environmental Co., a Gainesville, Fla., company that recently bought the former Bio-Regional Energy Associates Ltd. plant in the county industrial park.
County Administrator Randy Arno, County Attorney Marc Small and Supervisors Chairman Howard Dickerson told Jones the county was allowed under law to charge for copying and staff time to find the requested information.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB