Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 19, 1992 TAG: 9203190451
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: NEW CASTLE LENGTH: Medium
The county is within nine hours' traveling time of a third of the population of the United States, members of the Board of Supervisors were told this week.
And being a rural county with a large area of national forest, it has all the elements to build a tourism trade.
David Saunders of Roanoke County, a member of the Virginia Tourism and Travel Services Board, urged the supervisors to take definite steps in that direction.
He suggested that the supervisors involve the county more fully in the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau and take the lead in helping the town of New Castle set up a downtown historic district.
Saunders said Craig "is a natural" for a tourism industry because it has the Jefferson National Forest, with its hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and other activities. And it has considerable mountain scenery.
Properly developed mountains can be for the western end of the state what beaches are to the eastern side, Saunders said.
Bruce Lee, a county resident, asked the board to consider petitioning the General Assembly to designate Virginia 311 as "Hunter's Retreat Route."
The reference is to the Civil War when Union Gen. David Hunter was defeated at Lynchburg by Confederate Gen. Jubal Early on June 18, 1864. In retreat, Hunter's army traveled along what is now 311.
On another matter, the supervisors delayed scheduling a public hearing on adopting a utilities tax for electric connections, telephones and natural gas until the county's solid-waste authority can study the proposal.
Revenue from the tax would help the county pay for its solid-waste program, which is becoming more expensive with tighter regulations.
As proposed, a residential utility tax would be 20 percent of the first $15 of a household's utility bills. The industrial and commercial rate would be 20 percent of the first $500 in utility bills.
County Administrator Richard Flora said that under these rates, the county would gain about $125,000 in revenue, which would be paid by all households and businesses, not just property owners.
Zane Jones, chairman of the supervisors, said Craig is one of three counties in Virginia that does not have a utilities tax.
by CNB