GILES SEEKS WATER GRANT FOR RAM-WAYSIDE COMMUNITY

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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 4, 1993                   TAG: 9303040221
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: STEVE KARK CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PEARISBURG                                LENGTH: Medium
GILES SEEKS WATER GRANT FOR RAM-WAYSIDE COMMUNITY
The Giles County Board of Supervisors has approved a New River Valley Planning District Commission initiative to seek a $460,000 grant to build a water system in the Ram-Wayside community near Rich Creek.
The supervisors made the unanimous decision Tuesday after commission representative Chris Fors told them that both communities needed the system because of problems with the springs that are the sources of their water.
Because of pollution in their water supplies, both communities have been issued boil-water orders from the Virginia Department of Health. In the case of the Wayside water supply, health inspectors discovered that at least part of the pollution problem was caused by rats living in a spring box.
Fifty-seven households would benefit from the new system, Fors said. Forty-one of those responded to a recent survey to determine the need for better water in those communities. Of those, 66 percent were identified as low-to-moderate income households, which meets the criteria for the federal Community Development Block Grant that will pay for the project, he said.
If the grant is approved by the federal government, those affected will receive fire protection as well as clean water. In addition to the roughly 10,000 feet of water line that will be installed, the project also includes eight fire hydrants and a 50,000-gallon water storage tank.
Upon completion, the new system either would become part of the proposed countywide water system or would be turned over to the nearby town of Rich Creek.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, Giles School Superintendent Robert McCracken told the supervisors he wanted to clarify what he believes is a misconception he has heard around the county about a 3 percent raise for teachers.
Although the state legislature approved a raise, effective Dec. 1, teacher contracts run from July to July. What this means, he said, is really only a six-month increase, which averages closer to 1.75 percent.
And finally, the supervisors also unanimously approved the transfer of $150,000 to $200,000 of unused school funds from this year's to next year's school budget.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB