EMERGENCY CRASH TRUCK TO BE RECYCLED IN VINTON

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

DATE: THURSDAY, January 7, 1993                   TAG: 9301070417
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
EMERGENCY CRASH TRUCK TO BE RECYCLED IN VINTON
Vinton Town Council decided Tuesday to put an idled emergency services crash truck to use as a recycling vehicle.
Converting the crash truck from use as an emergency vehicle will cost about $5,000, said Councilman Buford Barton, who made the recommendation.
Several departments within the town - including fire, police and utility - had asked for the truck, saying it would not need alteration for their use.
But Barton said, "The truck has been sitting long enough, and it's time we made a decision."
Vinton's crash truck was placed out of service six months ago when a new one was purchased. Several bids, including a high bid of $10,001, were received from other localities for the used truck but were not accepted.
Council members said the truck has only 16,000 miles, and they felt the bid was too low.
In other action, council heard from an angry citizen about new benches in the downtown area.
Rufus Hall, who raised $1,100 from downtown merchants for the benches, said merchants are unhappy about the town's decision to place three benches in the farmers' market area.
Hall said the town agreed to buy benches for the business district if merchants would donate some of the funds. Nine benches originally were scheduled for the area, but only four were purchased. Another three, paid for with town funds, are being placed in the market area.
"I made a promise to the merchants about where [the benches] were supposed to be," said Hall. "I think I'll have to mail some checks back."
Acting Town Manager Bob Benninger said the town spent the money the merchants raised entirely on benches for the downtown area. The market benches came from a separate fund.
But Hall said town staff agreed to buy additional benches near the merchants.
Mayor Charles Hill said council needed to research the matter before taking any action.
In other action, council approved a corporate boundary adjustment between Vinton and Roanoke.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB