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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 5, 1993                   TAG: 9305050237
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IT'S OFFICIAL, DOWNTOWN ROANOKE IS GETTING OWN MOUNTED POLICE

Roanoke City Council on Tuesday authorized city officials to work with Downtown Roanoke Inc. to use two mounted police officers.

Downtown Roanoke and other private sources will pay the additional costs for the officers.

Council also decided to study a proposal to end tax breaks for farmland.

City Manager Bob Herbert was told to appoint an advisory committee to make a recommendation on when - and how - the city should end the policy of assessing farmland on its use rather than its fair-market value as all other property.

Councilman James Harvey said the committee could take up to six months to conduct the study. He said the committee should meet with the 21 landowners who would be affected.

Council also denied a request for $44,000 in contributions to five cultural organizations that would indirectly benefit Explore Park. Explore officials asked for the money so the groups could have exhibits and programs at the park.

After Explore's request was denied, Vice Mayor Beverly Fitzpatrick proposed that council make a $15,000 direct appropriation for the park. But that proposal was rejected 5-2 with only Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth Bowles supporting it.

If council is sincere about tourism, Fitzpatrick said, it should be willing to support projects outside the city.

But Harvey said Roanoke County hasn't provide any financial help on the Hotel Roanoke project. The county Board of Supervisors also appears to have some doubt about Explore, he said.

"I want to be sure that the county is behind Explore before we start [putting money in it]," Harvey said.

Council also agreed to provide an additional $48,199 to help the Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership expand its staff. Business contributions to the partnership have decreased and local governments have been asked to increase their contributions.

by CNB