Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 12, 1993 TAG: 9305120099
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors approved an application Monday night for a state Department of Transportation grant that would pay for the trail's completion.
The board also agreed to dedicate a 12-foot right-of-way for the trail, which follows the path of an old rail line that the county owns. The trail will extend from Virginia Tech to the New River Valley Mall.
Mark Cates, chairman of the county's People Advocating the Huckleberry Committee, told the supervisors, "We sense the end is near." With the board's resolution, "we think we can get there."
Cates and Bill Ellenbogen, president of Friends of the Huckleberry, a nonprofit group formed to raise funds for the hiking and bike trail, gave the supervisors a proposed $522,000 budget for completing it in five sections.
The state grant would provide $402,536 or 77 percent of the project. This would be matched by $119,000 raised locally.
Local funds include $60,000 from the town of Blacksburg, $20,000 from the Corning Foundation, $12,000 from Friends of the Huckleberry and $7,000 from Montgomery Regional Hospital.
PATH was formed in 1991 to pursue the planning and construction of the nearly six-mile-long trail.
"We're all impressed with the fine results you've been achieving," Supervisor Henry Jablonksi of Christiansburg told Cates and Ellenbogen.
Supervisor Jim Moore of Blacksburg added, "When this first hit the scene it was a sky-blue thing, but I think you're going to pull it off."
In other business, Monday night the supervisors:
Approved a special-use permit for the town of Christiansburg and Childress Farms Inc. to spread sludge from the Christiansburg sewer plant on farmland at seven sites around the county.
The spreading of the sludge, which is used as fertilizer, was opposed by residents of several of the sites during a public hearing in April. A buffer zone of 500 feet between the sludge and public or private water supplies will be required.
Rezoned an acre on Haywood Lane from agricultural to industrial and approved a special-use permit for William H. Quarterman to operate an auto graveyard on the property. The graveyard has been in operation for several years, but the rezoning and permit were required for Quarterman to build on the property.
Held a public hearing on School Board candidates to represent Christiansburg and District E.
David Moore is unopposed for re-appointment to the Christiansburg seat. Lou Herrmann, who currently serves on the School Board, drew the most support of three candidates for the District E seat. Other candidates in District E are Harold Dudley and Claire McMillan.
Discussed the possibility of putting a bond referendum on the county ballot this fall. Projects being considered for the referendum include a Blacksburg branch library, a county health and welfare building, a substation for the Elliston-Shawsville Fire Department and the purchase of property for an industrial park.
County Administrator Betty Thomas will report to the board on those projects next month.
by CNB