Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 12, 1993 TAG: 9305120165
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Six supervisors voted for it. The seventh, Jack Crosswell, abstained.
The county is counting on a hefty grant and loan from the Farmers Home Administration to fund the $9.1 million project, which will bring sewer service to the eastern part of the county. Lack of service has hindered development there, along the joint Interstate 81-77 corridor.
But people living in the Fort Chiswell-Max Meadows area argue that, if the project will benefit the whole county, they should not be required to pay the hook-on fee and monthly sewer bills if they choose to stick with their septic tanks.
Robert Shook, president of Citizens' Coalition for Fair Government, which was formed in response to the project, said more funding from other sources should be explored.
"All you're concerned with is how many businesses this project will bring in," said Brenda Smith, the coalition's secretary. "You don't care about the people who can't afford it."
Supervisor Andy Kegley had wanted a provision in the ordinance allowing financial relief for the elderly and handicapped. "For the few that it would affect, it would affect them in a big way," he said. But it did not get majority board support.
County Administrator Billy Branson said it would be two to three years before people could hook on or get monthly bills, so the board has time to refine that.
The supervisors also voted Tuesday to:
Increase fees for use of the county landfill, starting June 1.
The cost will go from $30 to $38 per ton of waste tipped into the landfill. Single-axle truckloads will go from $60 to $120, double-axles from $85 to $170 and tractor-trailer loads from $200 to $400.
Pay $2,000 to a consultant, looking for ways to lower health-insurance costs for county employees other than teachers.
Kegley was concerned about this first step in what may amount to a change in county-employee coverage.
"A lot of employees may not like what the county has to do to afford any type of insurance," Branson said.
The supervisors still are working on their 1993-94 budget. They scheduled three public hearings: at 7 p.m. June 14 at Fort Chiswell High School, June 15 at George Wythe High School and June 16 at Speedwell Elementary School.
Budget adoption is scheduled for June 30.
by CNB