Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 15, 1993 TAG: 9306150279
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Electric Utility Director Bill Willis had recommended adopting Appalachian Power Company's new, higher rate schedule.
Monday, Willis put the hot potato squarely in City Council's lap; and, at first, no one would pick it up to make a motion.
"I'm just here making the recommendation," he said. "The heat is on you."
It had cooled considerably by the time Councilman Gary Weddle moved to approve an ordinance to boost rates but without specifying an effective date.
The motion passed 4-1, with Councilman David Worrell dissenting. Worrell said he would not even consider voting in favor of the rate increase until the State Corporation Commission approves the new Apco schedule, which became effective last month under bond.
Willis noted that the city is already paying an increased wholesale rate that went into effect in September for power it buys from Apco and resells to city customers. He said the city would lose about $50,000 in additional revenues for every month it delays in increasing its own rates.
The ordinance still must pass two readings in City Council before the rate increase goes into effect. If it's finally approved, an average residential power bill would go up by about $4 a month.
The city hasn't increased electricity rates since 1987.
In other action, council approved a request from the Regional Jail Study Committee for additional money to complete a required planning study. Committee Chairman Bob Lloyd said the study's estimated $75,000 cost would be prorated among the five jurisdictions on the panel.
He told council that no site has been selected for the proposed facility, which would house more than 300 inmates.
After considerable discussion, council also approved a plan, required by state law, to keep outside water and other substances from contaminating the city water system. The vote was 4-1 with Mayor Tom Starnes dissenting.
In January, the Virginia Department of Health cited Radford for not having the required "cross-connection control and back-flow prevention program" in place.
The city's water and waste-water director, Jettie Montgomery, estimated the cost of the program at $41,000 for the first year, including the cost of an additional employee to handle the inspections. That part bothered Starnes.
"Once we get a position on payroll, it's awful hard to get it off," he said.
Montgomery said the program could require homeowners who do photo finishing or who have hot tubs or saunas with direct water system connections to purchase back-flow prevention devices to prevent water system contamination.
Industrial water users also would be affected.
He said if contamination occurs, "it can be very expensive. It can be a very deadly problem."
Montgomery told council that, as a purveyor of water, the city was responsible for the health of its water supply.
by CNB