ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: THURSDAY, July 22, 1993                   TAG: 9307220677
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


VINTON LAND PURCHASE MIX-UP FRUSTRATES BUSINESS OWNER

The owner of a Vinton-based business told Town Council on Tuesday he may not relocate in Vinton now that rules for procuring property he had bid on have changed.

"I spent my time, effort and money to get the option together according to your instructions, and then you change it. . . . I think this is a very poor way to conduct business," said John Cutright, who submitted documents to purchase a lot in Vinton's industrial park on behalf of Geotechnics Inc.

"We've come in good faith and tried to buy the land by the procedure you wanted at the price you set," he said.

Explaining the town's decision not to accept Geotechnics' bid, Town Manager Clay Goodman said other potential buyers surfaced before Geotechnics' paperwork was received May 22 or 23.

Although no other written offers for the lot have been recorded, Goodman said he believes his "newness" as town manager contributed to the problem, because when he came on the job in April there was no way to determine which of three interested parties came forward first.

"I figured [the bid process] would be a fair way to get everyone on an even playing field," Goodman said.

But Cutright, who thinks Geotechnics should be allowed to buy the property according to the procedure his company already completed, told council he thinks his company is being treated unfairly.

"We did everything that the town told us to do," he said. "I am stunned that this has happened."

After the council meeting, Goodman and Mayor Charles Hill said Geotechnics' offer was not refused because it was not a fair one but that others had made their interest known before the company's written offer was received.

"I don't think anyone is happy with the way things turned out," Hill said.

In other action:

Council authorized the town manager to rent a portion of the Vinton War Memorial to the Explore Project for temporary offices for $400 per month.

Goodman said Explore officials intend to relocate offices to the Explore Park sometime between this fall and May 1994.

Goodman reported that town staff members reviewed a grant proposal with Community Development Block Grant officials Monday in Richmond. The town's application for funds for street, drainage and housing improvements in the Midway neighborhood was denied earlier this month.

Vinton may apply again for the funds after refocusing the project according to state officials' recommendations, Goodman said.



 by CNB