Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 27, 1993 TAG: 9310270025
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Circuit Court Judge Duane Mink has written council three times since 1989 complaining about Radford's outmoded police headquarters, jail, court rooms and clerk's offices.
A 1990 study called those facilities "grossly inadequate," and said they needed to be expanded or replaced.
Recognizing that Mink has the power to demand action, City Manager Robert Asbury said Monday that police and court facility improvements will be part of the 1994-95 capital improvements list.
The size and cost of those projects aren't presently known, Asbury said. Options include replacing or enlarging Radford's municipal building.
Either way the cost will be significant, he said.
Meanwhile, council plans to show good faith by asking Mink's opinion about how much additional space will be needed.
"We need to let him know we've heard him," City Council member Bob Nicholson said. "We recognize there is a need."
Radford is already discussing a new regional jail with Giles, Floyd, Carroll and Grayson counties. It would replace the city's current jail, which was built in 1892. The 1993-94 list of capital projects approved by council Monday is dominated by improvements to Rock Road and Jefferson, Staples and Wadsworth streets, and by water and sewer projects.
Also listed as a high priority are roof replacements for McHarg Elementary School and for sections of Radford High School.
In addition to capital improvements, council adopted another list of legislative goals and proposals for 1994, including:
Give Radford the chance to voice its opinion before any route is selected for a new highway, such as the proposed Interstate 73 between Michigan to South Carolina.
Limit or eliminate unfunded federal or state mandates.
Work with state governments to acquire and convert closed military facilities for other public uses.
Find alternatives to fund services for tax-exempt state property. (In Radford, 35 percent of all property is tax exempt, mostly occupied by Radford University.)
Expand Amtrak service passenger rail service to Southwest Virginia.
Get full funding for education from the state, and avoid redressing educational disparity by redistribution of state aid.
In other action, council approved a resolution proposed by Ali Hebler, Radford University student government president, opposing state higher education funding cuts.
The resolution "sends a strong message" of protest about cutbacks to Gov. Wilder and members of the General Assembly, Hebler said.
by CNB