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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994                   TAG: 9406150023
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RADFORD                                  LENGTH: Medium

SEWER RATE INCREASE NOT SET BY RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER

Water and Wastewater Utilities Director Jettie Montgomery has said the lower figure will fund the current budget, while the higher figure will let his department put enough aside to replace equipment and cover contingencies. Montgomery has estimated equipment replacement costs at $50,000 a year.

The current rate is $3.14 per 1,000 gallons.

Council put off making a choice until it hears from Montgomery about what equipment needs to be replaced. Montgomery, who had surgery recently, was not at the meeting.

Council's inaction will leave sewer rates in limbo as the 1994-95 fiscal year budget begins July 1.

Meanwhile, the 55 cents monthly 911 tax will stay the same, thanks to council action to lease an upgraded Enhanced 911 system from reserves. By paying the $183,334 lease up front, the city will save up to $57,750 in financing costs over the seven-year contract with Bell Atlantic. $121,000 will come from 911 taxes the city has been putting aside since 1988. The rest will come from general fund reserves.

Caught in a technology crunch, council recently agreed to go ahead with the pricey upgrade, which Assistant City Manager Bob Lloyd admitted Monday "came as a bit of a shock."

The city's present 1988-vintage 911 system was deemed obsolete and does not include service to accommodate the hearing-impaired, as federal law requires. The agreement calls for Bell Atlantic to keep the new system current at least over the next seven years.

In other matters, Mayor Tom Starnes asked for a list of city-owned vehicles that employees "routinely drive home," and the reasons why. Starnes said Tuesday that he had not received any complaints or heard of any abuses. "It's something we need to take a look at," he said.

Use of city vehicles is limited to "strictly business-related activities," Starnes said. The city's fire and police chiefs and the head of the electric department routinely take city vehicles home because they are on-call, the mayor said.

In other business, council again put off action on a proposal to offer real estate tax exemptions to certain elderly and disabled residents. Council is expected to consider at its next meeting a revised plan that would exempt taxes on the first $60,000 valuation to qualified individuals.

Council also:

Heard a suggestion from Larry Amy of the Cleanin 'n' Greenin steering committee that the city form a permanent Radford Environmental Commission to take over the annual cleanup effort and other similar projects. Council will discuss the recommendation at its July 11 meeting.

Gave initial approval to a request by New River Valley Workshop, Inc., to co-title 10 workshop passenger vehicles. Having public plates on the vehicles would permit the workshop to buy fuel from the city at substantial savings.

Appropriated approximately $116,260 as the city's share of continuing expenses to close the Cloyds Mountain landfill. The city has contributed more than $423,600 since the landfill shut down.

Set its reorganizational meeting for July 1 at 5:15 p.m. Council will seat newly elected Councilman Bill Yerrick and elect a vice mayor for 1994-95 at that session.