Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 19, 1994 TAG: 9408190077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE and JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Roanoke Valley Resource Authority, at its monthly meeting, reacted to Rupert Cutler's comments that erosion from the old landfill on Rutrough Road had "ruined" a creek in the park, adjacent to the dump.
"It appears to be an effort to bad-mouth us," said Kate Schefsky, a Roanoke County representative on the authority. "It doesn't seem to be good negotiating tactics."
"It sort of surprised me" because of the working relationship between the authority and Explore, said John Hubbard, the authority's executive director.
The landfill is not completely to blame for the silt that has built up in the creek and a pond on Explore property, Hubbard said.
"Some came from the road, some from adjoining property owners," and some erosion even came from Explore's own hills, he asserted.
He pointed out that the landfill board has paid $35,000 to reseed the dump in native grasses and wildflowers, an ecological restoration project that Cutler proposed in conjunction with a Virginia Tech.
Board member Jack Parrott also noted that the authority designed the dump's closure plan around an area that Explore wants as a spur road from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
"We put up with all that stuff for five years," Parrott said. "I think we've knocked ourselves out trying to help Explore. "
Cutler, reached Thursday at an out-of-town conference, responded that he appreciates the authority's cooperation on several projects, but maintained that the landfill caused the siltation problem.
"The fact that the landfill had not controlled that particular little sub-watershed that ran into Explore's creek is a fact," Cutler said. "I don't blame anyone. It was an oversight."
He also said the siltation problem and Explore's outstanding bill are separate issues.
Explore owes the authority $8,000 for debris dumped at the old landfill about six months ago. He had suggested that Explore was withholding payment because of the damage to the creek.
Authority board members, annoyed by the comments, briefly discussed Thursday whether to get tough with Explore and call in the fee, but Hubbard said after the meeting that the authority will give Explore another chance.
Cutler said Explore hopes to pay the bill in the next month or two.
by CNB