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

DATE: SATURDAY, October 8, 1994                   TAG: 9410100040
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                 LENGTH: Medium

COUNCIL LOOKS AT HOW TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS

How to pay for needed repairs and improvements to the city's water treatment plant tops the list of troublesome topics City Council tackles Monday. Council could cover the work - estimated at more than $2 million - through a revenue bond issue. City Manager Robert Asbury, who has recommended going that direction, will present three bond issue approaches to council at Monday's meeting.

Revenues from the city's water fund would be used to pay down the debt. City water rates went up an average of 42 percent on July 1, primarily to cover the costs of required water system maintenance. Under each of his three proposed bond financing plans, Asbury estimates the city would need to increase water revenues by just over 25 cents per 1,000 gallons to pay for the water plant repairs, many of which involve health and safety improvements. The bonds would be paid back over 20 years.

Earlier this year, the city called in a consulting engineering firm to estimate the costs to repair the plant's filtration system. Council had put aside $350,000 to pay for that work, but the repair estimate jumped to the $2 million figure when the consultants uncovered other problems at the plant.

The problem of tax deadbeats is another tough nut council has been trying to crack. When the issue came up Sept. 19, council members were unable to reach consensus on altering the city's delinquent tax collections policy, but did agree to open the suggestion box to council members and city administrators to recommend better ways to do the job. Council is expected to discuss those alternatives Monday.

The tally of unpaid city taxes and utility bills comes to nearly $1 million over the past 12 years. Commissioner of Revenue Cassie Turner has recommended that council authorize a one-time amnesty on penalties and interest for all delinquent taxes and other bills, and require delinquent taxes be paid before a business license may be renewed. Finance Director Jess Cantline has suggested the city write off unpaid tax bills over 5 years old and concentrate on doing a better job in the future.

City Council also will hear from the Radford Heritage Foundation. The historical preservation group wants council to approve a resolution authorizing it to pursue historic designations for two sections of the city and to develop a historic preservation plan for Radford.

Council will be asked to approve a name for the city's new softball field complex. The Parks and Recreation Commission has recommended "Radford Veterans Park" as its first choice.

by CNB