Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 12, 1994 TAG: 9410120087
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE AND DAN CASEY STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Despite some criticism from, maybe, the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce, I think we took our time and did it right and saved a lot of money for everybody," Councilman Howard Packett said Monday night after Salem City Council passed it unanimously.
Roanoke City Council also voted unanimously Monday to approve the agreement for the $41.5 million expansion, as well as several design and engineering contracts connected with it. The agreement involves three projects, with the cost apportioned among localities.
"It's very important that we do this. ... This is a good example of regional cooperation, and I'm glad to see we've reached that point," said Roanoke Vice Mayor John Edwards.
Roanoke City Manager Bob Herbert called council's approval a "momentous occasion."
"Hundreds, if not thousands, of hours have gone into making sure this went forward," Herbert said.
The contracts Roanoke City Council approved in connection with the agreement are:
$1.6 million to Black and Veatch for engineering services on the Roanoke River interceptor, a large collector line.
$379,000 to Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern for engineering services on the Tinker Creek interceptor.
$1.99 million to Malcolm Pirnie Consulting Engineers and Mattern and Craig Inc. for engineering, design and construction administration of improvements to the water pollution control plant.
The multijurisdictional agreement was announced more than a year ago but has floated in a legal limbo as lawyers sparred over legalese in the document and officials debated which aspects of the project certain localities would use and how much they should pay.
Chairman Lee Eddy of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors said the county "is paying substantially more percentage-wise for our share of the plant." He said staff has pointed out that "was the price we needed to pay, because the city owns it."
"When other localities say Roanoke County's not paying its debt to society, it's time to point out we're paying more than our fair share for this treatment plant."
While sewer rates will increase, Supervisor Bob Johnson emphasized that residents without public sewer will not have to pay for the needed expansion, which will be financed through sewer rates and connection fees.
"We simply cannot develop any more of Roanoke County in a responsible fashion without this upgrade," he said.
In Salem, City Manager Randy Smith had no estimate of what would happen to sewer rates, but expected them to go up significantly.
"People in this area had a real bargain for years," he said.
Vinton Town Council last week authorized the mayor to sign the agreement, subject to approval by the city manager and attorney. Botetourt County did the same, according to an attorney for the localities.
Roanoke is paying the largest estimated share, $15.77 million; Roanoke County, $12.35 million; Salem, $10.46 million; Botetourt, $1.93 million; and Vinton, $1 million.
by CNB