Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9411030068
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-14 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Work has been completed on three of the projects to be funded by the general obligation water bond. The Farmers Home Administration authorized the town to proceed even before the loan closing.
Formal approval followed a public hearing at which no one spoke Tuesday.
That did not mean a lack of interest by Pulaski residents, who telephoned town offices when the hearing was announced to see if the projects covered by the loan included their areas.
But Councilman Roy D'Ardenne pointed out that council outlined the projects to be funded by the loan last spring. The project also has nothing to do with increasing the town's water capacity, he said.
The work includes repair and modification to seven pump stations, a Mashburn Avenue connection to Peppers Ferry Road, a Peppers Ferry Road line from Twin Oaks to Beth Scott areas, replacing the Madison Avenue pump station, relocating raw water intake, and upgrading lines for 4th Street Northeast, Peakland subdivision, Newbern Road and Bob White Boulevard, Virginia 611, Pearce Place and Draper Mountain Estates.
Mayor Andy Graham said the projected cost might be reduced by as much as 40 percent by using town crews in place of contractors where possible. He said the town would be able to draw on the bond funds as needed.
In other business, Town Council delayed action on a contract allowing the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce office space in the town's renovated Train Station building until its Nov. 15 meeting. Council members received the contract shortly before their meeting Tuesday and had no time to study it.
The contract was finalized at a meeting between chamber representatives and town administrative staff members, but two people expressed concerns about it Tuesday.
Beverly Ratcliffe Holtz, widow of former mayor Raymond Ratcliffe, and Betty Lou Ratcliffe Kirkner, their daughter, worried about security for exhibits in the Raymond Ratcliffe Memorial Museum, also located in the depot building, if the chamber and other organizations have access to the building's community room for meetings.
Town Attorney Frank Terwilliger noted that the use of the community room was under town control, but chamber meetings and others would be allowed there. The chamber offices are now located in the town's Municipal Building and the move to the depot, planned for years, has been delayed over the contract details.
Vice Mayor W.H. ``Rocky'' Schrader said the Norfolk Southern 611 steam train, which NS is retiring, had been a major part of the Depot Day celebration June 11 when the renovated train station building was dedicated. Since Depot Day is planned as an annual celebration, council approved a resolution asking NS to reconsider retiring the train.
Council members asked for a speedup in the painting of stripes along town roads that have been repaired. ``We're going to have roads worn out before we get stripes on them,'' Schrader said. Rain had delayed plans to do the painting on a section of U.S. 11 Tuesday.
by CNB