Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 8, 1994 TAG: 9411080106
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The New River Resource Authority will eventually use the landfill on Cloyds Mountain to bury trash generated in Pulaski County, Radford and Dublin, replacing its current Ingles Mountain disposal site in Radford which will have no room left after 1997. Montgomery County is negotiating with Christiansburg, Blacksburg and Virginia Tech and may also join in on the new landfill.
The tract is part of some 4,000 acres purchased in 1989 by Richard Matson. The authority decided near that time it wanted to use the tract, but was unable to come to an agreement with Matson.
The condemnation case had originally been scheduled to start Aug. 16 in Pulaski County Circuit Court, but it rained so heavily that day that court officials decided it was impractical to try to view the remote site north of Dublin off Virginia 100.
On Monday, the five commissioners chosen to decide on the value of the property trekked up and down steep slopes, around trees and across hillsides to get an idea of the nature and boundaries of the property. They were joined by Circuit Judge Colin Gibb and by engineers and attorneys for both sides.
The commissioners had been told to dress casually for the outdoor part of the case, and the attorneys also came to court in outdoor wear rather than the traditional suits and ties.
As planned, the landfill would cover nearly 552 acres of the property. Another 191 acres would be used as a buffer zone around it, and the remaining 194 acres would provide the material to cover the trash.
The appropriate state agencies have examined the acreage and approved it for landfill use. The only question to be decided by the condemnation commissioners is how much Matson will be paid for the property. The value of the timber on the land to be taken will be one of the factors in determining the land's value.
The commissioners and court officials left for the site about 10 a.m. They returned and began hearing testimony at 3:30 p.m. The hearing is scheduled to be completed today.
Bob Roberts, an engineer with the Blacksburg firm of Olver Inc. hired by the authority, took the stand and showed the commissioners on various maps where they had walked at various points on the property earlier in the day.
Roberts said the buffer zone would protect a watershed as part of an agreement between the authority and Pulaski County. He said the area from which fill material would be taken will be reseeded and replanted as soil is removed.
The landfill area would be developed one section at a time, with plans for a total of five landfill sections. Each section is estimated to last 10 years.
Roberts said an access road of more than 13,000 feet would be built from Virginia 100 to the landfill site. The road would be constructed to state highway standards so it would become part of the county's secondary road system.
by CNB