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

DATE: THURSDAY, November 24, 1994                   TAG: 9411280013
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-16   EDITION: HOLIDAY 
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

SUPERVISORS MAKE SURE STRAYS WILL RIDE IN STYLE

After nearly two years of hedging, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors bit the bullet and appropriated $10,100 to buy a new carrier to transport stray animals, including naughty curs.

Previously, board members had balked at the purchase - even ridiculed it - because they thought state rules mandated an air-conditioned carrier.

Board members shook their heads at the image of the stray dogs of summer riding in more comfort than the sweaty animal control officer driving the pickup truck bearing the carrier.

That's why the board stuck $9,500 for the carrier into an escrow account during the summer, carrying over an appropriation from the 1993-94 budget year. County Administrator Betty Thomas had requested money for a replacement dog carrier and truck in early 1993, to meet a state requirement and to replace aging trucks.

But the bone of contention - the AC - was too much for the board in September, when it again pulled the $9,500 from a routine appropriation and urged Thomas to look into cheaper options.

Finally, Don Karnes, the county's purchasing agent, and Kelly Walters, the chief animal control officer, determined in a Sept. 15 memo that "air conditioning is not a requirement of the [state] regulation, but air ventilation is." In other words, a little hot (or cold) air soothes the savage beast of government regulation.

That solved, the county put the animal carrier out to bid. Monday, the board accepted the bid of the Swab Wagon Co. for the Model ARF.6 Animal Control Unit.

In other board matters, the supervisors:

Made several supplemental appropriations to volunteer rescue and fire organizations. The Shawsville Volunteer Rescue Squad got another $6,145 to go toward a $21,145 hydraulic rescue tool, better known as the "Jaws of Life." It will be supplied by D.M. &E. of Las Vegas Inc. The Shawsville squad also received $3,615 to supplement $70,000 already budgeted to buy a new ambulance from Fire and Safety Equipment Co. Inc. Finally, the Longshop-McCoy Volunteer Fire Department received $1,806 to repair a leaking tanker.

Approved a special-use permit for David A. McDaniel to operate a bed and breakfast at 2113 Lusters Gate Road in the Mount Tabor area.