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

DATE: TUESDAY, November 29, 1994                   TAG: 9411290131
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MORE STADIUM FUNDS OK'D

Salem City Council Monday approved another $592,000 for seats and lighting at the city's new minor-league baseball stadium, bringing the total approved for construction to $4,773,000.

The bids approved were for box and reserved section seats, which will be extra wide for comfort. The $319,248 bid was the only one that completely fit the specifications, Councilman Sonny Tarpley said.

The rest of the seats in the stadium will be aluminum benches.

Another $273,000 was approved for lighting.

Still left to pay for are, among other things, the aluminum benches, equipment for the clubhouse and training rooms, an elevator, and electrical and plumbing work. The stadium is expected to go $1 million over the original $5 million projected cost.

The city will fund $5 million through the sale of general obligation bonds and pay for the rest out of money left over from last year's budget or from reserve funds.

Part of the increased cost is from the deadline contractors are under to finish the stadium by opening day next spring. The newly named Salem Avalanche, the city's Carolina League team, will play in the ballpark, being built behind the Salem Civic Center.

by CNB