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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 9, 1995                   TAG: 9502090065
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-11   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

PULASKI CREW DID `A HECK OF A JOB' ON WATER LINE BREAKS

Public works employees in Pulaski had to burrow about 22 feet straight down to fix some water line breaks near Memorial Drive earlier this month.

Workers had to lower themselves down a narrow hole to where the breaks occurred and make the repairs in a confined space far underground.

``Your public works crew really did a heck of a job in a pretty intense situation,'' Town Manager Tom Combiths told Pulaski Town Council on Tuesday after a report on the water problems. Sporadic service interruptions lasted several days.

The plans for the water lines date back 20 years. The breaks were not detected until water reached the surface and there is no way to know just when the breaks happened.

Fire hydrants, sewer lines and a manhole had been built above the water lines since they were constructed. Town crews actually had to pull the manhole out of the ground, Combiths said.

Members of the town Fire Department supplied the employees, who worked around the clock, with coffee, cots, blankets and other essentials, as did a number of volunteers including Councilwoman Bettye Steger.

``There's no question in my mind that public works is what keeps this town moving,'' Steger told council. ``I'm concerned that there's no way to get them any food [in such situations] because we don't have anything that stays open 24 hours.''

However, some establishments did supply food ,and Public Works Director Mike Jenkins has food supplies on hand for such emergencies.

In other business Tuesday, council agreed to enter into a joint program with Pulaski County and the town of Dublin to enforce vehicle decal requirements in all three jurisdictions. It also went on record as opposing additional telephone charges to add Pearisburg to Pulaski's local calling area.

In another joint venture with Dublin and the county, council agreed to pay $8,700 as its share for a study on future emergency medical services for the three jurisdictions.

A scheduled public hearing on a conditional use permit for new and used car and light truck sales on Bob White Boulevard was canceled. The town Planning Commission tabled the request by Bill and Joan Raykes until they file an amended site plan. The proposed plan became void when the Board of Zoning Appeals denied a variance request submitted along with the conditional use request.

by CNB