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

DATE: FRIDAY, February 17, 1995                   TAG: 9502170044
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short

RADFORD REGISTRAR FINDS VOTING MACHINES A HOT ITEM

Used voting machines are "selling like hotcakes," and Voter Registrar Tracy Howard thinks he got the best possible deal in negotiating to buy three for $1,200 each. Howard has predicted recent state approval of a "motor voter" law will dramatically swell Radford's voter rolls, and he wants the city to be ready.

"I don't see the price coming down," Howard told City Council this week after futile attempts to further talk down the price from Virginia Election Services. The city couldn't act fast enough when Albemarle County was willing to sell surplus machines at $500 apiece, and Virginia Election Services snapped them up instead to refurbish and resell.

Howard had hoped to get a better deal, but City Council agreed to go along with the $1,200 figure. Council appropriated $2,400 as its share of the deal. The balance will come from the Electoral Board.

The machines are reconditioned and have a five year warranty.

In other business Monday, City Council resolved to apply for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for a Microenterprise Assistance Project from the Department of Housing and Community Development to implement a Microenterprise Loan Program for the New River Valley.

If the grant is approved, the New River Valley Development Corporation would administer the program for small business startups or expansions.

Council also approved the first reading of an ordinance to close city-owned rights of way in the West End and set a value of $1,909.32 on the property.

by CNB