Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 18, 1995 TAG: 9503200036
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
``I think we're under the impression that Pulaski County is the logical site,'' said Radford Assistant City Manager Bob Lloyd, who was elected chairman of the authority. ``And I think we need to get the issue resolved as soon as possible.''
The regional jail advisory committee, which has been working on the project for several years, listed the Pulaski County Corporate Center as the site when it applied for 50 percent matching construction funding from the state.
Paperwork on the jail, which would serve Radford and the counties of Pulaski, Giles and Grayson, had to be completed early this year to qualify for the 50 percent match. State funding for future regional jail projects has been reduced to 25 percent.
Members of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors said last month that the site is unlikely to be in the industrial park, but that it should still be within five miles of the Virginia 100-Interstate 81 interchange to reduce prisoner transportation costs, particularly from Grayson and Giles counties.
Lloyd will appoint a site-selection committee, with most or all members from Pulaski County, to resolve the matter. ``I think we need to get on with this right away,'' he said.
Assistant Pulaski County Administrator Peter Huber was elected vice chairman of the authority, and Leon Light, Giles County's representative, will be secretary-treasurer.
The other authority members are Grayson County Administrator Don Young and Pulaski County Sheriff Ralph Dobbins. The state requires that one sheriff serve on the authority, and Dobbins was chosen because he operates the largest of the four existing jails in the coverage area.
The region to be covered by the jail has stretched and diminished over the years as the advisory committee worked to meet shifting state requirements and deadlines for studies and other data necessary to apply for matching funds.
Wythe and Carroll counties dropped out after helping fund the first study of jail needs in the region. Floyd and Tazewell counties dropped out last month.
Tazewell County came on board late but dropped out last month, hoping to interest counties closer to it in a regional jail project of their own. Floyd County, which had been part of the project from the start, dropped out last month.
by CNB