Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 6, 1995 TAG: 9504060055
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: B. LYNN WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
In a 4-0 vote, the Giles County Board of Supervisors reversed an earlier decision Tuesday night and decided Jerry Mabry should proceed and do the work.
A month ago, the board had authorized Mabry to negotiate with the contractor in an attempt to reduce the engineering costs to design the landfill cap. After hearing Mabry say the negotiations had not worked, the supervisors decided to let him do the work himself.
The board also unanimously endorsed an application that would lead to the designation of the "Greater Newport Rural Historic District."
The paperwork for the designation should be filed with the Department of Historic Resources within a month, said resident Doris Link. She asked for the board's blessing to formalize the application.
Link reminded county leaders that the town center of Newport already enjoys one historic designation.
And she urged the board to act quickly on this one, which would encompass the communities of Clover Hollow, Mountain Lake, Spruce Run and the area along Virginia 42 at the Craig County line. Increasing modern development could endanger the designation, she said. At least half of the structures in the proposed areas are considered ``old'' buildings (50 years old or more), which is mandatory. But as time marches on, this is almost certain to change, she said.
The board agreed, and voted accordingly.
The supervisors also learned Tuesday that the county's cost for a proposed road between Castle Rock Recreation Area and the Pembroke Town Park could be reduced to zero if the county receives funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The cost of the 3,100-foot road is expected to be less than $250,000, which could be covered by a VDOT recreation grant, applied only to those road projects that have a clear link to recreation.
The board voted 3-1 to apply for the grant. Supervisor Hub Brown voted against the proposal, indicating that he thought the grant wasted tax money.
Three Newport residents, including Link, spoke during the public address portion of the meeting.
Gordon Engelbrecht, a Spruce Run Road homeowner, wanted to alert
the board about a structure in his neighborhood that did not conform with county building and zoning regulations.
Engelbrecht and his neighbors fear that the substandard dwelling, which he described as "a shack," will slip through the regulatory cracks. He said the structure, on property owned by landowners who live outside the valley, has been there for as long as three years.
County Building Inspector John Mills said he will visit the site soon with a Health Department employee.
Clem Ackerman requested help with funding for a new water storage tank for customers of the community water system. The present tank, in serious disrepair, is pockmarked with tiny holes and may be on the verge of collapse.
Ackerman cited a letter received from Dr. John Capito, district engineer of the state Health Department, which states that ``it is imperative that appropriate action be taken'' soon.
Supervisor Jay Williams moved that the board authorize Mabry to work on this problem. No other action was taken.
In other business, supervisors:
Heard that several easements have been secured in the Ram/Wayside area, but one or two property-owners remain holdouts.
Endorsed efforts to designate Virginia 42 as a Scenic Highway.
Approved aerial spraying by the Department of Agriculture to control gypsy moths.
Met in executive session for two hours to discuss the Convenience Center (where people may take large appliances such as refrigerators and tires to be disposed of properly), property at Castle Rock, and the proposed Intermunicpal Water Agreement.
by CNB