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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 27, 1995                   TAG: 9504270050
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: B. LYNN WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PEARISBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

GILES SAFETY CREWS GET MORE MONEY FROM COUNTY|

Despite what it looked like, there was no convention of fire and rescue personnel at the Giles County Administration Building Tuesday night. Representatives from the fire departments and rescue squads were just presenting their annual budget requests to the Board of Supervisors.

After an evening of hearing most of the county's eight departments ask for additional funds, the board voted unanimously to increase each locality's appropriation. Supervisor Jay Williams said the county was getting a bargain from the fire departments, as he urged his colleagues to support more funding.

Board members decided to give $9,000 to each department, an increase of $500 over this year's budget.

After hearing that the cost of replacement pumper firetrucks is rising about 13 per cent a year, they also increased last year's allocation to the county's pumper fund of $5,000 per department by $2,000, for a total of $56,000. The fund was created several years ago to help localities replace pumpers. Narrows has just ordered a pumper truck that costs $187,000.

The board approved the Giles County Rescue Squad's request for an increase of $2,000. They reduced the Newport Rescue Squad's appeal for a $4,000 increase to $2,000. Supervisor George Hedrick objected to granting the entire request, saying he would not support giving it more than Giles. Newport does more than half of the trips from Giles Memorial Hospital, according to Williams.

The Giles County Ambulance Service, whose personnel are on the county payroll, asked for less money, which supervisors quickly supported. The board endorsed no increase of funding for the Western Virginia EMS Council, the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Emergency Response Organization and the Hazardous Materials Team.

Supervisors also acted on budget requests tabled from last week's meeting. By a 3-1 vote, the board supported New River Community Action's plea for a 7 percent increase of $991. They approved giving more money to several agencies: $3,500 to the county Health Department; $2,500 to the Women's Resource Center; and $1,000 to the New River Free Clinic, which was making its first budget plea.

Supervisors went into executive session to discuss personnel, a structure at Hoges Chapel and contracts. They took no action.

by CNB