Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 19, 1995 TAG: 9507190049
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
The Board of Supervisors cornered Clyde Perdue, the Rocky Mount attorney representing the mammoth national retail chain, at a meeting Tuesday to ask him publicly about the company's plans.
Perdue was at the meeting for another reason, but was glad to address the subject.
"People are wondering if it's coming or it's not coming," board Chairman Gus Forry said.
"I've heard nothing to the contrary," Perdue replied. "And I've certainly been in contact."
The Board of Supervisors approved a special-use permit for the Wal-Mart store in April 1994, but board members said they've been wondering if the company had changed its mind because there has been no movement on the project in the past few months.
Perdue said Wal-Mart has done all it could do at this point and is simply waiting for government red tape to be cleared up.
County Planning Director Tim Krawczel said copies of Wal-Mart's blueprints have been submitted to the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Transportation for review and approval.
Wal-Mart is in the final stages of negotiations with Rocky Mount over the extension of water and sewer service to the 39-acre site, just east of the town limits off Virginia 40, Perdue said.
Groundbreaking, originally set for this month, now is slated for September, Perdue said.
The store set an April 1996 date for opening, but that probably will be pushed back, he said.
In another matter Tuesday, the supervisors agreed to give the county's new YMCA program $10,000 to cover operating expenses.
The vote wasn't unanimous, however - Blue Ridge District Supervisor Hubert Quinn opposed the request.
He said county funds shouldn't be used for the Y's operating costs at the expense of all county taxpayers.
"Only 5 percent of the people in the county are going to use the YMCA," he said.
Quinn said the money should be raised privately.
The YMCA's director, Russ Merritt, said he believes more than 5 percent of the county's population will use the program.
Said Union Hall board representative Lois English: "This is a good thing, and we need to go in the right direction, instead of the direction some people are going in today."
The YMCA program is using county facilities until enough money can be raised to build on a proposed site off North Main Street in Rocky Mount.
Merritt said the YMCA has exceeded projections by signing up 700 adult members in three months.
In addition to the county's $10,000, the Rocky Mount Town Council also contributed $5,000 toward the operating costs, he said.
by CNB