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

DATE: THURSDAY, August 24, 1995                   TAG: 9508240086
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: |By RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BEDFORD OKS FUNDS TO PAY FOR LIBRARY

Bedford City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to make an emergency appropriation of $178,000 to cover construction costs for the recently completed city library.

The Library of Virginia is withholding that amount in grant money until the fate of the historic Wharton House in downtown Bedford is resolved. A public hearing will be held Sept. 19 to discuss the issue and determine if Bedford violated a grant contract.

According to the state librarian, one of the reasons Bedford was given federal grant money for its new $2.4 million library was because the city said construction would not have an impact on the Wharton House, which is next door.

City manager Jack Gross disagrees, saying the city never made any agreement requiring it to preserve the Wharton House.

The 112-year-old house served for many years as a children's library and most recently was used as the headquarters for the library system until the new library opened.

City Council has appointed a committee to study possible options for the house, including destroying or moving it. The Bedford Historical Society has vowed to file suit against the city if it votes to demolish the building.

by CNB