Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 26, 1995 TAG: 9509260086
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
Bedford has a lease on the facility until at least October 1999, but when it briefly agreed to join a regional jail with Lynchburg, the state promised to deed Camp 24 over to Bedford if Bedford promised in turn to deed Camp 24 to the regional jail.
When Bedford pulled out of the regional jail earlier this year, it left the regional jail 100 beds short.
In a letter to County Administrator Bill Rolfe on Friday, state Secretary of Public Safety Jerry Kilgore asked the Board of Supervisors to reconsider leaving the jail. He also told Rolfe it was unlikely the state would deed Camp 24 to Bedford.
"Given the state's preference for regional jails and the associated savings to the state," Kilgore wrote, "it would be difficult to recommend such a transfer solely to the county."
The board voted 6-0 to send Kilgore and the Department of Corrections a letter stating its intention to continue its lease and pointing out the state's obligation to fulfill the contract.
In other business:
The board voted 6-0 to approve the sale of $4 million in general obligation bonds to complete construction at Staunton River High School. The bonds will also complete the new Montvale Elementary School and will finish additions at Jefferson Forest High School and Staunton River Middle School.
The board voted 6-0 to appropriate more than $75,000 from the county contingency fund to pay for the costs of state welfare reform programs for the next three months.
Even though Bedford's share of the welfare reform program is only $21,000, it must put money up front for services such as day care and transportation to jobs and wait for state reimbursement.
Bedford Life Saving Crew President Jerry Fielder spoke to the Board against the formation of the proposed Goode Rescue Squad, which was recently approved by the state and awaits approval from the county.
The Bedford crew and the Goode squad are scheduled to meet Wednesday night at the county administration building to discuss boundaries of the proposed squad, which would take territory from Bedford.
by CNB