ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602150024
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
It's going to be a good year for equipment at the Vinton Rescue Squad.
New equipment for the squad holds the top two priorities in the town's $9.5 million five-year capital improvement program this fiscal year.
"I don't think we can ask for more than that in the same year," said the squad's chief, Christopher Stull.
Replacing an ambulance at $80,000 and a defibrillator, used with heart-attack patients, at $12,000 are the biggest equipment expenditures.
Stull said the rescue squad now has four old defibrillators but will replace a 1977 model. The new one will be a multifunction modern unit.
An ambulance with a 1985 body on a 1977 chassis will be replaced because the suspension is worn out.
"This truck really should have been replaced a couple of years ago," Stull said.
The rescue squad items and 25 other expenditures approved by Town Council total almost $544,000. The others are improvements to water and sewer lines, and for public safety, public works and cultural and recreation programs.
Funds for projected work in the remaining fiscal years have not been appropriated, but the current five-year plan calls for $9.5 million being spent on various programs and facilities and programs in almost every municipal department.
Town Manager Clay Goodman said that beyond the first fiscal year - the current year - the projected program is a plan that can be changed each year.
The town is setting aside about $4 million during the five-year period to replace water and sewer lines. Many of the lines destined for replacement are 40 to 50 years old; some leak, are only 2 inches in diameter and are clogged by mineral deposits.
Replacing the lines with larger, more-durable pipe will not only give better water service to users, Goodman said, but also will improve fire safety.
The Midway area in the western part of the town, a target for water and sewer line replacement for many years, is not included in this program. Goodman said Midway is getting new lines under a separate $300,000 program that is about 90 percent complete.
Included in the Midway program are water and sewer lines along Virginia Avenue and a sewer line in the Bowman Addition area.
Replacement of water and sewer lines will be spread over the full five years of the program, Goodman said.
The major water line and sewer line replacement work will be in the 1996-97 fiscal year, when the town projects spending about $2.5 million.
Other items on this year's priority list include $38,000 for replacing two police cars; $20,000 for upgrading of the parking lot at the War Memorial; and adding $50,000 to an escrow account for future replacement of a fire truck.
The fire truck is scheduled for replacement in the 1998-99 fiscal year and will cost an estimated $250,000. The truck it will replace will be 15 years old then.
In addition to patrol vehicles, the Police Department also would like to get a dog to sniff out drugs and track suspects on the run. Police Chief Ricky Foutz estimated that acquiring and training a dog would cost about $5,000.
Renovations to the Vinton War Memorial, at an estimated cost of $400,000, are tentatively scheduled to begin in the 1996-97 fiscal year. If the requested work stays on the list, dining rooms, kitchen, meeting room and rest rooms at the 48-year-old building would be renovated. The War Memorial will observe its 50th anniversary in 1998.
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart by staff: Vinton capital improvement fund.by CNB