ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605280013
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV14 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Wythe jail study in negotiation
WYTHEVILLE - A Wythe County Jail Study Committee will negotiate with the Moseley/Harris consulting firm in Richmond on a contract to do a jail study for the county.
The Richmond firm was among two companies whose representatives were interviewed on the proposed contract. Wythe County is seeking professional help to decide whether it should expand its existing 75-year-old jail, build a new jail at the same site or a different one, or join the New River Valley Regional Jail Authority which encompasses the city of Radford and counties of Grayson, Giles and Pulaski.
Wythe officials will meet again with Moseley/Harris representatives at 9 a.m. June 3 to discuss the scope of work, time frame and cost for the study.
Real-estate taxes, decal costs going up
WYTHEVILLE - Wythe County residents will pay more real-estate taxes and more for motor vehicle decals next year.
The county Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 last week to raise the real-estate tax rate from 58 cents to 60 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Vehicle decals will go from $15 to $20.
The supervisors have also approved a new cellular-telephone tax, giving phone companies 90 days to start collecting it.
Personal property taxes will stay at $1.85 per $100, machinery and tools tax at $1.25, and merchants capital at 56 cents.
The board is trying to learn more about zoning before making any decisions on a proposed zoning ordinance for the county.
Its members met last week with Michael Chandler of Virginia Tech, an expert on zoning matters who is also a member of the Blacksburg Town Council. In March, the board voted to delay contract work for 90 days on the preparation of a zoning ordinance by Hibbert and Associates.
Bids over limit for sewer project
FORT CHISWELL - Wythe County is trying to find ways to reduce the costs of its proposed sewer project for Fort Chiswell and Max Meadows in the eastern part of the county, because bids came in $2.5 million higher than the project's budget.
The budget is funded by loans and grants for a sewage treatment plant and collection system. The board authorized County Administrator Bill Branson last week to seek additional loans to cover the cost overrun.
Construction on the project is supposed to start later this year and be completed by the end of 1997.
Some 40 residents of the area proposed to be served have hired Hillsville lawyer George Cooley to fight the enforcement of any hook-on requirement. The residents say they do not oppose the project, but are against being forced to connect to it. But, without knowing how many homes will hook onto the system, the county cannot know that it can repay the loans involved in the project.
Wythe County schools to start Aug. 19
WYTHEVILLE - After missing a record 22 days because of bad weather during the 1995-96 year, Wythe County schools will start next year on Aug. 19 which is its earliest school start in the last 50 years.
The Wythe County School Board has set professional development days for teachers Aug. 7-9 and Aug. 12-13. Preschool workdays for teachers are Aug. 14-16.
The 1996-97 school calendar has five snow days built into it, and could tap four Easter vacation days. The last day of school next year is scheduled for May 27.
This year, graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 7 at Rural Retreat High School, June 8 at Fort Chiswell and June 9 at George Wythe.
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