ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Monday, May 27, 1996                   TAG: 9605280073
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-1  EDITION: HOLIDAY 
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER 

SALEM CONSIDERS FORMER LANDFILL FOR NEW GOLF COURSE

Salem City Council will hear a recommendation Tuesday night on whether a city-funded golf course is feasible at Mowles Spring Park, part of which is the city's former landfill.

National Golf Foundation Consulting Inc. has spent the last five to six months studying the 283-acre park and evaluating whether it would make financial and physical sense for Salem to construct a golf course there.

Council is not expected to vote on the recommendation. And at least one councilman believes the issue may first be placed before a citizens advisory referendum.

Pinning the issue to a referendum was a large issue during the recent City Council elections.

Howard Packett said during his bid for re-election that he would support a referendum. And he believes that will be considered by other councilmen.

Alex Brown, however, said if the golf foundation shows that a golf course is feasible, he is inclined to hire an architect to study the issue further.

But he would not want a referendum.

"I think we have a referendum every two years when we're elected to council," Brown said.

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