ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, June 26, 1996 TAG: 9606260026
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: KATHY LU STAFF WRITER
City Council was busy putting long-range plans into action at its meeting Monday, approving a revised subdivision ordinance, a $1.5 million loan and a contract to begin renovations of Radford's water treatment plant.
The revised subdivision ordinance will be effective July 24 and has been three years in the making. Its main purpose is to update the original ordinance, created in 1964.
"We wanted to make sure that our ordinance is still in compliance with state regulations and we also wanted to encourage more development," David Ridpath, community development director, said. "So we made the updated ordinance easier to read and it also allows for more flexible negotiations" between council and developers.
The new ordinance allows a developer to subdivide an area into three lots or less if no public facilities are required. The old ordinance allowed only two subdivisions at the most. The new ordinance also created five subdivision categories and defined several responsibilities of the city and a developer.
The other major actions included:
City Council set up a $1.5 million loan from Radford's general fund reserves to help build additions to all Radford city schools. A total of seven rooms will be built: two in each of the two elementary schools, one in the middle school and two computer laboratories in the high school. The loan will fund constructions costs only, and will not be used to pay to equip the rooms.
After four motions and a half-hour discussion, the council awarded a $2.5 million contract to W.C. English Inc. to begin renovations of the city's water treatment plant. The renovations are being paid for with a bond issue. Renovations include replacing filter valves, updating the laboratory and some structural and safety repairs. According to Jettie Montgomery, director of Radford's water and water treatment utilities, the renovations are overdue.
"The filters were last changed in 1971 or '72 and they're supposed to have a life span of between 12 and 15 years," he said. "Some of the filters are on the verge of collapse. We're hoping that we're renovating well in time to prevent any major problems."
Work should begin within the next 15 to 20 days, said Montgomery, and the entire project will probably take about a year and a half.
Finally, Vice Mayor Robert Nicholson III, who has served eight years on the council said his goodbyes at his last meeting Monday night.
"A former council member told me once that when you start out on council, you're probably facing about a 50 percent opposition, but you have to come forward and do the best you can," Nicholson said. "And I've learned that life is a wonderful journey, even with its pitfalls and negative aspects. As my mother always said, you have to stop and smell the roses. I admire you all for what you've done and I will take eight years of wonderful memories with me."
LENGTH: Medium: 58 linesby CNB