ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 3, 1996 TAG: 9607030025
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
Henry Brabham says he needs the sewer service to improve the truck stop and to develop surrounding property.
"That location has grown to the point that the septic field can no longer hold any additional water," Brabham said Tuesday.
The truck stop is located off Interstate 81's exit 128, just west of the Roanoke County line.
With a sewer line in place, the Roanoke County businessman can begin expanding the truck stop, getting the showers turned back on and building a fast-food business and possibly a motel.
"I don't know what all we're going to put in there," Brabham said.
The county Public Service Authority is to build a pump station and extend a pressurized sewer line from the Ironto rest area, west along Virginia 603 and across Interstate 81 to the Lancer Truck Stop.
Last month the PSA approved an agreement with Brabham, which called for a lump-sum payment of $407,000 before a construction contract is executed.
But Brabham recently told the authority that his bank, Central Fidelity, won't issue the total amount up front and would instead establish an account and issue the money as the PSA requests it.
"This sounds like an unusual arrangement. It seems kind of strange that we would be billing the bank for payment that he will be responsible for," said PSA member Joe Gorman.
Brabham said he doesn't understand the problem.
"Would you pay for something in advance? Not only the bank but I had reservations," Brabham said. "That's like throwing money on the ground. ... It's ridiculous to hand someone a check for $407,000 and they haven't dug the first hole."
Brabham said he's obtained the money and it is being held in escrow at the bank. The PSA voted Monday to reach an agreement with the bank to allow the money to be drawn as needed.
The authority also received an update on a planned water line extension to Alleghany Springs.
Originally planned to be complete this year, the project has yet to get under way.
The federal Rural Development agency gave the county a $776,000 grant that pays 73 percent of the $1.06 million project cost. It also recently committed to supplying an additional loan to complete the package, according to Chip Worley, an Anderson & Associates engineer who is a PSA consultant.
Construction was to have started in September 1995. But bids were just recently awarded to two separate companies to do the line and tank work.
Gary Gibson, the PSA's director, said work could begin in early August after the contracts are approved.
More than 100 customers are signed up for the new line. Planning for the project began about five years ago. In 1989, the state Health Department found bacterial contamination in the spring water. Since then, the government has advised residents to boil or treat their drinking water.
The water for the new line will come from a branch of the Christiansburg-to-Elliston connector, which links public water systems in Elliston and Lafayette with Christiansburg.
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Map by staff. color.by CNB