ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 10, 1996 TAG: 9607100030
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors wants the U.S. Postal Service to keep its downtown Christiansburg post office open.
In a 6-0 vote Monday, the supervisors communicated their opposition to any plan that would close the downtown office.
The Postal Service is considering building a new office in the Peppers Ferry Road-U.S. 460 area to consolidate current offices in downtown and Cambria.
The county's resolution - which is symbolic and not binding - says closing the post office, located across the street from the courthouse, would "bring hardship to county operations."
County offices spend $78,000 a year on postage; the treasurer's office mails more than 66,000 tax bills; and the commissioner of revenue mails 50,000 personal property tax forms from this office.
The Sheriff's Office, courts system, schools and social services also rely on the proximity of the post office, as do many other governmental agencies and businesses, according to the resolution.
Last week, Christiansburg Mayor Harold Linkous reminded residents that the Postal Service is accepting comments about the planned move and said the jury is still out on whether the downtown office will be shut down. If enough residents respond, the office may be kept open so residents can mail letters and buy stamps without having to fight U.S. 460 traffic in congested northern Christiansburg.
In other business, the supervisors:
* Approved by a 4-2 vote Glenn and Linda Nester's rezoning request that would allow them to relocate their Christiansburg gun shop to a barn in Riner.
The supervisors voted to rezone 2.8 acres in the 6300 block of Riner Road (Virginia 8) near Floyd County and relocate the Nesters' Roanoke Street gun shop. They had asked for general business zoning. With no businesses along that section of Riner Road, there was concern that granting the original request would set a precedent to encourage other commercial development in the area.
The board approved community business zoning, which is a more limited use than general business. It allows for retail space of 3,000 square feet or less.
* Met in executive session to discuss four matters but took no action. The supervisors met to discuss a proposed site for a new Shawsville High School and to discuss the Falling Branch Industrial Park.
The board also met to discuss County Administrator Betty Thomas and the county attorney vacancy.
Discussion of the county administrator has been on the executive session agenda of supervisors' meetings several times over the last few months. Thomas and supervisors have said she is going through a regular review process. In 1994, the board reviewed the county's administrator and attorney in detail for the first time since 1991.
The supervisors are interviewing candidates to replace Roy Thorpe, who resigned as county attorney earlier this year to become the Falls Church city attorney.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. Despite traffic problems at the downtownby CNBChristiansburg post office (center), supervisors say closing the
office would "bring hardship to county operations." color.