ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, October 23, 1996 TAG: 9610230076
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
Joint ventures in parks, water supply and economic development could be on the horizon for Salem and Roanoke County after a meeting between the two governments Tuesday at the county's Spring Hollow water treatment plant.
It was the first time in more than a decade that Salem City Council and the county's Board of Supervisors have met publicly.
"It was a long overdue meeting," said Salem Mayor Sonny Tarpley.
County officials gave their Salem counterparts a tour of the $72 million treatment plant, which started supplying water to county residents earlier this year.
After a catered lunch, Board of Supervisors Chairman Bob Johnson put an offer on the table to the city: If you need more treated water, please consider us.
Salem just reassessed its water needs after recent growth. Expansion of existing industries and businesses and some new development are absorbing more of the city's water each year.
A recent report estimated that Salem soon will need to expand its water treatment capacity of about 8 million gallons a day - 3 million at its Glenvar treatment plant off West Main Street and 5 million at the plant at the corner of Fourth and West Main streets.
The city is using an average of about 41/2 million gallons of water a day through both plants. But during the past three years both plants have run close to capacity during the driest weeks of the summer, said City Manager Randy Smith.
"That's an indication you have to look for capacity or conservation or both," he said.
Salem could enlarge one of its plants. Or the city could buy treated water from the Spring Hollow treatment plant off West Main Street past Dixie Caverns.
A consultant is looking at Salem's water needs and is talking with county officials to see how much the county's water would cost. If buying water from the county could save Salem money, the city will consider it, Tarpley said.
Johnson said he expects no short-term impact on county water rates, but left open the possibility for the long term.
In other action between the neighboring localities:
* Salem will help the county in designing possible athletic fields or recreational facilities at Green Hill Park, which borders Salem but is in the county.
Salem's biggest undeveloped park, Mowles Spring Park, soon may become a golf course. And Salem is in the process of selling 6 acres of Oakey Field on East Main Street - once the city's main center for recreational sports - to developers of a used-car lot.
Despite the athletic megacenter, Moyer Sports Complex, and recreational fields at the Civic Center complex, some residents have said Salem needs more space for kids to play ball.
Smith said Salem and Roanoke County planners also are collaborating on a possible greenway that could run from Green Hill Park to the Roanoke city limits, following the Roanoke River through Salem.
* Salem and the county administrators will meet about joint efforts to attract new industry.
Salem is nearly out of developable land, and Johnson used that as a reason for Salem to join Roanoke County in economic development. No site was mentioned, but Johnson cited as an example of cooperation the venture between Roanoke and Botetourt counties to bring Hanover Direct to the valley.
Staff writer Christina Nuckols contributed to this story.
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