ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996               TAG: 9610250055
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-14 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: PEARISBURG
SOURCE: CLAYTON BRADDOCK STAFF WRITER

TOWN WANTS ACTION ON GILES ANNEXATION PLAN

Time is running out in negotiations to incorporate pieces of Giles County into the town of Pearisburg, the Town Council said Wednesday.

Mayor John H. Givens and the Town Council in executive session Wednesday night approved a letter to the county Board of Supervisors that urges the county to approve the negotiated annexation agreement without any changes. Givens said the time has come for a decision to be made.

Last week, the supervisors said an earlier agreement on annexation would not be be approved without a speedier timetable for sewer extensions, primarily the Bluff City Sewer Project.

Givens' letter, approved during a half-hour executive session, tells the supervisors that the town will not accept any modifications to the annexation agreement.

"It would create a large financial obligation for a major sewer project without any contingencies," the letter states.

"Now at this late date, the County has requested that the Town unconditionally commit itself to a major sewer project.

"The town is fully prepared to seek financing for the project and to proceed with the project when funds are available," Givens' letter explains.

Pearisburg Town Manager Ken Vittum said in an interview Thursday, "It's like a person says he will build a house within five years but without knowing if the bank will provide the loan or if the person is suddenly faced with buying a new car."

There is room for discussion between both parties, Vittum said, but negotiations are not likely to make any substantial changes.

"As you know," the mayor wrote, "the town, in good faith, proceeded with sewer projects for Lilly Fair and the Wades area as negotiations have continued." Givens said these projects have been expensive and resulted in debt service of $64,000 a year.

"We believe we have reached an annexation agreement with the County that is in the best interests of all the citizens of Giles County. We trust that the Board will approved this agreement as drafted at the Board's Nov. 7 meeting," said the mayor's letter.

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