ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 25, 1997 TAG: 9701270024
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER AND BRIAN KELLEY
* The Montgomery County School Board grudgingly agreed to give up its textbook fund Thursday night, but only after at least five years.
Based on a recommendation by the county auditor, the Board of Supervisors asked that the textbook fund - which holds state and local money in a separate account - be given back to its general fund. The county agreed to give the School Board several years to spend the $550,000 in the account.
School Board members argued the fund keeps textbook purchases - which can cost up to $400,000 in one sweep - out of the yearly political battles over school spending. But, fearing the supervisors would block any spending of the fund, the board agreed to put only state money into the account and close it when it dwindles down.
Upcoming:
* The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the board room of the County Administration Building at 143 Third St. Topics include a staff report on the proposed expansion of the New River Resource Authority, approval of a contract to remove asbestos from the former Belspring School building, and acceptance of a $10,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to train county residents in the use of the Internet, so they can then train others. A report is also scheduled from the Courthouse Exhibits Committee on a contest in which people were invited to suggest designs for a county flag and county colors.
* The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. Monday on the third floor of the Montgomery County Courthouse, Franklin and Main streets, Christiansburg. Public hearing on the Riner town house proposal; other matters scheduled.
* Radford City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Municipal Building, 619 Second St. Topics include a 5:30 work session on the new courthouse proposal, a 6:15 executive session on a possible legal issue, and a 7:30 regular meeting to include discussion of and a possible vote on the proposed New River Resource Authority expansion agreement.
* The Dublin Town Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed expansion of the New River Resource Authority at 7 p.m. Tuesday, but a decision on where to hold it will not be made until Monday. It will either in the meeting room of the Free Memorial Library on Giles Avenue, where council usually meets, or in the Dublin Middle School auditorium. The NRRA is currently composed of Pulaski County (including the town of Pulaski), the city of Radford, and the town of Dublin. The proposed expansion would add Montgomery County, Virginia Tech and the towns of Christiansburg and Blacksburg. However, all three current members would have to approve the expansion, and some Dublin council members have expressed misgivings about it.
* All three local governmental units of Pulaski County will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the L. Brinkley Eure Education Building at Columbia Pulaski Community Hospital at 2400 Lee Highway. Topics for the county Board of Supervisors and the Pulaski and Dublin town councils include the proposed expansion of the New River Resource Authority, countywide recreation activities including plans to develop Randolph Park on land being given to the county, and joint development efforts such as a proposed commerce park and foreign trade zone in the county. The county property taxes reassessment and location of litter collection boxes will also be discussed.
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