Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 29, 1990                   TAG: 9003300711
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DECISION ON MUNICIPAL POOL MAY BE UP TO

Councilman Sonny Tarpley, who is a big advocate of pool construction, suggested that the question be set for a referendum vote in the Nov. 6 general election. Council is considering funding the pool out of a proposed $5 million bond issue.

But deciding on a referendum now would be premature because "we have nothing to have a referendum on yet," Mayor Jim Taliaferro said. Although cost estimates put pool construction at $2.3 million, actual specifications - pool design, design of the building that will house the pool, maintenance and personnel - have not yet been determined.

The city has advertised for bids from architectural firms to help get a better handle on costs.

A concept that started as an outdoor pool has grown into plans for an indoor year-round heated facility, presumably at the Salem Civic Center.

"We've got a long way to go before we decide which way we want to go," he said. "At this point, we're not ready to decide what we want to do."

Since last fall, a pool committee has toured pool facilities in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham, N.C., at the University of South Carolina in Columbia and a municipal facility in Rock Hill, S.C. The committee also has met with Roanoke-area firms and reviewed several pools.

In another matter, council gave initial approval to an ordinance amending a section of the city code that pertains to political activity of city employees.

The amendment would allow employees seeking political office to use vacation or compensatory time if they need to take time off from the job. The current ordinance does not allow employees to use either.

In other business, council:

Agreed to purchase a landfill compactor from Carter Machinery Co. for $107,483. The compactor that the city has been leasing has spiked demolition wheels that crush and compact waste before it is buried.

Authorized the city manager to execute an agreement that will allow the city to lease property along Cook Drive from Appalachian Power Co. The property will be used as space for business signs.

Awarded a $73,260 contract for repair work on a bridge near Apperson Drive and Virginia 419 to Lanford Bros. Inc.