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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 25, 1990                   TAG: 9004250469
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

BLACKSBURG PROTESTS LANDFILL FEE

Council unanimously passed a resolution objecting to the possible unfairness of the county's $15 per ton fee.

Blacksburg residents who use the town's garbage collection service face a monthly $1.25 increase, which council likely will pass in the 1990-91 budget this month, to cover the fee. But the county has not proposed an increase in county utility taxes - which help cover trash disposal costs - assessed to non-town residents.

"How will [county residents] be assigned their pro rata share of the cost?" Town Manager Ron Secrist asked.

Secrist had said earlier that Blacksburg will continue to discuss the fee with county officials.

Council also:

Endorsed development standards that had been revised by the Route 460/114 Corridor Advisory Planning Council. Previous attempts by Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Montgomery County officials to agree on standards for the fast-growing corridor resulted in a stalemate.

Took final action to begin $250,000 worth of improvements to the Progress Street parking lot, which are designed to help alleviate the downtown parking crunch.

The project, orchestrated by economic development coordinator Doug Eckel, involved seven private landowners, several of whom came to the public hearing to support the project.

"Customers . . . have come in and commented on the mess," said Crickets Restaurant owner Victor Dritselis. "We are in great support of that project."

Although there will be fewer parking spaces there will be more 30 more public spaces and fewer reserved spaces, Eckel said. Also, with landscaping and redesigning, traffic flow and appearance should improve greatly, he said.

Voted not to repeal the ban on open burning. Town Attorney Richard Kaufman, in response to inquiries from firefighters, had drafted a resolution that would allow open burning according to state Air Pollution Control Board standards.

The state allows open burning for firefighting drills and recreational, ceremonial, agricultural and forestry purposes. Burning yard trimmings and leaves also is allowed, but not less than 300 feet from an occupied dwelling.

"These are stringent, but they're not so stringent as to prohibit all open burning," Kaufman said.

But council member Lewis Barnett, concerned about the potential nuisance of smoke drifting over to neighboring property, voted against the resolution.

Kaufman said a majority of council, or four votes, was needed to repeal the ban.

Council members Frances Parsons, Mike Chandler and Joyce Lewis were absent.