VINTON COUNCIL OKS $350,000 FOR MIDWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 4, 1993                   TAG: 9303040477
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
VINTON COUNCIL OKS $350,000 FOR MIDWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
It took some number crunching, but Vinton Town Council agreed to put up $350,000 in local money Tuesday for improvements in the Midway community. The money will be spent over a two-year period.
The town is applying for a $1.25 million Community Development Block Grant for the Midway neighborhood, which has had numerous flooding and drainage problems since 1985. The grant requires that the town put up some money in order to get the grant.
Acting Town Manager Bob Benninger, after reviewing 20 projects that received grants last year, recommended that Town Council put up the money "to show the town's commitment to the project."
A citizens' coalition, working since November with engineering consultants Mattern & Craig, helped identify the needs of the neighborhood and compiled information for the grant. The town received a $14,000 planning grant last summer to complete the grant application.
Midway residents will learn in late July whether or not the grant has been funded, said Benninger.
If awarded, water and sewer improvements will be made to a system that is more than 60 years old. Ten homes will be rehabilitated, and seven families along Glade Creek will be relocated, according to Mattern & Craig's report.
During a February public hearing, residents learned that flood control would not be part of the project because of its estimated $3.1 million cost.
Benninger said then that flooding in Midway is part of a regional problem caused by the Roanoke River's forcing water into Midway neighborhood.
He said Roanoke Valley governments have applied to the Department of Emergency Services for a separate grant to fund long-term solutions to the regional problem.
"We can't throw enough money at this project. Let's work on the problems identified in this grant. We can work on the bigger problems in future grants," he said.
In other action:

Council postpone action on a zoning ordinance amendment that would clarify sign regulations.

Council referred a request from Ruth Thomas of Valley Beautiful for donations for planters to its budget finance committee.
"We haven't had any donations from citizens of the town of Vinton," Thomas said.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB