Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 14, 1993 TAG: 9307140389
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The action, which passed 4-1, will raise the average residential power bill by about $4 a month.
City Electric Utility Director Bill Willis had recommended the city adopt Appalachian Power Co.'s new, higher retail rate schedule, which became effective May 4, pending final State Corporation Commission approval.
Willis told council last month that the city already is paying a higher wholesale rate that went into effect last September for power it buys from Apco and resells to city customers. He estimated the city is losing about $50,000 a month in additional revenues.
Radford hasn't raised electricity rates since 1987.
Councilman David Worrell dissented. He has said he wouldn't vote to raise city power rates until the Apco schedule gets final State Corporation Commission approval.
In other matters, council voted 4-1 to spend $6,582 as the city's share of salary adjustments for the Radford Department of Welfare and Social Services. The state pays 80 percent of the department's budget.
Councilwoman Polly Corn voted against the measure.
"I'm against our subsidizing what the state does not, but should, come up with," she said.
Acting on several other money measures, council:
Voted 3-2 to appropriate $995 as the city's share of a regional human needs assessment.
Gave final approval to spending $2,280 for 1993-94 Local Emergency Planning Commission operations.
Approved $34,471 as the city's share of closing out the Cloyds Mountain landfill for February through May.
Received and expended a $63,479 Library State Aid grant, slightly less than last year's appropriation.
OK'd reallocation of $75,690 as the city's share to fund the new regional Comprehensive Services Board.
Approved drafting an ordinance to spend $1,500 plus employment costs to pay part-time help at the city's animal shelter.
Council delayed action on a water system backflow prevention and cross-connection control program, required by state law. An ordinance to put the program into effect was not ready for approval.
Mayor Tom Starnes also reminded city residents of council's first public session Monday, 5-7 p.m. in Council Chambers, to hear citizens' concerns. Subsequent meetings will be the first Monday of each month.
by CNB