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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 29, 1993                   TAG: 9312290102
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short

CITY SAYS FAMILY COURT WOULD PRESSURE FACILITIES

Already feeling local pressure about inadequate judicial facilities, City Council is particularly edgy about the state's plan to create a new level of courts.

The Family Court system approved by the 1993 General Assembly session would only intensify financial pressures on Radford, council told its state legislators Monday.

"We already have very crowded facilities," Mayor Tom Starnes told State Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle, and Del. Tommy Baker, R-Dublin.

Circuit Court Judge Duane Mink has complained about Radford's outmoded police headquarters, jail, court rooms and clerk's offices.

Council - already planning to pay for a share in a new regional jail - is concerned that more new and expensive buildings might be needed to bring the present court facilities up to date.

Now the legislature says the new Family Court must be in place statewide by 1995 to handle domestic cases.

Yet the means to pay for the system - including its facilities and personnel - hasn't been fully clarified.

Concerned that the cost would be imposed on localities such as Radford, Starnes asked for Trumbo's and Baker's help.

Both representatives agreed with council, saying they voted against the new court system, but they didn't offer any specifics on how Radford could avoid the expense.

Council also asked for the legislators to advocate routing the proposed Interstate 73 through the New River Valley, and to obtain state help in regional economic development.

by CNB