Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 30, 1994 TAG: 9403300028
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Salem City Council voted Monday night to hold the advisory referendum on a new home for the minor-league Buccaneers as soon as the law allows. Council also voted to create a committee to hire an architect before the referendum.
Because of state election laws, the first day the special election could be held is July 19. And, because the ballot is only advisory, City Council still will have to vote on the stadium after the election.
Timing is important because Municipal Field cannot be used beyond this season, according to Major League Baseball officials, and the Bucs want a new stadium ready for opening day in April 1995.
The architect, who should be selected by the beginning of May, will prepare sketches for voters to see before they vote on a possible 6,500-seat stadium. The field cannot cost more than $5 million or require a tax increase, according to the referendum's wording.
With architect's sketches ready and the city already owning the land for the stadium - with parking and utilities set up - councilmen said they believe the stadium could be ready for next season. It might not be ready for opening day, but they believe Major League Baseball would grant them an extension.
"I don't think the league's going to say, `We're not going to wait two more weeks till it's done.' I'll bet you they'll manage," Mayor Jim Taliaferro said.
He said a September start date on construction would be realistic.
The Bucs, the Pittsburgh Pirates' Class A farm team, do not want to spend another season in 3,500-seat Municipal Field because its size prevents the team from making much money, owner Kelvin Bowles has said.
Also, the Pirates don't want to use the field next year because it no longer meets professional baseball standards.
Roanoke city officials said last week they would consider building a stadium to keep the Bucs in the Roanoke Valley if Salem doesn't construct one.
"I'm not concerned a bit about [Roanoke]," Taliaferro said. "Baseball's going to go where they have a place to play. Roanoke's got no place."
Since the public supports a stadium, some citizens who spoke questioned the need for the referendum - as do some councilmen - saying council should have just voted on it. Councilman Sonny Tarpley, who suggested the referendum, argues that since the stadium wouldn't be used for residents' athletics, it should be put to a citizen vote.
"Salem needs baseball," said Lee Hall, who lives on the back side of the stadium site. "I'm getting kind of tired of Roanoke saying, `Well, we'd like to have it.' Well, we have it and we need to keep it."
While City Council members were talking sports Monday, they agreed to take another look at a swimming complex with an indoor pool, recreation facilities and aquatic rehabilitation. A study committee in 1990 looked into such a complex, but City Council never voted on it.
Several citizens wanted to tack the swimming complex onto the baseball referendum, but council members said that would not give them enough time to study its feasibility.
Ed Thompson, who supports the complex, said he will give council figures he collected from Fairfax County on the cost of running a multimillion-dollar complex.
by CNB