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

DATE: THURSDAY, July 14, 1994                   TAG: 9407220094
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By BETTY HAYDEN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

BLACKSBURG COUNCIL OKS $2.1 MILLION BOND SALE|

Town Council approved the sale of $2.1 million in general obligation bonds to support capital improvement projects, such as improvements to the town's recreation center and outdoor swimming pool, over the next two years.

Council also voted to tax cellular phone users. Beginning Sept. 12, consumers will pay roughly $3 each month as a utility tax.

The action follows the General Assembly's update of a law, enacted before the invention of cellular phones, which applied to local telephone service.

Bonnie Svrcek, assistant town manager and interim director of finance, told council at Tuesday's meeting that more than half of the bond money, $1.2 million, will be spent in 1994-95 with the remaining $900,000 saved for 1995-96.

The bonds, which will be sold Aug. 10, will be paid back over the next 20 years, Svrcek said. The town usually sells bonds every two years.

Projects slated for this year include refurbishing the deck and bathrooms at Blacksburg's outdoor swimming pool at a cost of $50,000 and replacing the floor of the recreation center's gymnasium at a cost of $70,000.

Another $315,000 will go toward street repaving this year, and $435,000 will go toward paving and improvements in 1995-96.

The town also will spend the bond money for a new golf course administration building, repairs to a water tank that has been out of service on Alleghany Street, and to pay part of the cost of a gymnasium at the new Kipps Elementary School on Prices Fork Road.

by CNB