Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508280016
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
While a similar project just a couple of miles away in Rocky Mount is bogged down with problems, a $500,000 housing renovation program in Franklin County is moving along without a major hitch.
Pam France is one of the reasons why.
She is coordinating the county's project, which includes 21 homes in the Diamond Avenue Extension area. She acts as a liaison between residents, project officials and contractors.
To the homeowners who have qualified for the program, she's a friend.
"She's up here every day or so," said Theodie Smith, whose home was recently fixed up under the Community Development Block Grant program. "Whenever I had a problem, I'd call her, and she'd take care of it."
Posey Dunnings Jr., whose home is now being worked on, said France stops in to see how things are going three or four times a week.
"I saw her out there the other day hiding behind a tree with a pair of binoculars," he joked.
County Planning Director Tim Krawczel, who is managing the federally funded project, said France and rehabilitation specialist Barry Woodford dug into their jobs, something that's essential to the success of the program.
Franklin County also is fortunate that quality work has been done by the contractors, Krawczel said.
"You've got to have employees who are keyed into it," he said.
France was hired several months ago to do secretarial work in the planning department.
When former planner Jennifer Kriz left, France took over her duties as project coordinator.
She said she found out fast that "You have to show the people that you care about them."
Because the program has strict limits, it's important that those limits are explained to homeowners in an understandable way, she said.
The Rocky Mount project - involving homes in the Tank Hill community off North Main Street - has been plagued by complaints from residents.
Bobby Doyle, an employee of the J.B. Michael Co. of Salem, one of the contractors for the town's project, said some Tank Hill residents expected more than the program could deliver because it wasn't explained properly.
Just as France has done in Franklin County, he said, localities should make sure that people know up front what they're getting.
France, who recently returned to the county from military service, is a Sontag native.
by CNB