Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 25, 1995 TAG: 9510250047
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CLAYTON BRADDOCK SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
One was the prospect of a $3.5 million renovation of the city's water treatment plant that had originally been estimated to cost $1 million less.
The other was a plan to improve Radford's municipal building, under the gun because of a number of problems including inadequate security and a severe shortage of space for documents and personnel.
Council members were dismayed at the new estimates for the water plant renovation, but were prepared for that economic reality because of a lengthy evaluation and a detailed report.
However, they were not prepared when they saw a projected $4 million tab on each of three options for improving the municipal building. The council asked consultants to try again.
"I was shocked," said Polly Corn, longtime member of the council. "This is probably more than we can absorb."
She proposed another examination of plans and its costs, possibly returning to an earlier $1 million price tag. But not before Circuit Court Judge Duane Mink urged the council not to drop substantial renovations. He said improvements are necessary because of the growing needs of the city and its court system.
Meanwhile, council members agreed to take a closer look at the physical and health realities of the water treatment plant.
Council members, Mayor Tom Starnes and City Manager Robert Asbury will tour the plant for a detailed examination of its components, their age and the prospects of a phased plan of action. The walk-through will be conducted by Jettie Montgomery, superintendent of the plant.
Public health is at the top of the list of concerns, said Melvin Doughty, project consultant.
Operating conditions at the plant have led to the presence of "high turbidity [stirred up sediment] and high organics [bacteria]," Doughty said.
"We might not be able to treat the water" without efforts to resolve the problems, he said, adding that some conditions in the plant are below state and city standards.
Renovations will be expensive, he said. Original rough cost estimates in 1994 - $2.5 million - did not include engineering expenses, Doughty said.
The renovation likely will be done in phases, with each plant component tackled separately.
"Our aim is to make the plant workable," Starnes said.
In other business, the council was presented with two awards:
The 1994 Virginia Municipal Liability Pool Safety Performance Award.
The American Automobile Association Pedestrian Protection Program award of excellence.
by CNB