ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 13, 1995 TAG: 9512130019
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: CLAYTON BRADDOCK SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
A half-century ago, City Council members had no idea what it would take to provide residents with drinking water. They just knew that the brand new treatment plant was ready to work, there was plenty of water and it was clean.
Today, the water is still clean and drinkable, but council members will have to figure out how to pay for a project that will keep it that way.
On Monday, council put the final stamp of approval on the $3.5 million water treatment plant project, what city manager Robert Asbury refers to as a "refurbished maintenance project."
Whatever it is, things will be humming in early spring or summer when council accepts construction bids and the project is launched, said Jettie Montgomery, supervisor of the plant.
City leaders say that it is Montgomery who has kept the plant on track.
It's been a struggle at the First Street site to keep filters, storage tanks and other equipment working and doing their jobs, Montgomery said.
He said the repairs and refurbishing "will be done totally as one project" instead of in phases.
"That doesn't mean there won 't be some juggling along the way," he added.
Now council has to make a decision on how to pay for it. Likely choices will be use of some reserve funds in the early going and eventually a bond issue.
Also during the council meeting, Finance Director Jess Cantline presented anticipated revenues for 1996-97 as council members debated a budget plan.
Though no final decisions have been reached, council members approved a 3.5 percent budget increase, excluding salaries. In effect, this means the next budget would not be allowed to increase any more than 3.5 percent. The total budget is $43.3 million.
Council also approved an appropriation of $655,567 for city school modifications.
LENGTH: Short : 43 linesby CNB