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Roanoke council hires engineering firm for street improvement project bid documents

The Roanoke Town Council hired civil engineering firm Fleis & VandenBrink to prepare the bid documents for street improvement projects in town next year at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

The town will pay $49,992 to Fleis & VandenBrink for its services, which will include the drafting of bidding paperwork, drawings and specifications for the projects, of which there will be six.

Roanoke was awarded a Community Crossings Matching Grant totaling $567,232.50 in September that will fund the majority of the work. The total cost of the projects will be $756,310.

The board expressed interest in moving forward with the creation of an ordinance that would prohibit the use of compression release engine brakes, commonly known as Jake brakes, in the town limits.

Complaints by citizens regarding the noise made by such brakes on the portion of U.S.-24 that passes through Roanoke prompted council to explore passing an ordinance.

In other business:

The board passed the town’s 2018 budget.

Council denied a variance request by Amos Van Ness that would have allowed him to drive a golf cart in town. The town’s ordinance requires a driver’s license in order to operate a golf cart in Roanoke. Van Ness does not possess a license.

Council President Dave Tucker informed the board that his interest in installing a splash pad in town has been warmly received by both the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce and citizens. Tucker stated that he would continue to explore what it would take to make such an amenity a reality in town, but did note that the town would require significant financial assistance in order to make it happen.