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BLACKSBURG -- The town councilwoman who in October cast the deciding vote in favor of building a new Blacksburg High School stadium off Prices Fork Road changed her mind Tuesday night.

Blacksburg Councilwoman Mary Holliman presented a resolution asking Montgomery County officials to refurbish the school's current stadium at South Main Street.

School officials recently announced the stadium would cost $3.6 million. County supervisors have so far earmarked $2.1 million for the project.

Holliman wrote that the county should use the $2.1 million to refurbish the current stadium and build more permanent classroom space with any extra funds.

During discussion, she said replacing the many trailer units in which students across the school district now attend classes is more important than a new sports facility.

Hearing about the resolution for the first time late Tuesday, Montgomery County School Board Vice Chairman Wendell Jones said he was surprised that Holliman didn't expect construction costs to increase over the more than three years since the $2.1 million was allocated.

He said he was happy that council approved the stadium, and that he would not at this point consider refurbishing the current stadium.

Four of the seven council members said they opposed the resolution, including Mayor Ron Rordam.

Rordam argued that it might damage efforts to build better relationships with county officials and hinder collaboration on the future of the current stadium site. A six-member county/town committee is already discussing a plan for redevelopment of the 20-acre property.

Councilman Paul Lancaster, who voted for the new stadium, was more strident in his criticism of the resolution.

"Mr. Mayor, I have a question. What happened to open government? We've got a resolution put before us that I got a chance to read five minutes before we started. ... We're being asked to approve this without any public input. ... I gotta let the public look at this."

Holliman agreed that residents should have a chance to comment on it.

While not speaking explicitly in favor of Holliman's proposal, Councilman Don Langrehr said he didn't think it would cause any harm.

"It's not binding. It's just a suggestion," Langrehr said.

Councilmen Tom Sherman and Al Leighton also spoke against Holliman's resolution. And she eventually withdrew it.

Speaking after the meeting, she said she didn't regret her earlier vote in favor of the new stadium. "But now we have more information to consider."

Holliman said she may revise her proposal and hopes council will discuss it again soon at a work session.