
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990                   TAG: 9005310474
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ROBERS HAS BACKUP PLAN

If the consolidation of Roanoke and Roanoke County is rejected by voters, Supervisors Chairman Dick Robers said Tuesday he will propose creation of a regional authority to provide law enforcement, fire protection, emergency rescue, water and landfill services in the Roanoke Valley.

Robers said this would help promote governmental cooperation and could also ease one of Salem's major objections to a proposed $16 million deal for acquiring most of the Catawba Magisterial District.

Robers said he has not been contacted by Mayor James Taliaferro about Salem City Council's decision Tuesday night to delay action on the proposal.

But Robers said he understands that Salem's main objection is a moratorium on voluntary annexation petitions.

Consolidation negotiators have said Salem must agree not to accept any annexation petitions for 25 years if consolidation is rejected.

If the annexation moratorium is the big hangup for Salem, Robers said, he would propose to lower the 25-year ban if Roanoke, Salem and the county set up a regional resource authority to provide several services.

"If Salem would join the authority, then a reduction in the 25-year moratorium could be negotiable," he said.

Robers envisions that the regional authority could operate similarly to the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission, which is composed of members from Roanoke and Roanoke County.

Robers said he will work to seek voter approval of consolidation. "If consolidation fails, however, we need to assure continuing cooperation in the valley," he said.

by CNB