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

DATE: TUESDAY, July 17, 1990                   TAG: 9007170308
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RICHARD W. ROBERS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

...NO, IT IS A PRIORITY

THE ROANOKE County Board of Supervisors disagrees with the opinion that a "leadership vacuum" exists in the Roanoke Valley. We believe that the Board of Supervisors, along with the Town Council of Vinton and the city councils of Salem and Roanoke, are providing the leadership necessary to take the Roanoke Valley into the 21st century.

The board is elected by the citizens of Roanoke County to plan for the future and to set priorities, and we believe we have done so. The county supports a variety of projects which will benefit our children and grandchildren, such as Spring Hollow Reservoir, the regional landfill, the "smart highway" from Roanoke to Blacksburg, an upgrade of the Roanoke sewage-treatment plant, and Explore.

The premise that state funding for these projects will be undercut by funding for Explore is unsubstantiated. We know of no local landfill or reservoir in the entire state of Virginia which is entitled to state funds - and our landfill and reservoir are no exception. State money for Explore will have no effect on most of the important undertakings mentioned in [Macfarlane's] correspondence.

The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors made an informed decision, based on facts, in voting to support the Explore Project, and we will continue to do so. At the present time, Explore is one of our top economic-development priorities, and we will devote the resources of the county to its continued success.

We have already reaped at least one benefit - the preservation and maintenance by the state of one of the most beautiful pieces of property in Virginia, for use by future generations. It is forever safe from commercial development and will become a lovely addition to our state parks.

[Macfarlane] asked for our thoughts, ideas, comments and recommendations. Here they are: Please spend your time in the Senate obtaining as much funding as possible for all of the important projects in the Roanoke Valley.

In the meantime, Roanoke County continues to support Explore as a meaningful and worthwhile venture, and we expect that our representatives in the General Assembly will do the same.

by CNB