Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 13, 1994 TAG: 9409130081
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It was a lunch that was a long time coming, most agreed.
The joint meeting between Roanoke County's Board of Supervisors and their counterparts on Roanoke City Council lasted almost two hours, and was the first such meeting anyone can remember.
The luncheon Monday at the regional garbage transfer station in Roanoke took place as garbage trucks from the city and the county unloaded their cargo on the lower floor - evidence that the two localities can work cooperatively on some things.
Supervisor Bob Johnson said area residents expect their governments to cooperate and "they deserve better than they've gotten, in my estimation."
Supervisor Harry Nickens freshened council members' iced tea, while Mayor David Bowers cleared supervisors' plates. They agreed that they'll do it again before the holidays, and will try to schedule joint meetings quarterly to talk over valleywide issues.
"We need to do this on a regular basis," Vice Mayor John Edwards said. "Perhaps we need to think more consistently on joint plans."
Among the topics discussed Monday were ridgeline protection, expanded public transportation and tourism. Several points of discussion seemed to have been put on the agenda to test the county's resolve - like affordable housing, an area in which Bowers and others complain the county doesn't pull its weight.
The meeting was the first of a series the county is holding with Roanoke Valley governments this month. It was billed as a "meet-and-greet," but some wanted to break through to more substantive issues.
"I'll be willing to cooperate on all of these nice things," Councilman William White said. "But if at some point in time we don't get cooperation on the tough things, you're going to have a problem with me."
Tough issues include why the city shoulders a larger share of social service costs for the region, and why the city and county have separate school systems.
"Those tough issues are also tied with ... poverty. We deal with the poor, and you have not had to deal with that," Councilwoman Linda Wyatt told the county.
But others suggested tackling the easy issues first.
"I think before we go enrolling in college, we should get out of kindergarten first," said Johnson, who proposed the joint meeting in May as a way for the elected officials to get to know one another.
Among topics discussed were:
Ridgeline protection. Bowers said city residents are indirectly affected by development on the county's mountains. No specifics were discussed, but supervisors spoke generally of being in favor of some sort of protection.
"As a community, we ought to be doing something to protect them," said Lee Eddy, chairman of the Board of Supervisors.
"I'm for it," Johnson said. "But are the citizens willing to pay the price?"
Affordable housing. The city carries the bulk of responsibility for low-income housing, and Eddy admitted the county has studied the issue but "doesn't know how to get started."
Bowers challenged the county to get involved at least in Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization whose Roanoke Valley homebuilding has been confined to the city.
A third of Roanoke residents have a household income below $15,000 a year, compared to 15 percent of Roanoke County's population. The city attributes that in part to its social service programs serving as a magnet for the poor.
The mayor also noted the disparity in racial makeup of the city versus the county.
"Does fair housing for minorities extend throughout the [region], or is it only in the city?" he asked.
"Your point is well-taken," Johnson said after the affordable housing discussion. "We haven't done our job."
Expanded public transportation. Valley Metro has very limited runs into the county and a study a few years ago found it would be cheaper for the county to give the few county bus-riders a ride home in a taxi than continue subsidizing the bus service, Nickens said.
More public transportation "is tied into the issue of affordable housing," Eddy said. "It needs to be looked at."
The city will be host for the next joint meeting at a date and time not yet agreed on.
"I think it's been a fantastic meeting," Eddy told City Council at the close of the meeting. "Thanks so much for coming."
by CNB