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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 30, 1994                   TAG: 9411300039
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

PULASKI SUPERVISORS TO LOOK AT FAILED CONSOLIDATION PLAN

Pulaski County plans to take an unofficial look at the consolidation plan that failed in a 1983 referendum.

Supervisor Bruce Fariss asked Monday night that the staff provide the Board of Supervisors with data developed during consideration of consolidating the county government with the governments of Dublin and Pulaski, information on why a majority of voters rejected the plan, a list of its advantages and disadvantages, and what has been done in Bedford County where a consolidation plan has progressed.

Fariss did not make the request in the form of a motion, so the board did not vote on it. But the supervisors agreed with the request and asked that information be in their hands in 60 days.

Fariss and other board members didn't say what they would do with the information, and there was no indication that the issue might be revived at this stage. Fariss said he simply wanted to look at the data.

Fariss also made another unofficial request to consider trimming the boxwoods in front of the Old Courthouse in downtown Pulaski.

The board informally asked County Administrator Joe Morgan to contact the county Extension office on the matter.

Since the historic courthouse was heavily damaged by a 1989 fire, it has been a center of controversy several times. In addition to the recent debate over the location of a war memorial on the site, county officials had debated whether to rebuild the courthouse within its still-standing walls in downtown Pulaski or to build a new facility somewhere else. At that time, Fariss favored the second idea.

``The courthouse looks good. I don't like the location, but it looks good,'' Fariss said - except for the boxwoods in front. He was concerned that trimming them could ignite another controversy, because they would not be pretty for a year or two, even though their long-range appearance would be an improvement.

Board Chairman Jerry White agreed that the boxwoods look ragged now, and some trimming seemed in order.

by CNB