Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 9, 1995 TAG: 9506100017
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-15 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The state-funded council, a citizens group formulating strategies for future development, embarked on its mission in October 1993. Next month, in meetings scheduled for July 10, 17 and 24, the public can see its 140 strategies for the economy, schools, health, environment, transportation and government in the Roanoke and New River valleys and Alleghany Highlands.
Nearly 1,000 volunteer residents and many of the region's most influential leaders contributed ideas for the 200-page report, which Beverly Fitzpatrick, the council's executive director, described Thursday as the most comprehensive study of its type ever done in Virginia. The state funded most council expenses with $600,000, including $200,000 to disseminate its findings during the next 12 months. The council received private donations as well.
The report will generate controversy, Fitzpatrick said. It suggests that laws be changed and tax dollars spent. It touches on social issues such as teen pregnancy and alcoholism, he said.
There are fresh notions about ways of doing things, "old ideas that have been changed to consider the 21st century," and the transportation committee's proposals include "some ideas that are not fundamentally accepted as common practice in the United States today," he said.
Each strategy is presented with a rationale, a suggested time line for doing it, and the name of a group or agency best suited to lead implementation.
Costs are not set out in the report.
"We told them not to worry about costs, to do what was right and we would work out the costs later," Fitzpatrick said.
by CNB