ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 13, 1995 TAG: 9512130062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN STAFF WRITER
Roanoke County put 25,000 pieces of paper in citizens' hands to try to entice them to participate in the county's 7-month visioning process, Roanoke County Director of Planning Terry Harrington said Tuesday.
Yet less than 0.5 percent of the populace took the bait and took part in crafting the county's vision.
That vision, which outlines what residents want the county to look like in the year 2010, will serve as a springboard for the update of the county's comprehensive plan. The revamp, which starts after the new year, will require more citizen input, Harrington said.
"The comprehensive plan provides a clear framework for decision-making in the the county. It's our experience, if the goals [in the plan] aren't accepted by citizens," the plan doesn't work, he said.
Supervisor Bob Johnson said the county should rekindle the controversial U.S. 221 issue or mention the industrial park in Glenvar near Dixie Caverns to spark people's interest in the long-range planning initiative. Community meetings on those issues drew more people than any visioning activity.
At the suggestion of the Planning Commission, the plan's update will be spearheaded by a 24-person Compre- hensive Plan Citizen Advisory Committee. There will be two citizens from each planning area - one representing residential interests, the other business.
Sewing the vision statements and the comprehensive plan together will require more than 4,000 hours of work, Harrington said.
Supervisors approved spending $19,166 to hire one additional planner to shepherd the project from its 1996 beginning to its July 1997 completion. They appropriated an additional $10,000 from the contingency fund for operational expenses. Harrington also requested that supervisors include another planner in the fiscal year 1996-97 budget.
If the planning department can justify the need for another staffer, its request will be addressed again at budget time, Supervisor Lee Eddy said.
Supervisors gave a possible cost-saving plan - to begin reading utility meters jointly with Appalachian Power Co. - a much warmer response.
Apco will start a pilot program in the spring to read 200-400 county water meters monthly. It's an effort to save money for both Apco and the county, said Tom Jobes, assistant Roanoke Division manager for Apco.
"We're proposing that any saving we find will be split 50-50," Jobes said, adding that it's also an opportunity to improve customer relations.
The county has been fielding complaints since it switched to monthly billing in July. Part of the reason for the complaints stems from the fact that the county still only reads meters once a quarter. The other two months are estimates based on previous water usage.
"We've had some experience with estimated billing, and people want you to read their meters every month," Jobes said.
Finance Director Diane Hyatt said that if savings are found, the plan will be expanded countywide by the end of next year. It also may be expanded to joint account billing and collection.
In other action, the board:
Recognized Supervisor Ed Kohinke for his service to the county during his tenure as a supervisor.
"I've never worked with more dedicated people in all my life," Kohinke said as he accepted a plaque. "I'll be keeping an eye on things."
Allocated $1,000 to become members of Roanoke Valley Sister Cities and as seed money for future programs with county sister city Opole, Poland.
Appropriated $4,000 to the Virginia Municipal League to negotiate with the State Corporation Commission an investigation of a possible restructuring of the electric utility industry.
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