ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605100048
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PEARISBURG
SOURCE: CLAYTON BRADDOCK STAFF WRITER
The controversy over Pearisburg's attempt to annex parts of Giles County moved a notch or two closer to peaceful resolution after separate meetings this week of the county Board of Supervisors and the Town Council.
The sessions were, as expected, two days of uneasy give and take that included both biting economic bullets and swallowing some pride.
Both sides also said despite of some early sounds of hostility, the process was inching closer to the target both sides had fought over.
Tuesday's Giles County Board of Supervisors compromises - approved by all but one member, Larry Blankenship of Narrows - essentially focused on those parts of the county in what had been called Phase I of the original annexation plan.
"We think these changes will help the town grow," said W.P. Freeman, board chairman, at the end of a late-night Tuesday meeting. "We think it will mean the town could double its area."
"It will also protect our tax base," he added. "We think this will work for both sides and help all of us avoid the heavy expense of litigations."
Both parties have projected that litigation would cost each about $225,000 in legal fees. If the dispute is not resolved, a special court designated by the state Supreme Court would decide the issue.
"I think we have moved much closer to an eventual settlement," said Kenneth Vittum, Pearisburg town manager. There are many future steps to make, he said.
A key element is a requirement that the Board of Supervisors agree to new language in a revised agreement between the county and the town that forces either party to pay $175.000 if it fails to live up to the new pact.
Freeman will present the council's reaction to the supervisors on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Pearisburg Town Council accepted some give from the board - five compromise boundary changes offered during a late-night Tuesday meeting - but then threw some take to the Giles supervisors in the form of a financial guarantee to protect the town from future changes in a redrafted annexation agreement.
The supervisors' offer - five compromises left hanging after the Monday session - were boundary changes west of Giles High School - including the Bluff City, Lilly Fair, Mason Court and Robin Hood neighborhoods. In addition, the council also accepted a three-year moratorium on acquisition of the Mountain View Industrial Park.
The compromises also cancel certain terms and conditions in an earlier agreement signed by the two governments and submitted to the Commission on Local Government. The commission took on the task of drafting the voluntary settlement sought by both the county and town council.
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