ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 12, 1996 TAG: 9607120018
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ED KOHINKE
IN GROPING for ``c'' words to describe Don Terp (July 8 article, ``Call him outspoken, but don't call him controversial''), I think people missed the mark.
``Confused'' may be the best ``c'' word to describe someone who spent several hours with professionals as knowledgeable and patient as Roanoke County Finance Director Diane Hyatt, Budget Director Brent Robertson and County Administrator Elmer Hodge, only to blast them later for not having a simpler financial-accounting system.
Terp's subsequent refusal of an invitation to review, for pay, the county's finances and make suggestions for improvements is very revealing. It would seem that he doesn't know as much about government finances as he would like us to believe. It may also be that the county finances are in better shape than he wants us to believe.
In fact, county finances are in great shape. An MBA, I served on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors for a term, and attended every meeting for 21/2 years prior to taking office. During those 61/2 years, I read and analyzed every financial document and listened to everything anybody on the board, staff and independent auditing team had to say about county finances. I also served on the audit committee.
I left office convinced that ours is perhaps the best-run county in the commonwealth, and our financial-accounting system - difficult though it may be to grasp at first glance by someone unwilling to put in the necessary time to learn it - is what enables the staff to deliver such a fine package of services at such a relatively low cost to the taxpayers.
And that's the bottom line in Roanoke County government: how well it delivers the services demanded by most county citizens. While cutting out cellular phones makes for good rhetoric in a campaign for a seat on the board, the only way to significantly reduce our already low tax burden is to cut services. However, most of us like those services and don't want them tampered with, except to improve them.
One of the few things I enjoyed about my term as a supervisor was the chance to serve with four other fine men who shared my understanding of county finances, and who were equally eager to make the system work as well as it does for the citizens.
Hence, it was very disturbing to read Terp's remarks about the board. And it was especially disturbing for someone of his caliber to refer to Fuzzy Minnix as a ``newcomer.'' Minnix is in his second term, was unopposed for re-election, and turned in a stellar performance during his two years as chairman. To say, as Terp did in so many words, that he can't find his way to the bathroom! Such rhetoric is ludicrous and mean-spirited, and I sincerely hope it isn't indicative of the way we're going to do politics here in Roanoke County.
Ed Kohinke formerly represented the Catawba District on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.
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