Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 13, 1993 TAG: 9310130228
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That's what about 45 Floyd County residents found out Tuesday night after gathering at the county courthouse to voice concerns about a proposed group home for troubled youths.
No officials representing VMH of Christiansburg, which wants to build the home, attended the meeting. They said last week that they had prior commitments.
But the citizens came to the two-hour meeting anyway, and peppered Linda DeVito and officials of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development with their concerns.
DeVito helped lead a petition drive to get the county supervisors to hold public hearings on the project, which they declined to do.
The housing department is considering a $350,000 loan to fund construction of the home, but has not committed to it.
The overwhelming majority of those present raised their hands to say they were primarily angered at what they think has been an underhanded attempt by VMH to get the home built without duly informing the public.
Floyd County has no zoning laws that could keep the facility out of the area. "There's no requirement for local approval," said Jeffrey Michael Meyer, the department's project manager.
VMH wants to build the group home at Virginia 615 and 705, in an area called Possum Hollow, just inside the county near the Montgomery County line. The 16-bed home would be for abandoned and abused children, runaways and truants age 11 to 17.
Several Southwest Virginia school divisions, juvenile court officials and social service departments have expressed support for the facility.
Still, citizens raised several issues in seeming opposition.
They questioned the location of the proposed home and whether it would be accessible by rescue and police vehicles.
"Its really `Possum Hole' as far as the roads are concerned," said a Christiansburg man who owns property in the area. Several citizens said it's almost impossible to get in or out of the area with snow on the ground.
They also asked, "Why Floyd County?"
"I believe there is a need for this facility in Montgomery, Wythe or Pulaski county, but not Floyd County," said a woman who would not give her name but said she was a social worker.
They also wondered whether the $60,000 asking price is far too much for the 30 acres the home is to be built on.
Meyer and Becky Christensen, also with the department, said they were waiting for an appraisal before they could answer that question.
The meeting was like that in general, with citizens demanding answers to questions but getting few informed answers.
"I don't think that anyone can answer hypothetical questions," said County Administrator Randy Arno, who informed the the Board of Supervisors about the project in early July, immediately after being briefed by an official of Tekoa Inc., the corporation formed by VMH to operate the home.
"The ink was almost dry except for the loan application" then, said one man, who said he never knew about the home until reading about it in the newspaper.
Meyer, the project manager, has been in contact with VMH officials and is trying to set up a November meeting at which both sides could come together, he said.
DeVito was taping the meeting, she said, to give a report to VMH officials so they could answer the citizens' questions.
"We're going to work with you [citizens] and with Linda [DeVito] and with VMH," Meyer said.
As for the group home's purpose, he said, "The state has a responsibility for these children."
by CNB