
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 13, 1993                   TAG: 9310130246
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER and DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ROANOKE VALLEY 5 TO ATTEND CRANWELL'S COOPERATION MEETING

Representatives from five Roanoke Valley governments will meet Thursday morning to discuss Del. Richard Cranwell's proposal for regional cooperation, even though only two localities have formally endorsed the plan.

Cranwell asked all five localities to adopt a resolution of support by Friday, but it appears only Roanoke County and Salem will meet the deadline.

Cranwell, a Roanoke County Democrat, has said he would seek state financial incentives if the five localities - Botetourt County, Roanoke County, Vinton, Salem and Roanoke - would regionalize utilities and economic development.

Tuesday, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors voted to support the plan. Salem City Council passed a similar resolution Monday and suggested two more agenda items: improvements to U.S. 220 to the North Carolina line, and the concept of Interstate 73 through the Roanoke Valley.

Roanoke City Manager Bob Herbert said the city is willing to participate in a study on utilities, but said Roanoke, like Salem, wants to expand the agenda to include issues such as:

Public housing, transportation and community services for low-income people. Roanoke wants other valley localities to share the cost of these services. Roanoke County and Salem have shunned public housing.

If sewer and water facilities are merged, steps should be taken to prevent sewer and water rates for city residents from increasing. The rates in Roanoke County are double those in Roanoke.

Officials from Botetourt County and Vinton also said they would participate in the discussion.

by CNB