Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 27, 1990 TAG: 9006270366
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Dublin Town Council members have proposed a series of talks between the county and the town to see if the two governments can agree on some areas for a boundary change.
When the issue came up in June 1989, the town's prime target for annexation included the Virginia 100 interchange with Interstate 81 at Exit 32.
So far, the Board of Supervisors has deferred any action and has not appointed members to serve on the annexation committee.
But Monday night, the board hired the law firm of Cranwell and Moore after a brief executive session and asked the firm to evaluate the legal, financial and engineering aspects of the annexation issue.
The firm's findings will be presented to the public.
"In Virginia, annexation is a judicial issue," said County Administrator Joe Morgan. "It will eventually be decided by the courts so it has to be discussed as a legal action."
Morgan said Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, was asked to handle the matter because of his expertise on annexation.
Cranwell represented the county in the past in annexation matters with the town of Pulaski.
"Our goal is for not only the board but the public to have the benefit of Delegate Cranwell's knowledge."
The board also agreed to help sponsor a career fair and economic development symposium that should assist those looking for jobs in the New River Valley.
The supervisors will back the career fair financially with up to $5,000, so long as other governmental or community agencies match the support. Not all of the supervisors supported the effort wholeheartedly.
At first, members voted to survey local businesses to see if they wanted to participate in a fair where they would set up displays and look for employees.
"If local businesses say they can hire all the people they want, why should we pay $5,000?" asked Supervisor Bruce Fariss. "They have more workers than they can work now."
But after an executive session, Morgan said members decided surveying businesses might not give the board a clear picture and agreed to go ahead with the plan.
In other business - or possibly pleasure - board members made plans to take a boat ride that would allow them to examine Claytor Lake and look at requests for "no-wake buoys," which would require boats to slow down in certain areas to avoid creating large waves.
Different landowners have requested the buoys at almost every board meeting this year.
A request to schedule a public hearing on the buoys Monday night was postponed until supervisors have a better grasp on their need.
"We need to have someone go out and look at the lake - not one individual area but the entire lake," said Supervisor Bruce Fariss.
"As it stands, we have no information to make decisions with."
by CNB