Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 19, 1990 TAG: 9007200487
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FINCASTLE LENGTH: Medium
Monday, the Board of Supervisors adopted an amendment to Botetourt's leash policy that is expected to curb the flow of leash-law petitions being submitted to the county.
The petitions, and their counter-petitions, have created controversy in recent months and bogged down board meetings.
Leash laws are adopted by the supervisors on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis after a petition is submitted showing a majority of the residents want dogs kept on leashes.
Recently, however, the board has received numerous counter-petitions that dispute the majority claimed by the original petitions.
At public hearings, the supervisors have spent hours mediating disputes between neighborhood groups and have reversed several leash laws they had earlier adopted.
The amendment will allow the county to send out letters to residents within a neighborhood that has petitioned for a leash law. The letters will simply ask if they support or oppose the petition.
The county will then determine the majority and report its findings to the supervisors for a final decision.
"We're trying to take the personality aspect of this thing out of the ordinance," said Chairman Webster Booze. "It puts people somewhat on the spot when you've got local people passing these things among their neighbors."
Many residents don't care, added board member Wendy Wingo. They will sign a petition favoring a leash law and then turn around and sign a counter-petition.
There was no opposition to the leash-policy amendment.
In other action, the board:
Added a $2 fee on all criminal and traffic cases processed through the county courts. Money from the tax will be used for maintenance and renovations of court facilities.
One citizen expressed concern that the board was going against President Bush's campaign pledge not to levy new taxes.
"Yeah, but I didn't say read my lips," replied Booze.
Delayed a public hearing on the proposed increase in minimum lot sizes for future subdivisions until the Planning Commission has time to study the measure further.
Approved a $13.4 million, five-year capital-improvement plan for county water and sewer improvements, school projects and other general-fund items.
Authorized approximately $165,000 to extend water and sewer service to a private industrial park near the Daleville-Troutville interchange along Interstate 81.
Approved a 120-foot Cellular One communications tower to be built on Tinker Mountain. Five other towers are located on the ridge.
Changed the date of its next meeting to Aug. 24.
by CNB