Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 12, 1992 TAG: 9203120450
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: HOWARD DICKERSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
First, I would like to address the current factual situation of the Floyd County Solid Waste Ordinance.
The full-strength, unamended version of our solid-waste ordinance is currently in effect. A majority of the present Board of Supervisors have not voted to weaken this ordinance.
The current board is not limited by the action of any previous board in regard to what it can or cannot do to the ordinance.
While our detractors are limited only by their imaginations in recommending board action, the board is limited to those powers expressly granted or necessarily implied from expressly granted powers in the Code of Virginia.
Second, I would like to comment on the art work attributed to F. Meads Davenport, which accompanied the article. The depiction of a pregnant, unmarried girl as a means to illustrate our solid-waste dilemma is offensive to many Floyd Countians. Where Mr. Davenport fails to instruct us on solid waste, he succeeds in explaining something about himself. While he likes our clean air and water, his mean-spirited art betrays a lack of respect for our people.
Lastly, I would like to comment on the historical parallel constructed by Mr. Davenport and Ms. Kopp. The parallel slyly insinuates that the waste industry is aided by corrupt local officials "seeking to further their own interests." If Mr. Davenport or Ms. Kopp has any facts that relate to this issue in Floyd County, why don't they tell us what they are?
Regarding this factual deficit, I suggest that we Floyd County supervisors are just ordinary folks: farmers, businessmen, tradesmen, grappling with some of the most intractable problems ever faced by local government in Virginia.
Howard Dickerson lives in Willis and is chairman of the Floyd County Board of Supervisors.
by CNB