SURE FIXES FOR ROANOKE'S PROBLEMS

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

DATE: MONDAY, January 18, 1993                   TAG: 9301180367
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
SURE FIXES FOR ROANOKE'S PROBLEMS
I HAVE recommendations for Roanoke City Council that I think would have immediate, long-range positive impact for the whole Roanoke Valley:
Hire Vice Mayor Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr. full-time to head up a city department of economic development and legislative affairs. Now that First Union has seen fit to notify him of his dismissal, the city would be foolish to let him slip away. After all, if a bank saw the need for such a person in such a position, surely the city has at least an equal need.
Hire Tom Robertson to be in charge of the city's finances. Anyone who can successfully head up a drive to raise in six weeks close to $5 million can't help but be a valuable asset to the city. I know he already has a job; offer to double or even triple his salary. He should be able to help the city raise that much money over one weekend!
If his honor Mayor Bowers is serious about the need to form one government, City Council could vote the city out of existence and become part of Roanoke County. (This was discussed during the last campaign for valley consolidation.)
Oh, council members would have to give up their power, but only temporarily. When the county Board of Supervisors has its next election, the present City Council members could run for office. With the support of the citizens of what used to be the city, they could all be elected to the county board.
Who knows what might happen then? They might petition the state legislature to have the entire county incorporated into a city, which could be called Big Lick! ROGER WILSON ROANOKE

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB