Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 4, 1993 TAG: 9306040252
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Wednesday, the Roanoke County supervisor fired off three faxes to report rumors that several "high profile businessmen" received favoritism when developing land in the Bradshaw Road area.
Kohinke called for a public meeting to set the record straight.
But one county politician who is the target of rumors accused Kohinke of being irresponsible.
Clerk of Court Steve McGraw said Thursday that he was upset that Kohinke would question his integrity without first calling him or getting the facts.
"A person in his position can make an implied accusation like this and create tremendous problems," said McGraw, a Democrat.
Kohinke, a Republican, made no apologies.
"I'm just not the type of person to ignore something if I hear it," Kohinke said.
"If he [McGraw] doesn't like my style, that's not the story. It's what he's allegedly done out here that has bothered all these people."
In his fax, Kohinke noted that he has received numerous complaints about McGraw's practice of developing houses in the Bradshaw Road area.
Specifically, Kohinke said he heard that McGraw got questionable septic permits and flood-plain waivers.
"The `buzz' these days is that county staff looked the other way, and still looks the other way, when Steve wants to do anything. Further, the innuendo carried with these comments is that we [the board] are somehow in collusion with him."
Kohinke asked board Chairman Fuzzy Minnix to hold a public work session to give citizens a chance to hear what McGraw and county staff have to say about the rumors.
McGraw had plenty to say Thursday. He sent Minnix a three-page letter in which he detailed the steps he had to take before he could build five houses in the 3000 block of Bradshaw Road and the 2900 block of Catawba Valley Drive.
McGraw said there was no favoritism - an assertion that county and state employees who reviewed his plans supported in separate interviews.
County Engineering Director Arnold Covey said he signed off on the site plans after a professional surveyor certified that the land contained building sites above the flood plain.
"He jumped through all the hoops," Covey said.
Dave Taylor, an environmental health specialist with the state Health Department, said he initially rejected a septic permit for the lots.
The permits were issued, however, when McGraw found sandy soil on the back of the lots that was suitable for septic tanks, Taylor said.
"I treated him like anyone else," he said.
Taylor said poor soil is a common problem in the Bradshaw Road area. In fact, McGraw was turned down a few years ago when he tried to get a septic permit for land in Bennett Springs.
"It goes both ways," Taylor said. "He's been on both sides of the coin."
There has been no love lost between McGraw and Kohinke. McGraw represented the Catawba District on the Board of Supervisors before he resigned to run for clerk in 1991. Kohinke beat a McGraw ally to win the Catawba seat that same year.
Thursday, McGraw suggested that Kohinke should step down from the Board of Supervisors if he cannot handle the stress.
McGraw noted that Kohinke also raised questions about alleged favoritism shown to others, including Salem Mayor Jim Taliaferro and grading contractor Joe Thomas.
"Does Supervisor Kohinke or the Board of Supervisors intend to hold public work sessions with other `high profile businessmen' operating in the county? I would certainly hope not.
"Can you imagine how difficult it would be to promote economic development in this kind of atmosphere?"
by CNB