Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 13, 1993 TAG: 9307130254
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Except Bowers doesn't call it consolidation. And he predicts that a merger plan similar to the one that was defeated in 1990 would be approved by county voters today.
The fragmented governmental structure in the valley is the biggest impediment to the economic stability and growth of the region, Bowers said Monday night in his first state of the city speech.
Despite decades of talk and two referendums on the issue, he said merger remains the key to the valley's economic health.
"It's still the fundamental issue facing this valley, and it is time to begin discussing it again, and resolving it this time," Bowers said.
"It is time to communicate with all citizens - of all valley localities - about the need to renegotiate, reform and reorganize our valley's local governmental structure," he said.
City voters approved consolidation by 2 to 1 in 1990 while county voters rejected it by a similar margin.
While not advocating a specific plan, Bowers suggested that Roanoke County could be split between Roanoke and Salem, with Vinton remaining a town.
Under the 1990 plan, the county would have been merged with Roanoke to form a new form of regional government. Vinton would have remained a town within the regional government, and Salem would have remained a city.
"I do not think one government for the entire valley is plausible and I would oppose such a move," Bowers said.
Bowers said he's willing to consider the idea of Roanoke giving up its charter and becoming part of the county if that's necessary to achieve consolidation.
"That's a drastic, almost unthinkable measure. Yet, if it helps us achieve our goal," he said, "then so be it. The end will justify the means."
Long an advocate of merger, Bowers said he has no quarrel with the valley governments' performance in providing basic services daily. But he said he's talking about the future.
Bowers has pushed for consolidation since he was elected to council in 1984. He was an original member of the committee that negotiated the 1990 plan, but he was forced to withdraw because of his controversial role in a strategy to build support for merger in the county.
During his first year as mayor, Bowers said, he has learned that the multiplicity of governments in the valley hampers the recruitment of new businesses and industries.
Businesses do not encounter such problems in world-class cities such as Charlotte and other metropolitan areas in North Carolina, he said.
Recent newspaper stories, including the "Peril and Promise" series in the Roanoke Times & World-News, have shown that Virginia's system of independent cities stymies economic growth, he said.
"That something is our myopic, Bosnianized form of local government and it does impede us," Bowers said.
In pursuing new businesses and industries, he said, it would be more impressive for valley officials to say that Roanoke is a prosperous city of 200,000, rather than explain the complex system of separate governments.
Bowers didn't cite any evidence to back his belief that county voters would now support merger, but he said they must be convinced that their prior decisions to remain a separate locality are hampering economic growth.
The valley will either thrive together in a merged government or risk becoming a second-class metropolitan area, Bowers said.
City leaders need to begin talking across city borders with friends and neighborhoods in other valley localities, he said.
"Let us attempt to overcome the fear that separates and divides us. Let's begin to talk about and think about life together."
Bowers said the trends show clearly that Roanoke is falling behind other metropolitan areas. The city is becoming smaller, poorer and older and was once the fifth largest city in the state, with a population over 100,000.
Not anymore, he said.
The number of schoolchildren from low-income families in Roanoke has increased from 22 percent to almost 50 percent. And recent demographic statistics show that the city's elderly population is increasing, with a fair number of people over 80.
Despite the challenges of a poorer and older population, Bowers said, the city has revitalized downtown, upgraded neighborhoods and approved a $40 million plan for renovating Hotel Roanoke and constructing a conference center.
The strongest show of faith in the city occurred last December when residents and businesses banded together to donate $7 million to help pay for the hotel project, he said.
Still, the city must confront the long-term economic issues that arise from multiple governments, he said.
It's easy to pat yourself on the back and say you've done a good job, he said. It's tougher to grit your teeth and have the courage to face future problems, he said.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.