Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 10, 1994 TAG: 9402100155
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: ROB EURE and DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Opponents call it grabbing by core cities hoping to foist their troubles on the suburbs.
Del. John Watkins, R-Midlothian, trying to force cooperation by Richmond area governments, is pushing a plan for a limited regional government to provide water, sewer, transportation and trash services to the capital city and two surrounding counties.
The measure would set up a "Richmond Metropolitan Government" for the limited purpose of providing utility, garbage and transportation services for Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield and Henrico. The three localities would continue to provide separate schools, law enforcement and other services.
Voters from all three localities would have to approve the plan in separate referendums before it could go into effect.
The Richmond Metropolitan Government would be different from the ill-fated Roanoke Metropolitan Government, which called for the complete consolidation of Roanoke and Roanoke County governments. Roanoke County voters rejected consolidation by a 3-1 margin in 1990.
However, the Richmond proposal is similar to tentative discussions among Roanoke Valley governments about consolidating some services, such as water, sewer, garbage collection and economic development.
There are two key differences.
First, Roanoke Valley governments would combine services through a regional authority or contract, not a separate government.
Second, Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, who proposed the "mini-merger" last fall, would not present legislation to the General Assembly until all localities had approved the proposal.
"It's kind of hard to force people to cooperate," Cranwell said.
On the other hand, Watkins did not consult Richmond-area governments before introducing his proposal.
At a packed meeting Tuesday night, the House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee heard opposition from Henrico and Chesterfield counties and support from a Richmond councilman and area business leaders - battle lines familiar in such efforts.
Watkins argued that the idea of regional cooperation has been ignored by local politicians for too long.
"I don't profess to have all the answers," Watkins said. "But this gives all of us an opportunity to begin addressing what I see as a real problem."
Watkins said stronger metropolitan cooperation would win the attention of industrial recruits and deliver cheaper services to residents.
But, like the 1990 consolidation effort in the Roanoke Valley, his effort appears likely to draw opposition from elected officials in the nonurban areas.
"The presumption is that bigger government is more efficient," said James Donati, chairman of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors. "That is not the case."
Watkins has eliminated some of the most-emotional sticking points of other consolidated government battles, leaving schools and fire and police protection out of the merger plan.
Still, the specter of total consolidation lurks and is a dominant reason for a special election for the state Senate seat in Chesterfield vacated last month by Robert Russell, who resigned after his conviction on embezzlement charges.
Alex McMurtrie, the Democratic candidate, has called the Richmond Metropolitan Government a "back-door annexation of Chesterfield County."
The Roanoke Valley effort to combine basic services has bogged down over technical questions and a disagreement over what services would be involved.
In December, representatives from Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem, Vinton and Botetourt County agreed to find a consultant to answer a host of technical and legal questions.
The initiative has received a lukewarm response from Roanoke officials, who argue that a structural reform of local governments - not more cooperation - is the answer to problems faced by core cities.
In a speech to business leaders in Richmond last month, Roanoke Mayor David Bowers said cooperation is nothing more than a ploy by suburban counties to strangle cities such as Roanoke.
Despite such rhetoric, Cranwell said he believes the cooperative venture in the Roanoke Valley has potential.
"Everybody has at least indicated they are serious about what we are doing; whether that masks a hidden agenda, I have no way of knowing," he said.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.