Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 24, 1994 TAG: 9404260031
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Seeking the two-year term:
John Voit (R): "Sounds like something that should be done," but wants more details before committing.
LInda Wyatt (D): Would want to know more before saying yes or no.
Seeking the three four-year terms:
Barbara Duerk (R): "Yes, definitely."
John Edwards (D): Yes.
Nelson Harris (D): Yes.
John Parrott (R): Ok on city property, but would want to compensate private property owners for any loss of development value. Noted that most pollution in the river comes from urban runoff, not just development in the river corridor.
William White (D): Yes, but must be in cooperation with other localities since the river is not bound by political boundaries.
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WHAT IS THE WORST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM IN ROANOKE?
Voit: Litter.
Wyatt: "By and large, I think we do a good job environmentally."
Duerk: Outdated and aging sewer lines causing extremely high levels of bacteria in the Roanoke River.
Edwards: Too much emphasis on recruiting traditional manufacturers. Need to tie economic development to "environmentally friendly" businesses and industries.
Harris: Protecting vistas along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Parrott: "I think same as everywhere else - automobiles." As sources of air pollution and urban runoff.
White: Litter, the amount and the cost to city of picking it up.
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WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO BUDGET MONEY TO ESTABLISH FULL TIME STAFF TO OVERSEE THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES? (The city has no full time environmental engineer.)
Voit: Unsure.
Wyatt: Need to look at budget first.
Duerk: Need someone in each department overseeing environmental issues, but not necessarily new hires.
Edwards: Perhaps.
Harris: At least one full-time staff person.
Parrott: Yes. "If you mean environmental activists, advocates for environmental cleanliness, I don't think we need any."
White: No. Must be done on regional, state level.
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WOULD YOU SPEND MONEY UP FRONT TO CONDUCT A FULL SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT OF CITY OPERATIONS (including energy efficiency and waste reduction) THAT COULD SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN AND REDUCE POLLUTION?
Voit: Depends on cost.
Wyatt: Depends on cost.
Duerk: Yes.
Harris: Yes, if city had full-time person to interpret the audit and follow through.
Edwards: Generally in favor, but depends on the cost.
Parrott: Probably, but would have to be weighed with other expenditures.
White: Based on cost and potential benefit, "It sounds like a good idea."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB