Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 25, 1994 TAG: 9408250085
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The board officially extended invitations to the other jurisdictions this summer as a way for members to get to know their elected counterparts.
At their regular meeting Tuesday, supervisors discussed whether to come up with an agenda of issues to discuss or to keep the luncheons social.
They decided a get-to-know-you approach was better, although Supervisor Bob Johnson suggested that having at least a list of issues for later discussion would be helpful.
"We'd like to keep it fairly light," County Administrator Elmer Hodge said.
Different localities have differing ideas of what they want to discuss, but all share the idea that these meetings are the beginning of ongoing contact between local governments.
The meetings stemmed from a request by Johnson after the Roanoke City Council election in May brought two new members who indicated support during their campaigns for more cooperation with the county.
Johnson wanted to invite Roanoke City Council to a meeting after the new members began work in July and wanted a unanimous vote by his fellow supervisors.
Supervisor Harry Nickens insisted on joint meetings with all governments in the valley, arguing that regional cooperation should extend beyond city and county.
The meetings, which are public, will be held:
With Roanoke City Council Sept.12 at noon in the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority transfer station.
With Salem City Council Sept.19 at noon in the Salem Civic Center.
With the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors Sept.26 in the Read Mountain Firehouse at 3:30 p.m.
The meeting with Vinton Town Council has yet to be scheduled.
The meeting with Roanoke City Council will be held over lunch in the Resource Authority conference room.
The authority, which operates the Valley's landfill, represents a successful joint venture between the two jurisdictions and Vinton.
Roanoke Mayor David Bowers said City Council members will consult with the city manager and staff about "certain items we might want to bring to the table."
Among topics he would like to discuss is protecting the valley's mountaintops from development.
The county, unlike some localities, does not have a ridge-line ordinance that prevents development above a certain height.
"I think it's important to preserve above a certain line the scenic green space of our mountains," Bowers said. "It's an important issue for people who live in the city. We want to look out on our mountains that lie just outside in Roanoke County, and we want to see green space."
Memo: ***CORRECTION***