Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502220107
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
It has been more than 20 years since a voter referendum in Virginia has approved a merger proposal. Just mentioning consolidation has been enough to create vast divides in communities considering uniting.
But Tuesday night, as 300 Bedford and Bedford County residents packed the auditorium at Liberty High School to hear a presentation about consolidation, not a catcall could be heard.
In fact, the audience gave the proposed merger quiet, careful consideration.
And many liked what they heard.
``If [the merger plan] doesn't change, then I will vote for it,'' city resident Harry Wright said.
Though he didn't hear too much new information at the joint meeting, he said it did reaffirm his belief that eliminating duplication of city and county services will benefit taxpayers in the long run.
Harry Artuhewich of Moneta said he would vote for consolidation. ``I think it'll prevent other localities from grabbing our tax base, and it'll protect what we've got.
``We've put lots of money into the services we have now, and we want to keep it.''
Several students from county high schools came to the meeting to gather information for reports they were writing. Some, such as Josh Granger, 18, a senior at Staunton River High School, are old enough to vote in the referendum.
``I am concerned about the details of one large city,'' he said, adding that he's worried that Lynchburg could annex some Bedford County schools if a state moratorium on annexation ends in 1997.
``If [consolidation] benefits everyone, then I'm all for it.''
Those against consolidation didn't have a visible presence at the meeting, but some residents had a few choice words about the consolidation process.
Bob Crouch, a possible candidate for the Board of Supervisors this year, said he thought the consolidation committee had been too secretive. He criticized the city and county for giving voters only a summary of the consolidation plan and not making copies of the actual plan available at the meeting.
``It's a joke not to have copies of the draft consolidation agreement. I want to see what's in those 28 pages,'' he said. ``This whole thing's been done behind closed doors.
``Why wasn't the public invited to the work sessions?''
If consolidation passes, it's going to be a busy year for Crouch and other city and county politicians who are lining up for November elections.
If voters approve the merger, new elections will have to be held for all seats in the new governments.
Under the merger, Bedford County would become a city - the largest in the state and the fifth-largest in land size in the nation. The current city would become a shire, a semi-independent government similar to a town.
Each government would have council members and a mayor elected by council. Administrators would be called city managers. Elections for council seats could be held as early as May 1996 if the merger referendum reaches voters by this November.
If approved, the merger would take effect July 1, 1996.
by CNB