Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 13, 1995 TAG: 9505150055
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH HUNTLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Boiled down, that was the advice offered by a consultant who unveiled the results of his $30,000 regional cooperation study to representatives of the valley's five governments Friday.
Bill Evans, of Towers-Perrin Consultants in Arlington, called on Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem, Vinton and Botetourt County to form a Council of Governments. The council would be charged with researching and implementing regional cooperation efforts.
"We've discerned a healthy, receptive attitude of the local governments searching for ways to work together to make things better," the consultant said. "The valley is very progressive in looking at these issues. That should be encouraged."
Evans suggested the council consist of a policy board run by elected officials, one from each of the five localities, and an administrative board made up of government staffers. The General Assembly should provide the necessary funding for a minimum of two years, he said.
The report's seven pages of analysis provide a blueprint for issues that could keep the council busy - at least initially.
Among the highlights: increased cooperation in the placement of fire and rescue stations; a shared dispatch center; regional or upgraded refuse collection; joint purchasing; valleywide managed health care for government employees; and expanded bus service.
As part of his presentation, Evans passed out a map that showed several areas in the valley that are served by multiple fire stations within a four-minute radius. The bulk of the overlap occurred in the more urban areas around the city.
"It appears from this preliminary analysis that there are opportunities for the jurisdictions to work together to rationalize fire station locations to provide more efficient and effective service," the report said.
Many of the recommendations focus on cutting costs. The consultant suggested, for example, that local governments consider creating a shared dispatch center to minimize overhead associated with handling emergency calls. Evans also advised localities to look to Roanoke County as a model for trash pickup. The county uses a one-man, side-loading truck that cuts back on paid manpower.
"The authority that runs the landfill could expand its scope to manage garbage collection throughout the valley," Evans said. "Or different jurisdictions could continue to pick it up themselves, but they should use modern technology to save money."
Buying in bulk - whether it be goods or health insurance - also cuts expenses, the report said.
Even before the consultant's study was released Friday, it caused a series of ruckuses.
The five governments and the valley's business community agreed to kick in money for the report at the urging of Del. Richard Cranwell, but all stipulated from the beginning that financial backing didn't mean they would automatically buy into the recommendations.
When word got out that the consultant questioned whether Vinton residents were getting cost-effective service by remaining independent from the county, town officials reacted angrily and asked that that section of the report be removed.
It wasn't, and here's what the report says: "Because the county has considerably more population than Vinton, it can take advantage of economies of scale not available to the town. Consequently, no matter how effectively the town of Vinton is managed - and it appears to be well-run - it will not be able to provide services as cost-effectively as the county."
Evans said town residents should ask themselves if they would be willing to take advantage of lower costs by having services provided by the county. Such a move would not pre-empt Vinton's ability to maintain its history, geographic uniqueness, name, post office address and sense of community, he said.
Local officials who attended the hour-long session at the Roanoke County administration building asked few questions and left quickly after the meeting. Vinton Town Manager Clay Goodman said he and town officials would analyze the report before determining an official reaction.
Although a previous session had been canceled because Cranwell had a scheduling conflict, Friday's session went on without him. The delegate did not attend the meeting, and didn't return a reporter's call later in the day.
by CNB