Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 19, 1995 TAG: 9506200012
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Yes, I agree that the private sector should feel a greater obligation to provide decent, affordable housing for working poor families. That's just what our church has done in Roanoke for the past four years. We're helping to build our fourth Habitat for Humanity house.
Just think how many families with children could be provided homes if each church and business would build one house a year.
A Habitat house is much more than blocks and mortar - it's a blessing that impacts homeowner families and communities in profound ways. Let's meet the challenge, Roanoke, to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness. Habitat housing is a hand up, not a handout.
CAROL PRUNER
ROANOKE
Roanoke County should downsize
REGARDING Robert E. Carter's June 4 letter to the editor ``Taxpayers can't afford the `savings,''' concerning Roanoke County's plan to save $6,000 a year by changing water-sewer billings from quarterly to monthly:
The county would accomplish this feat by increasing the mailing costs by $43,520 per year. We taxpayers would be socked the same amount per year to return our payments.
One statement in the county's ``Cycle One'' letter indicated that to make this change without hiring additional staff, meters will still be read once a quarter. Does this also mean no additional office staff would be hired to increase mailings from four to 12 per year? Does this indicate the utility department presently has too many employees?
Many companies are downsizing by eliminating employees in an effort to keep costs under control. Why shouldn't Roanoke County be doing likewise? At the same time, it should cancel the billing change that appears to be a loser.
DON TOWNSEND
ROANOKE
Bowers put politics on the menu
RECENTLY, I was a guest at a lunch-eon at Hotel Roanoke, given by Williams Supply in celebration for its ISO 9000 certification. Mayor David Bowers was a guest speaker.
During his talk, Mayor Bowers created an awkward situation, but was sure to put in a plug for the Democrats state Senate nominee, John Edwards. If he continues this campaign practice until the November election, Mayor Bowers needs to know that every time he mentions Edwards' name, it rings a Bell.
HASSIE D. GILBERT
ROANOKE
Brown will upgrade law-enforcement
MIKE BROWN, the conservative Republican candidate for Bedford County sheriff, is a strong, effective leader. Upon being elected sheriff, he will institute several programs to benefit and protect deputies and citizens. He promises to:
Place Bedford County deputies under the protection of the Policemen's Bill of Rights, which eliminates unjust dismissals.
Establish an evaluation procedure for all employees to determine promotions, transfers and merit benefits.
Establish an education fund (from his salary) to encourage deputies to further their education, and to provide incentive pay to those receiving their degrees.
Provide techniques and technology to fight crime, such as computers, a canine unit, drug and task forces, and a citizens' patrol.
Brown is committed to the county citizens and employees of the sheriff's office. He wants to provide the most highly trained, equipped and motivated law-enforcement agency to protect us and our families.
With Brown's experience and commitment to education, he'll be the sheriff to lead us into the 21st century.
RICK WIITA
LYNCHBURG
by CNB