Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 28, 1995 TAG: 9506280036
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The last major obstacle to getting the consolidation referendum on the fall ballot was surmounted last week, when a key state board approved the merger agreement between the city and county.
"We are very pleased the Commission on Local Government expedited their review," County Administrator Bill Rolfe said. "Regardless of whether consolidation passes on the referendum, at least for those of us who worked on the plan, [the commission's approval] shows all we did wasn't for naught."
The commission started its review in March and held a public hearing on consolidation when it visited the city and county in April.
Initially, city and county officials were worried that the referendum might have to be delayed until spring 1996, because the commission had until September to make its decision.
If the commission had taken that long to approve the merger agreement, it would have been too late to get the referendum on the fall ballot.
The next stop for the consolidation agreement is a court hearing before a panel of three judges. If they approve the agreement before early September, it will be included on this year's crowded ballot.
Under the agreement, Bedford County would become a city and Bedford would become a shire, a government similar to a town.
In land size, the proposed consolidated city would be the biggest in Virginia and the fifth-largest in the United States.
Virginia voters have not approved a consolidation proposal in more than 20 years.
Memo: NOTE: Ran on C-5 in Metro edition.