Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 22, 1995 TAG: 9511220069
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
At one end of the table sits the Rocky Mount Town Council. At the other end sits the Franklin County Board of Supervisors.
The force that's raised the stakes is a new Wal-Mart superstore to be built on Virginia 40 just east of the town limits.
Tuesday, emotions on the two sides erupted at a supervisors' meeting.
Town Manager Mark Henne was there to discuss an ongoing project to extend sewer service to the Wal-Mart store.
The town - which was approached by Wal-Mart about sewer service, Henne said - is asking the county to fund $438,000 of the project's $1.1 million cost. Wal-Mart and the town have already worked out a deal to provide for a waterline upgrade, although the town has not disclosed the terms.
Several supervisors said some type of formal agreement will have to be hammered out between the two governing bodies before any county money is appropriated for the sewer expansion.
Henne countered that the town has tried to get the supervisors involved with the Wal-Mart situation, but there has been no real movement from the county.
"What?" said Supervisor Wayne Angell. "I've never heard that statement made publicly since I've been a member of the board."
Said County Administrator Macon Sammons: "It seems to me that we're putting the cart before the horse here."
Replied Henne: "I guess that depends on what cart and what horse you're talking about."
The Wal-Mart situation is separate from other projects that likely will occur in the near future, including extension of water and sewer service to the Franklin Heights subdivision near the Wal-Mart site and other spinoff development the store will generate, Henne said.
Henne said the town had been operating under the premise that the county would participate in the Wal-Mart project.
He added that the town is in a unique position, because the county provides no water and sewer service of its own.
The `A' word is part of the equation, too.
Town officials have made it no secret that they're seriously considering an attempt to annex the Wal-Mart site area.
It that were to happen, the town would receive tax revenue, but the county would continue to collect its share of revenue, too, Henne said.
With the town having its share of bargaining power, the county is trying to negotiate what's in its best interest.
But a town official said Tuesday night that it's time Rocky Mount - with a population of about 4,000 - stopped pulling the load for the county - with a population of about 36,000.
Talking about the Wal-Mart project, Angell said that the only time the supervisors have been approached by the town is "when they want us to pay a bill."
Supervisors Chairman Gus Forry said he'd like to see a long-term contract entered into that would benefit the town and the county for decades, not only in the 40 East corridor, but in other growth areas in the county as well.
Forry said he will attend Monday night's Town Council meeting to discuss the matter.
Asked what will happen if the county declines to fund the $438,000 request, Town Councilman Arnold Dillon joked, "I guess I'll have to get a second job."
He later said: "The Town Council is trying to be progressive and look down the road a little bit. If the Board of Supervisors wants to participate with us, then that's fine."
by CNB