ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080032
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PEARISBURG
SOURCE: CLAYTON BRADDOCK STAFF WRITER
What started as the first round of face-to-face negotiations over Pearisburg's attempt to annex parts of Giles County ended in sharp opposition from some members of the county Board of Supervisors Monday.
Supervisors Chairman W.P. Freeman had said last week that during Monday's first joint session with the Pearisburg Town Council he would avoid any noisy public free-for-all from residents opposed to annexation. The small crowd of 18 stayed quiet until near the end, when they gave sustained applause to annexation opposition from Supervisor Barbara Hobbs.
The meeting began with Pearisburg Mayor J.H. Givens reading the council's annexation proposal, shifted to some minor suggestions for change from supervisors, but ended with strong resistance from board members, led by Hobbs and R.W. Williams.
During a 20-minute break, the tone of the session changed.
Until the recess, board members handed written notes to Freeman, mostly suggestions about taxes, boundaries and future plans for water and sewer service.
The essence of Givens' proposal, not unexpected, was a full agreement by Town Council to the report of the Commission on Local Government, which took on the task of recommending the voluntary settlement agreement requested by both the town and Giles County in March 1995.
The commission's proposal recommends the annexation of 2.6 square miles of the county, permits Pearisburg to adjust its boundaries, prohibits further town-initiated annexation for 15 years and requires the town to waive its authority to seek city status and to reimburse the county for loss of local tax revenues caused by annexation.
Givens' proposal calls for immediate annexation of five areas: Lilly Fair, Mason Court, Mason Farm, the west side of Woodland Drive and Bluff City. His proposal also calls for annexation of other areas after a three-year delay.
Hobbs said she would consider adjustments to changes in areas in the second phase of the proposed annexation agreement. "But other than that, I am opposed to annexation because it is wrong," she said. "It leaves the people out. I am totally opposed to annexation."
The supervisors will talk over the issue again tonight.
LENGTH: Short : 47 linesby CNB