Minutes 04/27/1971 - Laserfiche WebLink

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') - TUESDAY APRIL 27, 1971 ,,- which he offered a motion (seconded by Councilman Boaz) that the Study Committee be deactivated and, also, be assured of Council's grateful appreciation. After some discussion, including the possibility that certain aspects (suggested by the Committee) might be further explored or continued for study, Vice-Mayor West (seconded by Councilman Boaz) revised and amended his motion to read, "That the Council hereby accepts the Committee's report and (the Council) expresses its appreciation to the Committee for its outstanding service to the community". This motion was unanimously carried. I have given considerable thought to the subject of the possibility of consolidation of the City of Martinsville and Henry County. After studying the report as submitted by the consultants concerning the feasibility of the merger of these two political subdivisions; and after consideration of the recommendation of the Consolidation Study Committee, I have prepared a commentary of the various aspects of the possible merger of the two governments. I am distributing a copy of this Commentary for your observation. It is quite obvious from the information included in the report, that there are many problems and complexities involved with the consolidation of Henry County and Mqrtinsville. The City of Martinsville has provided for its needs over the years as they became apparant and on a level required by an Urban Community. These have included schools, police and fire service, water, sewer, and electrical systems, recreational facilities, library, refuse collection and disposal system, etc. Many years were involved in providing for these facilities by the city tax payer. The present and foreseeable future needs of the City involving services and facilities can be provided without undue hardship on the tax payer. No doubt additional funds for expansion will be required in the future to cover expansion of our utility systems and to provide for future needs in other areas. However, this does not appear to present any major financial problem to the City. The City seems to be in a position to continue a high level of service to its citizens and to provide for its financial needs without any undue financial burden upon its tax payers. Different conditions in the County (the County has operated as a rural type of government in which each citizen has been in a position to provide for many services and facilities individually ~nd privately) precluded the necessity for the County government to generally provide for facilities such as water, sewer, electricity, recreation, fire and refuse collection and disposal, etc. The County did, of course, provide for its School System and receive law inforcement through the Sheriff's Department. Because of urbanization of certain areas of the County (particularly areas immediately adjacent to the City) many problems have developed with respect to the need for providing water and sewer service,