Bedford city presents reversion plan to county

More than a year after discussion began on reverting to town status, the city of Bedford presented a proposal to Bedford County that could contain the impetus for taking that step, county and city officials said Tuesday.

Bedford County Public Information Officer Bill Hoy said the document contains a specific proposal for the reversion, and will be discussed at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting in closed session.

“This is the first time we’ve got a proposal,” said Hoy, adding “we’ve got to sort of digest it.”

Bedford City Manager Charles Kolakowski said that after the initial talks, which began in April 2008, the city conducted a study on the possible effects of reverting to town status, a process that he said took several months.

This proposal, he said, is intended to reignite the discussion.

“The city has been studying the issue, having our own discussions and our own thoughts of it, and it’s time to resume discussions.” Kolakowski said.

“We think that there are potential positive aspects of this and we’re looking to see if an agreement can be reached which can be positive for both sides.”

Kolakowski said he had no timetable on how long the process would take, should the proposal be accepted.

Hoy said the process could take at least several months.

“This is really the starting point — the basis for any kind of negotiation,” Hoy said, adding “We really do expect this to take a while.”

Any approved measure would also have to be approved by The Commission on Local Governments and a three-judge panel appointed by the Virginia Supreme Court.

Hoy said he doesn’t know the specifics of the proposal, but he said he hoped the city and county could work out a mutually beneficial conclusion.

“I think the city hopes that they’re going to streamline operations and costs,” he said, but added, “It really depends on how the proposal shakes out.”

Discussions between the city and county have been closed to the public, facilitated by a four-member committee of representatives from the city and county.

Hoy said city representatives on the committee include Bedford Mayor Skip Tharp and City Council Member Jim Vest. The county is represented by supervisors Gary Lowry and Dale Wheeler, said Board of Supervisors chairman John Sharp.

Sharp said city of Bedford officials voted to approve the proposal May 12.

Sharp said if the city does revert to a town, it would hopefully help to streamline some services that both county and city provide, but a significant issue would be taxation.

The city changed from town status in 1968, when the council voted to establish it as a “city of the second class.”

According to the 2007 Census, Bedford is the fourth-smallest city in Virginia.

Following South Boston and Clifton Forge, Bedford would become the third Virginia locality in the past 20 years to change to a town.

Talks of incorporation and consolidation are nothing new for Bedford.

In 2002, Smith Mountain Lake residents met to discuss becoming a town.

In 1995, county residents voted against consolidating the city and county into Bedford city, with Bedford Shire in the center.