Vinton District Supervisor Jason Peters – the current chairman on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors – was present at the State of the Town address in Vinton recently, saying “everything is going wonderful” on his home turf.
That statement was made a day after the new 23,000 square foot county library opened on South Pollard Street. Peters was hopeful that the old library branch on Washington Avenue, now for sale, might be the future home of a new restaurant at some point.
Peters also pointed to the former Roland E. Cook Elementary School, which is now being turned into apartments, and to the former William Byrd High School, which is also for sale by the county, as another possible location for residential spaces.
“Things are going very, very well.” Peters sees the Vinton library becoming perhaps the second most used library in the county after the branch that opened several years ago in South Roanoke County.
He also praised the new HIVE business incubator in Vinton: “[owner] Annette Patterson is doing a fantastic job with that. They’ve already had over a thousand people come through there since October. That’s a wonderful addition to the town.”
Two days earlier Peters had laid down the gauntlet at his own State of the County address – spending very little time looking back at any past accomplishments during the past year while stressing the need for economic development gains that can create jobs and keep young people – including his own children – in the valley when they grow up.
“2016 is a very pivotal year for Roanoke County,” said Peters. “Last year we stayed mired up in controversy, this year [2015] the Board has taken the direction … in house to clean up our budget. Next year is our year I think to push for economic development. That State of the County was a call to action. Not only for the county but for the business community because whatever we do we need their help.”
During the State of the County, Peters also said the local government may need to invest its own money to help grow new businesses or support expansion of existing employers – something Peters said he was willing to vote for. “Money will have to be spent – we will have to make investments.” Peters said leaders must do that. “I think the message was very clear. I’ve had wonderful comments about it. Now it’s our time to be called to action.”
Peters was also “looking forward” to a new mix on the Board of Supervisors – with Martha Hooker replacing Butch Church in Catawba and George Assaid – assuming he comes out on top after a recount against incumbent Charlotte Moore in Cave Spring (Assaid won election by a scant three votes) taking office in January.
Church and Al Bedrosian in the Hollins district often formed a minority block that voted against the majority, where some of the “controversy” referred to by Peters is concerned.
Peters and Hooker also sat on the Planning Commission together for four years.
Gene Marrano
