ICLEI, Chickens Get Thumbs Up From County

In the end, various conspiracy theories about ICLEI’s connection to Agenda 21 and world domination of Roanoke County by the U.N. did not carry the day. The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors voted once again, as they did about six months ago, to continue its annual 00 membership in ICLEI, which comes with software that helps compute the carbon footprint of a region. The vote was 3-2 for staying in ICLEI, with supervisors Butch Church (Catawba) and Ed Elswick (Windsor Hills) voting against the renewal.

Roanoke County’s annual $1200 dues for the ICLEI software and its ICLEI-related citizen’s committee, RC CLEAR, have been under the gun for some time, from members of the Roanoke Tea Party and others concerned that ICLEI – an international organization concerned with environmental issues – has ties to the United Nations and Agenda 21. Agenda 21 is a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations with regards to sustainable development. It is a product of the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.

Some Tea Party members and others allege that the program would force Americans to live in clustered housing and take away some of their individual rights in the name of reducing carbon footprints and greenhouse gases.  “Other states are working on anti-Agenda 21-ICLEI [legislation],” Cave Spring resident Linda Laprade advised the Board.

Gene Rose declared that “the climate models are badly flawed,” when it came to projections about global warming. Bill Gregory said, “Agenda 21 and ICLEI have hit organizations and businesses hard.”

Developer Suzi Fortenberry, also a member of the RC CLEAR Committee, was all for the ICLEI membership renewal, saying “those goals are in line with what my husband and I believe in.”  ICLEI supplies some of the tools said the green builder, “so we don’t have to come up with [all of them].”

Builder Adam Cohen, who travels the world seeking out sustainable designs, said some of those who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting “have no clue about climate change.” The builder/designer had a simple message for the Board: “I urge you to stay in.”

Cave Spring supervisor Charlotte Moore, who later offered the motion to continue with ICLEI, which passed 3-2, said that organization and RC CLEAR, which she helped found, “are educational tools. They do not mandate us.” Moore said pollution – like the growing haze in the valley one Bent Mountain resident said he sees all the time – will drive people away eventually. RC CLEAR has promoted an educational program in local schools about reducing carbon footprints; it has also offered free energy audits and developed a website (saveaton.org) as a clearinghouse for information on living greener.

Vinton supervisor Mike Altizer said the “nasty messages” he received after voting for ICLEI previously would not deter him or make him change his vote this time – and again he voted to support ICLEI and the $1200 annual dues.  “The case hasn’t been made,” said Altizer, when it comes to property rights being impacted in Roanoke County by ICLEI.

Board chair Richard Flora (Hollins) bemoaned the “really, really nasty tone of the debate,” and chastised some members of the audience for their rude behavior towards the few speakers that supported ICLEI. “I hope the vote tonight puts this thing to bed,” said Flora, who cast the final and deciding vote to stay involved with ICLEI.

Residential chickens: the Board also passed an ordinance that allows Roanoke County residents to keep up to six egg-laying chickens on their single home property, regardless of its size, as long as certain setbacks from adjacent houses are met. A permit will be needed as well, and no roosters will be allowed. Residents must also find ways to dispose of the chicken waste. There have been calls in recent years by county residents that wanted to produce eggs for their own consumption; Salem and Roanoke City have already passed ordinances permitting chickens on residential properties.

By Gene Marrano

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