Kanawha leaders will observe Ky. government
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- City and county leaders are hoping to learn a lesson or two from their counterparts in Kentucky about how to make the controversial plan for metro government a success.
For two days next week, Sept. 4 and 5, the Kanawha County Commission will lead a delegation of city and county officials to Louisville, where metro government has been working well for the past five years.
The concept of cities and counties merging services is still a new one to West Virginians. But areas that already have combined say it allows them to take advantage of federal grants and other services available only to regions with larger populations.
County Commissioner Dave Hardy said he's eager to learn how the Kanawha Valley could attempt metro government.
"I'm curious to sit down and think how we could do this at a local level," Hardy said. "The first thing we need to do is educate the public."
Hardy said the first thing he wants to know from Louisville officials is how they spread the word to the public and what feedback was received.
The county already is working with the Charleston Area Alliance to create a task force to promote the idea and explain the concept to residents.
Hardy already has been tapped to work with that group. He represents the county commission on the Alliance's Board of Directors.
Officials still are trying to figure out a way to fully fund the task force's programs.
"We have to walk away with an understanding of what it will take to implement an education plan," Hardy said. "By talking with officials, I think it will allow us to get the straight facts and not rely on various versions of what happened there."
Chad Carlton, chief of staff to Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, said the city has had many visits from officials with various local governments interested in the metro concept.
In June 2003, Louisville and Jefferson County merged to create a metro government that serves 700,000 residents.
It came three years after voters approved such a measure by a 55- to 45 percent. It was the fourth vote the area had on merging in 40 years, Carlton said.
He said the city is proud of its model and happily uses it to educate interested parties.
"We encourage folks to come here and hear all sides of the discussion," Carlton said. "We like for folks to look at Louisville as a laboratory."
Carlton said a typical "field trip" allows visitors to meet with department directors, business leaders and community groups that were involved in merging city and county services.
Prior to the merger, Louisville had a mayor and a 26-member city council. Jefferson County had a county judge executive and three county commissioners.
Now a mayor and a 12-member Board of Aldermen oversee the government.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- City and county leaders are hoping to learn a lesson or two from their counterparts in Kentucky about how to make the controversial plan for metro government a success.
For two days next week, Sept. 4 and 5, the Kanawha County Commission will lead a delegation of city and county officials to Louisville, where metro government has been working well for the past five years.
The concept of cities and counties merging services is still a new one to West Virginians. But areas that already have combined say it allows them to take advantage of federal grants and other services available only to regions with larger populations.
County Commissioner Dave Hardy said he's eager to learn how the Kanawha Valley could attempt metro government.
"I'm curious to sit down and think how we could do this at a local level," Hardy said. "The first thing we need to do is educate the public."
Hardy said the first thing he wants to know from Louisville officials is how they spread the word to the public and what feedback was received.
The county already is working with the Charleston Area Alliance to create a task force to promote the idea and explain the concept to residents.
Hardy already has been tapped to work with that group. He represents the county commission on the Alliance's Board of Directors.
Officials still are trying to figure out a way to fully fund the task force's programs.
"We have to walk away with an understanding of what it will take to implement an education plan," Hardy said. "By talking with officials, I think it will allow us to get the straight facts and not rely on various versions of what happened there."
Chad Carlton, chief of staff to Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, said the city has had many visits from officials with various local governments interested in the metro concept.
In June 2003, Louisville and Jefferson County merged to create a metro government that serves 700,000 residents.
It came three years after voters approved such a measure by a 55- to 45 percent. It was the fourth vote the area had on merging in 40 years, Carlton said.
He said the city is proud of its model and happily uses it to educate interested parties.
"We encourage folks to come here and hear all sides of the discussion," Carlton said. "We like for folks to look at Louisville as a laboratory."
Carlton said a typical "field trip" allows visitors to meet with department directors, business leaders and community groups that were involved in merging city and county services.
Prior to the merger, Louisville had a mayor and a 26-member city council. Jefferson County had a county judge executive and three county commissioners.
Now a mayor and a 12-member Board of Aldermen oversee the government.
The new officials were voted into office during a special election, Carlton said.
By comparison, Charleston has a mayor and 27-member city council. Kanawha County has a three member county commission.
Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said he believes the average citizen wants metro government to succeed.
He's hopeful the trip will answer some of the public's questions on the matter.
"I want to help define to the community about what we can do because this is all about community cooperation," Carper said. "That's my goal. I want to see how we can enact it in real time."
Carper said the effort will be difficult to enact, but he's ready for the challenge.
"I've have accomplished metro government before in the face of opposition," Carper said.
In 1987, Carper, working as Charleston's public safety director, spearheaded the effort to consolidate the city and county communications operations into the Metro 911 Center.
He also worked with city officials to combine the Kanawha County and Charleston housing authorities.
Metro government would require 60 percent approval by county voters.
Hardy said he also is eager to see how Charleston and Kanawha County would fund a metro campaign.
It has not been determined how much will be spent to promote metro government.
Hardy said he doesn't want to use any taxpayer money for the effort.
The delegation headed to Louisville includes three county commissioners, Sheriff Mike Rutherford, Sen. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha, along with mayors from various municipalities and other county and city employees. Mayor Danny Jones won't be attending it because the trip coincides with the World's Strongest Man competition, which the city is hosting this year.
Hardy said the trip would be a key step in adopting metro government in the area.
"Louisville has been studied by political scientists and community leaders," Hardy said. "What they have done there is extraordinary."
Contact writer Matthew Thompson at matthewthomp...@dailymail.com">matthewthomp...@dailymail.com or 304-348-4834.
