Never mind the brouhaha over ousted Town Manager Lance Terpenny or that a misinformation campaign to scare employees was launched. Whichever way that goes, any aggrieved party can shift a no-contract severance claim to the court system -- Council, the former employee or citizens. Rumors are flying yet if the IRS is satisfied with assets versus income, let it go. It's Floyd's problem now.
Shift attention back to the present and future of Christiansburg.
Does the rampant residential development over the past 10-15 years pay for today's needs? What is the fiscal position of the town, and could it issue bonds to offset future obligations or are debt limits maxed out? When can failing infrastructure issues be addressed and will huge investments in recreation facilities provide the promised financial benefits? Will Council continue to tweak the budget and better manage expenses? Only time will tell.
Look instead at recent Town Council agendas. Updates on the Huckleberry Trail and infighting about endowments. Look at the economic impacts of revitalization and greenway efforts in Radford or Roanoke. For many projects involving grants, Christiansburg has relied on the staff of Montgomery County or Town of Blacksburg to act as fiscal agent and provide oversight. Is this a good partnership, or a way to ensure you have a whipping boy if things don't happen fast enough or meet undefined objectives?
Effective with the 2000 US Census Christiansburg was designated as an "entitlement" community. This meant Community Development Block Grants were there for the asking. But Christiansburg didn't ask. Bye-bye $1 million.
Until last year, when the required plan was found to be outdated. Now town officials have asked for input and are updating the plans which may provide access to $113,000 this fiscal year.
Funds will be used to repair and expand public sidewalks. Town staff is so overwhelmed the new "plan" shows 20% of the funds going to pay a consultant. Who might that be and how will this person or firm be selected? Will these efforts, if successful, really "eliminate possible perceptions of inadequate infrastructure"? Infrastructure issues are not possible perceptions to property owners who get flooded during rains, are living in poorly managed yet expensive rentals, or have raw sewage invade their homes.
What about the commercial account, where new development didn't construct sidewalks and was required to place equivalent funds into an escrow account?
What about the partnership between the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, to access federal funds and revamp the public transportation options?
In less than a year, some Town Council members appear ready to bail out rather than stay on board with the bus service. Even though the Mayor and town staff had input and the majority of funds came from federal sources, it has become an issue for the chopping block.
Any "failure" is placed on Blacksburg Transit, rather than three disconnected bus routes that don't easily serve commuters and require too many transfers.
And what about the HOMES consortium? Has Christiansburg ever had any projects or seen the recent presentation on this program's successes? Not found on the public agendas for the Town of Christiansburg.
What does this ignorance and inability to access grants mean for Christiansburg? It's been blamed on "geographic limitations." Know what that means? Well, a lack of community connections and healthy partnerships may result. Declining property values and investment, as people (talent) move to more favorable environments due to inaction or not playing well with others.
How this affects Christiansburg's present and future --- investment, economic sustainability and growth, tax rates, low and very low income (any age and especially the elderly) citizens -- will be revisited after some additional research. Some of the town provided statistics are already very grim, and it is unlikely the 2010 Census will show improvements.
Post Script: Per reader suggestion, see quibbling over definition of Christiansburg "firing" and Floyd's new CEO. Or was it a "retirement" or maybe a "resignation"?