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Commission adopts May site‑visit schedule for Marion–Smyth voluntary settlement review
Summary
The Commission on Local Government adopted a timetable for reviewing the Town of Marion–Smyth County voluntary settlement agreement, set site visits and hearings for May 12–14, 2014, and established filing and response deadlines ahead of a draft report due July 14, 2014.
The Commission on Local Government on Jan. 6 adopted a schedule to review a voluntary settlement agreement submitted by the Town of Marion and Smyth County under Va. Code § 15.2-3400 and set site visits and public hearings for mid‑May.
Staff Local Government Policy Manager Zack Robbins told commissioners the submission included the agreement, supporting data and resolutions from both governing bodies and that notification to other local governments had been completed as required. Robbins said the Commission’s statutory review must determine whether the proposed settlement is in the best interest of the Commonwealth and noted the staff-required report deadline falls in July 2014.
Marion Town Manager Bill Rush told the Commission the agreement includes annexation and revenue‑sharing components, that both the Marion Town Council and Smyth County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to request the review, and that no citizens testified at local hearings. Commissioners discussed combining Marion site visits with an anticipated voluntary settlement submission from Bristol and Washington County because the localities are about 40 miles apart.
Commissioners confirmed availability for May 12–14 and adopted a timetable that sets: staff requests for additional information due March 21, 2014; parties’ supplemental responses due April 18, 2014 for Marion (and parallel April/May deadlines for the anticipated Bristol/Washington matter); site visits and public hearings May 12–14 (tour and oral presentations on the May 12 itinerary, a May 13 program in Marion and a special meeting May 14); a closing of the administrative record on May 30, 2014; and issuance of the Commission’s draft report on July 14, 2014. The motion to adopt the schedule passed unanimously.
The Commission preserved the chair’s discretion to adjust the review schedule if the Bristol–Washington submission is delayed. The adopted timetable requires staff to circulate additional information requests to the parties and to mail supplemental submissions to Commission members before the site visits.
Next steps: staff will issue the requests for additional information and proceed with logistical planning for the May site visits and hearings; the Commission’s draft report is scheduled for the July meeting.
