Joe Daniel wants Culpeper town and county governments merged into one unit. MIKE MORONES/THE FREE LANCE-STAR Visit the Photo Place

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Turning 2 Culpepers into one locality

Culpeper businessman pushing petition drive to consolidate town, county governments

BY DONNIE JOHNSTON

Date published: 4/16/2007

By Steve Jenkins BY DONNIE JOHNSTON

Culpeper entrepreneur Joe Daniel is tired of the constant bickering between the town of Culpeper and Culpeper County.

Considered a man of action, Daniel plans to do something about it.

He hopes to force both governments to consolidate into a single unit that will work toward a common goal --providing residents of Culpeper County with the best government possible.

"And make no mistake about it: We town residents are also county residents," says Daniel. "It's not a 'we' and 'they' thing; it's all 'we.'"

The government consolidation issue is nothing new. Town Councilman Steve Jenkins explored the idea several years ago, long before he was elected to serve in his present capacity.

But that was before disagreements between the two governments escalated into the present sewer and water war that has been accentuated in recent weeks by the battle over how Eastern View High School, now under construction, will get water.

Daniel chaired the School Oversight Committee that took Eastern View from a much-debated concept to its present construction stage.

When the town and county began arguing earlier this year over how water would be provided to the school, Daniel had had enough.

"I never dreamed that there would be a conflict about water and sewer being provided to that building," Daniel says.

"I've been living in Culpeper for 35 years, and there's always been a certain amount of friction [between the town and county], but was nothing like it is now," he added.

The real trigger, however, was a recent Chamber of Commerce public forum during which Town Manager Brannon Godfrey and County Administrator Frank Bossio faced off in a sometimes heated debate over each government's position on the Eastern View water issue.

"That, to me, sent a message that this is never going to work unless there is a change in the governmental structure," Daniel says. "The bickering is just going to continue, and it is going to cost the taxpayers of Culpeper millions of dollars if the county is forced to duplicate [water and sewer] efforts."

So Daniel, who lives within the town limits, set about pursuing government consolidation. He is in the process of having petitions printed and hopes to hire a project coordinator by the end of this month.

TEAMING UP Government consolidation efforts are nothing new in Virginia. Holland, Whaleyville and Nansemond County consolidated in 1972 to form the city of Nansemond. Two years later, Nansemond consolidated with Suffolk to form the city of Suffolk. South Norfolk and Norfolk County consolidated in 1963 to form the city of Chesapeake, and Newport News and Warwick County consolidated in 1958. Other attempts, however, have not been so successful. Failed consolidation efforts include the city of Charlottesville and Albemarle County in 1970, the town of Front Royal and Warren County in 1976 and the town of Staunton and Augusta County in 1984. The town of Clifton Forge and Allegheny County have twice attempted to consolidate governments, in 1987 and 1991, without success.

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Date published: 4/16/2007