10-12-71 Packet The Board of Supervisors met today at the request of
counsel for Curtis Holt~ the Plaintiff in the voting rights
case now pending in the Federal District Court~ to consider
certain questions raised by a memorandum prepared by Richmond's
City Manager and filed in that suit.
While the meeting was in progress the Board was advised
that the Court had just decided to hold a hearing and take
evidence as to %he reasonableness of de-annexation.
Because this hearing creates the possibility %hat members
of the Board of Supervisors of Chesterfield might be called as
witnesses in the Curtis Holt suit~ the Board members deem it
inadvisable to comment publicly on that which might become
additional evidence in the case°
The Board~ however, uBanimously instructed its
Executive Secretary to immediately begin preparation of a strong
rebuttal to the memorandum written by Mr. Kiepper for presenta-
tion to the Court at such time as such evidence is called for.
It is agreed by the undersigned that the Judge of the
Federal Court~ the Honorable Robert R. Merhige be informed
that the governing body of Chesterfield County wants to take
back into the County the 23-square miles recently lost to
Richmohd by annexation, While it has been brought to the
attention of the County that certain enumerated problemJareas
have been identified by the City~ such problems are subject to
a rational solution° The County is willing to take back the
lost territory and the County is able both financially and
governmentally to take back the annexed territory. There is
foreseen no problem accompanying such a transfer that would be
insurmountable. The County stands ready to assist the Court
in any way to effect the de-annexation of this area. N~x~x~~
~i~~xi~x~xa~z~x~x~xM~x~x~a~~~- Both the
citizens in the County and the citizens in the ~nnexed area will
be greatly benefited,