VINTON–Mike Altizer celebrated his retirement from the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors at the Green Ridge Recreation Center—an appropriate venue as the facility was one of the many causes he championed during his tenure on the Board.
Altizer has represented the Vinton Magisterial District since 2002.
Richard Flora, who represents the Hollins District, shared the festivities with Altizer, as he is also retiring. Altizer will be replaced by Jason Peters; Flora, by Al Bedrosian.
Altizer and Flora were described by Dan O’Donnell, Assistant Roanoke County Administrator, as “true leaders during the most productive period of public service in the history of Roanoke County. They leave Roanoke County in an excellent financial position, despite the recession. They also epitomize the word “statesmen.”
Fellow Supervisor Charlotte Moore described them as “leaders who carried Roanoke County forward in so many ways. They led with compassion and caring. They were not self-serving. They didn’t make demands. They led by example, and led us into the future.”
Roanoke County Supervisors Richard Flora (on left) from the Hollins District and Mike Altizer, Vinton’s representative and Chairman of the Board, celebrated their retirement from the Board at the Green Ridge Recreation Center on December 19. Charlotte Moore, Supervisor from the Cave Spring District, presented them with plaques to mark the occasion.
Richard Caywood, Assistant County Administrator, said that both men “treated us [the Roanoke County staff] with respect and courtesy. They exemplify what folks like to see in their elected leaders.”
Jason Peters (on right) will be taking over Altizer’s seat on the Board of Supervisors, representing the Vinton Magisterial District.
Dr. Lorraine Lange, Roanoke County Superintendent of Schools, said that both men have been “true friends of education.”
Altizer was lauded in many ceremonies in recent days for his achievements for residents of the Vinton, Mount Pleasant, and Bonsack areas, but also for his contributions which impacted all of Roanoke County.
The list of causes he has spearheaded or supported is long: his work to build the Regional Jail when there was a moratorium on construction of new jails; his determination to save taxpayer money by helping to create Roanoke County’s own Criminal Justice Academy to train officers, and his advocacy for the use of “funding formulas” which have enabled the County to complete school renovations.
He is credited with improving public safety by encouraging the hiring of more career firefighters and working to establish the Roanoke County Emergency Communications Center through the merger of 911 Dispatch services.
In just the past year, Altizer has taken the lead in organizing the Regional Economic Development Summit which resulted in a cooperative agreement among six local governments through the Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facilities Authority. He pushed through the signing of a ninety-nine year lease for Virginia’s Explore Park with the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority and played a significant role in attracting the Ardagh Group metal packaging company to Roanoke County.
Altizer says he has made it his “personal mission in the past two years to forge regional cooperation to lure sustainable business and new technology into the Roanoke Valley.”
Altizer lists the Regional Economic Development Summit held in February at the Green Ridge Recreation Center as one of his proudest accomplishments during his term on the Board.
His crowning achievement in Vinton will long be remembered as his advocacy for the new Vinton Public Library beginning with the partnership between the County and the Town in purchasing property for the new library in the downtown area. He continued to push for funding for the project as it moved forward from the Architectural and Engineering phase to demolition to bids for construction.
Altizer’s crowning achievement in Vinton will most likely be remembered as the construction of the new Vinton Library.
Altizer thanked the staff of Roanoke County and said that “together we accomplished a lot of things in Roanoke County. You don’t get anything done unless you get a buy-in from the staff. All they want in return is to be treated fairly and thanked occasionally.”
He has said that he first became interested in serving on the Board when Mount Pleasant was planning to dismiss their only paid firefighter. He had served as Vice President of Mount Pleasant Civic League and had always followed community issues
He says he initially wanted to serve as Supervisor “to make things better for citizens of Roanoke County and to make the County better place to live.”
Fuzzy Minnix, who once served on the Board with him, and now serves on the Roanoke County School Board, says that with all the headaches involved, “Being on the Board of Supervisors is not for sissies–you are a servant. You often have to make decisions that are not liked and that will upset some of the people, even those who voted you into office.”
Minnix commended Altizer for his service to Roanoke County, for being professional, and for “getting the job done.”
Moore says she admires Altizer for the “countless hours he puts into anything he is passionate about. He researches the issues and comes up with a solution. He makes things happen. He reaches out to others. He really listens, which is a quality hard to find nowadays. He takes your input no matter who you are.”
Moore also says Altizer has been such a strong leader and Chair because he is very knowledgeable about the bylaws and about the Dillon Rule, which determines the bounds of a local government’s authority.
Moore says Altizer has been able to use that knowledge to find the most advantageous interpretation of laws and state mandates for the citizens of the County, as in the recent scrap metal permit requirements issued by the General Assembly. “He asked the County Attorney to check into the law and found a way to make it better and easier for the citizens of the County.”
Moore also says she respects him for his dedication to his family. “He puts his family first. His response to invitations is often, “If my family doesn’t have plans, I’ll be there.”
Vinton Mayor Brad Grose says “everyone speaks of Mike’s integrity and high energy. He is a strong family man. He is blessed with incredible vision and wisdom. He wants to see all of Roanoke County move forward. He believes what’s good for Vinton is good for the County and vice versa. He knows how to get things done in government.”
Grose says Altizer’s influence in the “Change of Use Grant Program” has been especially beneficial to the Vinton area in enabling property zoned residential to change to commercial uses.
Colin Gee, the Chief of the Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department, has worked with Altizer for many years. He says Altizer is revered in that community for his support of the Explore Park lease and the Ballyhack Golf Course, for major road improvements made in the area, for advocating restrictions on tractor trailers on Windy Gap Mountain, for the renovations to Mount Pleasant Elementary school, and for his efforts in pushing through the temporary library in the Mount Pleasant area on Route 116, replacing the library which had been located in the elementary school.
“He has done an excellent job for Mount Pleasant,” said Gee. “He was determined to make Mount Pleasant grow and be one of the best places to live in the County. He has shown tremendous support of whatever we needed or asked for. He will definitely be missed. He has done a super job supporting both Mount Pleasant and Vinton.”
Altizer lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife of 45 years, Barbara. They have four children, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, who he plans to make his focus in his retirement.
“My wife has made her schedule around mine for 11 years; now I am going to make my schedule around hers,” said Altizer. “You have to cherish your family. I have a lot of ball games and soccer matches to go to.”