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County leaders vote against amending junkyard ordinance
By Lynn Hotaling
For the second time in as many months, county leaders Sept. 21 voted against amending the 2002 Industrial Development Ordinance.
Amendments proposed Sept. 14 by Commissioners Roberta Crawford and Brian McMahan would have added language to clarify the ordinance and redefine some terms.
Specifically, Crawford and McMahan proposed amending the ordinance to ensure that auto storage yards operated by wrecker services are not classified as junkyards.
Based on board members' Sept. 14 discussion, Sept. 21's 3-2 vote was predictable. Commissioners' Chairman Stacy Buchanan voted against the amendments, as did Commissioners Eddie Madden and Joe Cowan, just as they did Aug. 10 when the question of amending the ordinance first surfaced.
The recent spate of discussion and voting was triggered when neighbors complained about Leo Webb's plans to relocate his towing service and auto storage yard to his Caney Fork home. Webb's business is currently located on N.C. 107 at East LaPorte, but he sold that property to Jackson County this past May.
County planning officials have expressed the opinion that Webb's business should be defined as a junkyard according to the wording of the ordinance.
In other action Sept. 21:
– Buchanan announced that Qualla firefighters have located a piece of property for their new fire station. The 2.37-acre tract is located in the Piney Mountain area.
"Of all the property they looked at, it's by far the best," McMahan said.
Qualla will work with a finance company to finalize the deal, and the county will make the payments from the capital improvements fund set up for that purpose, Buchanan said.
– Commissioners unanimously approved a property exchange with Arthur and Jackie Painter.
County officials traded the Painters a portion of the Jones tract near Smoky Mountain High School for a similar-sized piece the Painters owned. The trade will facilitate the location of a new entrance road for the high school, Buchanan said.
– Board members postponed a decision on efforts at the former Dillsboro landfill to collect and use methane gas trapped in the former dump.
Commissioners decided to wait for notification as to whether a county grant application is successful before committing further funds to the project.
– Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution on Amendment One, which Buchanan said will allow statewide bond initiatives to be placed on the ballot.
– County leaders unanimously approved a resolution that would turn Townview Road in Rhodes Cove over to the state maintenance system.
– Commissioners made the following appointments to county boards: Millie Wilson, Council on Aging; Vance Davidson, Library Board; and Gary Buchanan, Mike Moore and Richard Wilson, Planning Board.
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