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Buchanan to town officials: 'Let's talk to each other'
By Lynn Hotaling
Saying he was tired of opening the newspaper and reading what Sylva town officials say about county leaders, Commissioners' Chairman Stacy Buchanan said he'd like for mutual concerns to be addressed when local government leaders met in joint session.
Buchanan's comments came near the end of last Tuesday's (Oct. 5) meeting of county and town elected officials.
"These meetings were set up to discuss matters of interest (to the county and towns)," Buchanan said. "We hold these meetings and nothing is said, but then I open up The Sylva Herald."
Buchanan was referring to a Sept. 30 front page story titled "Sylva leaders consider effects of proposed development." That report of a Sept. 20 meeting between Sylva's elected town board and its appointed planning board mentioned discussion that county commissioners had been unresponsive to recent planning invitations and requests for assistance.
"We're here, and we're willing to listen," Buchanan told the assembled town and county leaders. "As far as the impact of development, that's not been brought to us."
Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver said the town is facing a "Catch 22" with regard to growth.
"We desperately need to grow, but our revenue has been flat," Oliver said. "We want to grow, but we can't grow."
County Manager Ken Westmoreland and county planning director Linda Thomas were invited to the town's Sept. 20 planning meeting, but neither was able to attend.
"We'd like to have a joint meeting (with county commissioners) to look at needs," Oliver said. "We're looking at that as a first step."
Buchanan replied that he'd be happy to put Sylva officials on the commissioners' agenda.
Commissioners Brian McMahan and Roberta Crawford also indicated they didn't like reading negative comments in The Herald, and Westmoreland said he had no recollection of being invited to a town planning meeting.
"My observation is the county does quite a bit (for the town of Sylva)," said Commissioner Eddie Madden.
"And we appreciate what you've done and don't want you to feel differently. We want the lines of communication to be more open but don't know how to go about it," Oliver said.
"Here's my open invitation," Buchanan said. "If there's something you feel the county's falling short on, let me know. I'll put you on the agenda."
Madden said that Sylva has the capacity to manage growth both inside and outside its town limits, mentioning options like extra-territorial jurisdiction, and voluntary and involuntary annexation.
"I suggest you all need to look internally," Madden said. "You have those tools."
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