|
Next TWSA leader should make county his home
Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority has had two directors in its 12-year history, and neither has been a full-time local resident.
We think it's time that TWSA board members hire someone who either already lives in Jackson County or is willing to relocate to the area. The TWSA director is one of the higher-paying local jobs, and it seems only right that it go to a candidate who wants to become part of the fabric of the community.
Overseeing the ever-more complex water and sewer system is a commitment that doesn't end at 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon. We think the authority's chief executive should be available in emergency situations right along with the treatment plant operators.
We've enjoyed working with Hugh Montgomery, and we wish him well. We certainly understand his decision to leave his post in order to do what's best for his family. That said, we think TWSA officials should make sure their next director won't be faced with such a difficult choice. By stipulating that the person they employ must move to Jackson County, TWSA leaders can help ensure that their next director will be able to concentrate on his job without sacrificing time with his family ... and vice versa.
Jackson County has more local troops to support
Local folks did an outstanding job in standing behind and supporting members of the 210th Military Police Co. who were called away from their homes and families from March 2003 until June 2004.
Now it's time to show how much we appreciate another group of soldiers, as five local reservists prepare to depart with their Asheville-based 391st Engineering Battalion, first for intense training at Ft. Bragg and then overseas.
While the men don't yet know whether they'll be sent to Iraq like the 210th or to Afghanistan, they know they'll be doing vital work a long way from home.
Family members are planning a Feb. 12 send-off event in Asheville, and they're hoping area residents will be generous in donating items to make the soldiers' duty more bearable. A list of needed items is included in the story that begins on page 1A.
The reservists – Joseph Dwan and Shane Jones of Tuckasegee, Kevin Jackson of Cherokee, and Joseph Ensley and David Roberts of Sylva – are ready to do their part.
Let's be sure we value and recognize their efforts.
|
