|
We don’t need the Taj Mahal
To the Editor:
In a recent Sylva Herald article, giving an update on the proposed Jackson County library, surprise of several Library Board members was expressed. It seems they were busily engaged in a project without even knowing the building site had been bought. This was underway in 2004. The town of Sylva with only 7.5 percent of the population and budget-wise flying by the seat of their pants, with full visionary process of leadership, voted to go further in debt by pledging $100,000 to the county. The taxpayers will be paying $21,000 for the next five years on the library site. The Mark Watson site where the county owns land was rejected. At Mark Watson there would have been no development centered around the library. In other words, it wouldn’t have been an anchor store (a development tool) to create walking traffic through an old run-down plaza. The other anchor store, the post office, has even been drawn into the development site before an official site by Postal authorities has been selected. Who do you think has a win-win situation?
Odell Thompson (architect) was paid $50,000 for site selection as I understand it. A Sylva Herald quote from Feb. 24 said, “If you have an area that has some beautiful sites and some not so beautiful, I’m of the opinion you should go to the parts that need help. I would say that Jackson Plaza needs help,” Thompson told the task force. The fact a bar and a proven track record of crime (I obtained the list of crimes under the freedom of information act) and wrote about it, spoke of it before the town board and of course it didn’t matter to the Jackson County commissioners either. Neither did the fact that the company managing the Plaza hired a full-time security guard in August 2004. Now we are full speed ahead to help out that very un-lovely site. The site was selected by former Commissioners’ Chairman Stacy Buchanan, Mayor Brenda Oliver and Vice Chairman (Sylva town board) Maurice Moody as a library selection committee. (Richard) McHargue (then town manager) and (Ken) Westmoreland (county manager) were included as committee members, I find employees tend not to disagree with “employers.” So we owe it all to three people. (Editor’s Note: Commissioner Joe Cowan was also on the library selection committee).
Due to “the Freedom of Information Act” and The Sylva Herald, a lot of accurate information is available to everyone. When you get information, research is possible that reveals a lot of truths that aren’t presented to the taxpayers who pay the bills. Much is glossed over that doesn’t reveal the true state of things. We are told by experts that we need 22,000 to 24,000 sq. ft. for now and future growth for what is only a recreational, community library. After doing research on the 11,285 library cards of cardholders of this county (you can ask for the number of cardholders by calling Bryson City), I find these people average only 7.36 checkouts per year. Remember, this isn’t just books, but includes non-print. In other words, just how many books do you think these cardholders read? Maybe you need to burden the taxpayers with twice the size the experts say, or even better, why not the Taj Mahal? The Sylva Main Street Library needs work space, but I have used it for many years, and it has never lacked seating space for general use of patrons. People have never just hung out there, and they aren’t going to change. Only a few go on a regular basis to read newspapers and magazines. They do their check-outs and get out. Neither are people going to walk up from town and wander through the Jackson Plaza development condo greenery. The last percentages I have on elderly people (based on a population of 33,000) was 21.2 percent. They aren’t going to bound up a long hill but ride their cars.
Be patient with the commissioners’ inability to commit a sum of money to the library committee. My last check (two or three months ago via county manager) revealed a county $25 million or so indebtedness. The county has around $7 million committed to Cashiers projects, large projects to the Canada area, the Webster Road project to be finished, schools, etc. Patience, re-evaluation will soon be here with new money – yours!
Marie Leatherwood
Sylva
Peace events planned for Sept. 24
To the Editor:
Sept. 24 has been designated Peace Day by the United Nations and by hundreds of organizations advocating for peace. Numerous efforts are being planned for citizens across America. Two such efforts may be of interest locally.
Jane Goodall, the United Nations Messenger of Peace, encourages local citizens to act as peace messengers by planning community activities for the day. Her Web site includes directions for constructing large and small peace doves and activities that individual communities can adapt for their own peace celebrations. That Web site is www.janegoodall.org. She encourages wide participation among children.
A massive March for Peace is planned for Washington, D.C. on Sept. 24. Sponsored by United for Peace and Justice, the march and rally will take place on the Mall in front of the Washington Monument. To learn more about this peace effort go to www.unitedforpeace.org. There, you can learn about transportation, housing, times, schedule of events, etc. Cindy Sheehan will be a prominent speaker at this event.
The last time I checked the Web site, many of the modes of transportation leaving from Asheville to travel to Washington were filled to capacity. Several local people are traveling to Washington to participate in the March for Peace on buses from Asheville as well as by personal modes of transportation. Perhaps others interested in traveling to Washington could organize a bus or a caravan and join the many thousands from all over the United States marching for peace.
Linda Watson
Sylva
Drivers must be mindful of pedestrians
To the Editor:
The fall tourist season is almost here, when the flowing masses of Floridians and Ohioans and other wander through our beautiful mountains watching the brilliant colors of our changing seasons. It’s also the time when I, a visiting mother, push my infant daughter around town in a stroller, watching cars zoom through downtown Sylva’s 20 mph zone going well over 30 and ignoring me and all the others in marked crosswalks. Not only is this dangerous, it’s also illegal.
North Carolina law says cars must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. Some crosswalks are adjacent to traffic lights downtown, but many are not. If a car hits a person in a crosswalk, the driver is at fault, no matter what. Add to that reckless speeding and the law suit could be staggering.
Perhaps I have been spoiled; I grew up here but now live in Europe, where gas prices are always five dollars a gallon. The majority of Europeans walk or ride bicycles in their towns. The bicycles follow the same rules of the road as cars, and both stop for people on foot who need to cross the street. European cities also have elaborate park paths and sidewalk systems set up for people out for a stroll, for exercise or simply to get from one place to the other. The Sylva town council should consider creating something similar. Until there is a safe place to enjoy an easy-natured walk in our area, however, drivers must be aware that more and more people, from little children to elderly people, will be using Sylva’s crosswalks. Drivers must yield to them.
Leeanne McCoy
Sylva
Village of the future
To the Editor:
In 2001 discussions started with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on whether to remove the dam in Dillsboro or not. (The idea was to) possibly remove the dam instead of a more comprehensive mitigation package, which is now represented in Jackson County’s “Preferred Settlement Agreement,” for the use and needs of Jackson County’s watershed for the next 30 years. Neighboring corporate giant Duke Energy forwarded this removal idea, then referring to it as a “trial balloon.”
Since that year of 2001, balloons of a different sort have blown up with important realities and statistical values in the world of energy. The price of fuel on our streets at that time was just over $1 per gallon or one-third less than what it is this week in the mountains. The price of heating oil and natural gas that winter was four times less than the amount experts predict for this winter.
Jackson County is aware of small hydro companies lining up to restore and refit the dams of our river system. This type of local self-reliance, especially for energy, will be the ultimate theme in planning for communities of the future. Renewable resources, like the Dillsboro Dam, will be more important than ever.
Much of the world and thankfully our county manager and Jackson County commissioners know that energy values are changing. The availability and supply of cheap energy is at its end. Projections show that with the additional demands for oil by new emerging consumers like China and India, demands for oil are at an all time high. At the same time global energy supplies are starting to dwindle. Experts say that oil has peaked and that the energy crisis is here to stay. Consequently, our throw-away attitudes toward valuable natural and man-made resources are seriously outdated.
The towns of Dillsboro and Sylva benefited from and built up around dams on the Tuckasegee before. We stand to benefit from them economically in the decades ahead. This week we can benefit from our experience of higher prices at the pump by realizing what we have in our own backyard, and preserve and protect them. Our Jackson County leaders have taken the steps for the benefit of generations to come. We need to support them in their effort to forward Jackson County’s “Preferred Settlement Agreement” to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (Re: Surrender of the Dillsboro Hydroelectric Project(p-2602-007) Magalie R. Salas, secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426.
T. J. Walker
Dillsboro
|
