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Commissioners hear library funding requests
By Derek Hodges
County leaders heard requests concerning new library facility from the Jackson County Library Board during the March 20 commissioners’ meeting.
Librarian Michael Cartwright presented several requests library board members recently approved. Those include size specifications and funding amounts for the proposed new library, and requests for hiring a building design consultant, fund-raising consultant and architect.
Library board members voted in favor of a new 25,000- to 30,000-square-foot Sylva main branch library. They also agreed to request the county pay for that construction, while local fund-raising efforts will fund most interior needs.
Cartwright told commissioners library board members think hiring consultants is an important step in planning. Some commissioners previously questioned the need for a consultant when library board members say they already know what the town needs in the new facility.
“We believe that is the crucial part of this process,” Cartwright said.
County leaders did not act on the requests Monday night.
“We’ll take this and try and put some thought into it and get a better picture of where we are on that timeline,” Commissioners’ Chairman Brian McMahan said.
In other business March 20:
– County Manager Ken Westmoreland reported work to expand the Cashiers construction and demolition transfer station has been halted.
Contractors digging at the site, which is located on an old county landfill, unexpectedly uncovered buried trash, Westmoreland said.
While normal operations at the center have not been affected, construction has been halted until plans can be redrawn, Westmoreland said.
– Commissioners approved a change order for work being done at the Webster Complex.
Current work includes leveling off part of the property for the construction of senior housing. Contractors digging at the site have found alluvial soil – soil deposited by a waterway – in an area they did not expect to find it. The deposit is about 60 feet from a small branch that runs through the property, Westmoreland said. Such soil is not suitable for building and will have to be removed and replaced before work can continue, he said.
The bid from contractors Phillips and Jordan was $300,000 less than expected. The additional dirt removal is estimated to cost $140,000, Westmoreland said.
– County leaders voted to submit two grant applications that will help keep local initiatives in business.
The first, which will be submitted to the state’s Criminal Justice Partnership Program leaders, was for $50,346. That money would be used to continue efforts to reduce crime.
The second concerns the county’s scattered-site housing program, which is funded by Community Development Block Grants. The application, which requests $400,000, is required every three years.
– Commissioner Eddie Madden said he is concerned that the Health Department office in the county’s Cashiers Annex is not completely operational.
“This has been going on for months and months,” Madden said. “It’s long overdue for the Health Department to make that transition.”
Some technology, specifically that dealing with permits for septic systems and other environmental health concerns, is not ready, Westmoreland said.
“If they’ve got a problem with it, then I think it’s something the board needs to know about,” Commissioner Conrad Burrell said.
At Madden’s request, commissioners agreed to ask Health Department Director Paula Carden for a report during commissioners’ next meeting Monday, April 3.
– County leaders got their first look at some proposed changes to the Cashiers Commercial Area Land Development Ordinance.
The amendments include new rules on special events permits, sign lighting and temporary signage, county Planner Linda Cable said.
A public hearing on the changes is planned for 5:45 p.m. Monday, April 17, in the commissioner’s board room in the Justice Center.
Budget meeting
Commissioners scheduled a budget work session for 4 p.m. Thursday, March 30, in Room A227 of the Justice Center.
– Commissioners approved several appointments for county boards. They include:
• Board of Equalization – Richard Wilson, Gail Cooper, Richard Robson, Rogers Shelton and George Stanley.
• Sediment Control – Mickey Henson and Boyce McCall.
• Council on Aging Board of Directors – Ronald Pressley.
• Cashiers Recreation Advisory Board – Brenna Holland.
County leaders also approved the Department on Aging to serve as the lead agency for completion of the Community Development Block Grant process.
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