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County leaders delay action on proposed USFS land sale
By Derek Hodges
County leaders Monday (April 3) declined to take a stand on a controversial federal proposal to sell off national forest land.
Though a resolution opposing the plan was on the table, commissioners took no action during their April 3 meeting, despite the fact that the Bush administration proposal includes the sale of 137 acres in Jackson County.
Several governmental bodies, including neighboring Macon County’s Board of Commissioners, have spoken out against the proposal. During commissioners’ March 20 meeting Delos Montieth, president of the local Trout Unlimited chapter, called on commissioners to add their voices to the opposition.
At the suggestion of Chairman Brian McMahan, county leaders postponed voting on the issue until at least their April 17 meeting.
After the meeting, McMahan said the issue was delayed because it is not time-sensitive.
“It’s not one of those things that is real pressing,” McMahan said. “At this point it’s just a formality because the deadline for public comment has already passed. We’re just doing it to put it out there in the public that we are opposed to it.”
While voting on the issue has been a few weeks coming, it should receive a favorable vote during commissioners’ April 17 meeting, McMahan said.
“It’s definitely going to pass,” McMahan said. “I’m predicting no opposition. I personally will vote for it.”
The sale was proposed to help pay for a federal initiative that funds rural schools.
In addition to the Jackson County land, the proposal also includes 2,463 acres in Macon County and 790 acres in Swain County. Nationwide the sale would rid the forest service of 300,000 acres, 9,828 of them in North Carolina.
Money from the sale, which is expected to bring $800 million over five years, would be used to fund the Secure Rural Schools Initiative, according to administration officials. That program provides money to rural school districts that received money from USFS timber sales in years past.
The program is set to expire in September, but supporters want to extend it.
Also during the April 3 meeting:
Public comment
Before tackling the evening’s agenda, commissioners were raked over the coals by Marie Leatherwood of Sylva.
Leatherwood, who has appeared numerous times before various governmental bodies in Jackson County, took commissioners to task over recent lawsuits and their refusal to put her on the agenda.
“How many times has the court got to slap you commissioners down before you realize what constitutional rights are?” Leatherwood asked
Leatherwood referred several times to recent Superior Court rulings against the commissioners in suits brought by Airport Authority members. Judge Zoro Guice ruled Monday the county is liable for the plaintiffs’ court fees (See related story Page 1A).
While Leatherwood supported the action county leaders took in shaking up the leadership of the Airport Authority, she said it was handled poorly.
“I came to you before to tell you what they (Airport Authority members) were doing. It stinks,” Leatherwood said. “Finally in January 2005 you did something about it.”
However, the method in which the commissioners removed Airport Authority Chairman Tom McClure was wrong, and led to court decisions to reinstate McClure and reimburse him and his co-plaintiffs, Leatherwood said.
“Attorney (Joe) McGuire was standing outside that courtroom this morning just laughing,” she said. “He was thinking to himself, ‘We really put it over on a bunch of fools.’”
Leatherwood also had some harsh words for commissioners’ agenda-setting policies. She said she requested to be heard during a recent meeting on plans for a new library – another topic on which Leatherwood previously addressed board members – but was denied a place on the agenda.
“You have violated my constitutional rights,” she said. “I want to know why the decision was made that I couldn’t be heard.This is public business. Citizens have a constitutional right to petition their government.”
Though Leatherwood may not have been on the agenda, members of the public are given the opportunity to address commissioners during a comment session before each of their meetings. Leatherwood’s April 3 statement came during that public comment time, though it included no explanation of why she felt she needed to be on the agenda to address commissioners.
By the end of her comments, Leatherwood had raised her voice to just shy of a yell and began pointing fingers. Turning to county attorney Paul Holt, Leatherwood addressed him.
“Mr. Holt, you know these commissioners have no right to refuse me a place on their agenda,” she said.
At several points in her comments Leatherwood seemed to threaten a lawsuit, saying there are plenty of civil liberties groups that “love to fight these kinds of injustices in court.”
Cashiers annex
During commissioners’ March 20 session, Commissioner Eddie Madden requested a report be given concerning the delayed opening of the Cashiers Health Department annex. The center is to be located in the former Freeman House, near the Cashiers Post Office. However, opening of that facility has been delayed.
County Manager Ken Westmoreland reported Monday the center should be open soon.
“I think we will have the Cashiers annex up and running by the beginning of May or certainly by the middle of May,” he said.
The delay was caused by misunderstandings about personnel matters that have now been resolved, Westmoreland said.
Housing report
Joan Stillwell, who coordinates county housing assistance efforts, told commissioners four homes are slated for replacement, including one each in Sylva and Dillsboro, and two in Cullowhee. There is also the potential for two other Sylva homes to be added, and one home in Cashiers is scheduled for repair, she said.
Work to upgrade local homes is coordinated by the county and funded by state and federal agencies.
Transit
Commissioners approved the submission of a grant application for Jackson County Transit. The request for $87,430 will fund county transportation services for the coming year.
A public hearing on the application held before the commissioners’ meeting drew no comments.
Honoring WCU
County leaders approved a proclamation that designated April 18 “Western Carolina University Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day.”
Commissioners approve virtually the same resolution every year, pointing out the important role Western plays in educating local students.
Appointments
Three seats on the county’s Solid Waste Board are coming open, and commissioners are considering reappointing those currently serving to the positions.
If they agree to serve another four-year term, Glenn Liming, Richard Wilson and Darrell Fox will be reappointed during an upcoming commissioners meeting.
Meeting times
Commissioners have several sessions coming up.
On Tuesday, April 11, county and town leaders will hold a joint meeting at 6 p.m. in the commissioners’ board room in the Justice Center.
Commissioners’ next regular session will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, April 17, also in the board room. Prior to that session a public hearing on proposed changes to the Cashiers Commercial Area Land Development Ordinance will be held at 5:45 p.m.
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