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Dillsboro officials choose Cochran to fill vacant seat on town board
By Justin Goble
Dillsboro officials filled a vacancy on the town board during their regular meeting Monday (April 3).
Former board member Jim Cochran, who lost a November bid for re-election, was returned to the board after Mayor Jean Hartbarger broke a 2-2 tie. John Faulk and Mike Fitzgerald voted for Cochran, while Jimmy Cabe and Bud Smith voted “no.”
Cochran replaces Jim Dukes, who unexpectedly moved to Charlotte a few weeks ago.
Dukes has missed several meetings due to what board members said was a “doctor-ordered bed rest” following shoulder surgery.
Hartbarger did not say why Dukes suddenly moved, but told board members the action left them in a tough position.
“Jim’s moving has put us in a real bind,” she said. “He e-mailed us and asked what he needed to do with his seat on the board. We sent one back and told him that we needed a letter of resignation. We haven’t gotten one yet, but he sent one to the greenways committee (which he chairs). So I think we’re well within out rights to announce the open seat.”
Hartbarger suggested Cochran, saying his experience would allow the board to continue its business without having to train a new member.
“He’s been on the board,” Hartbarger said. “He has the experience.”
In other business April 3:
– Officials unanimously approved a raise in grants offered through a town community improvement program.
Funds offered to residents and merchants for upgrades will now be a match of $250, up from the $100 in matching funds previously offered by the town.
Hartbarger suggested the raise in funds due to a lack of response for last year’s grant program.
“We had it out there, but a lot of people didn’t apply for it,” she said.
– Hartbarger announced that the Monteith property had been appraised.
Though she did not have the estimated property value during Monday’s meeting, she said the appraisal would help with future grant proposals for the site.
– Officials discussed the formation of a tourist development committee during a workshop held before the session.
As a whole, board members thought the committee would be a good idea. There was some hesitation from Smith, though, who said a committee may just try to do what other entities in the town are already doing.
“I have mixed emotions about it,” Smith said. “The Dillsboro Merchant’s Association does a lot of advertising. I don’t know how much more you can do.”
Faulk said there was a need to come up with different ideas to bring tourists into town and forming the committee would be a good way to look at the issue.
“There’s more opportunity to draw tourism than what we’re realizing,” Faulk said. “I think we’ve done a lot of good things with the Web site in bringing people in. But there’s a lot more you can be doing. We don’t need to pull people up here. We need to get them to pull over.”
Board members decided to continue discussion of the matter at a later date.
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