|
Speaking out is not popular
To the Editor:
An attempt to speak out before the Sylva town board with a list of unpopular truths took on the aspect of a verbal sparring match between Vice Mayor (serving in the absence of Mayor Brenda Oliver) and yours truly. I contended communication doesn’t happen with two or three one-liners, and if I made assertions based on facts, I need to back up these facts based on proper documentation from town records.
To do this, I had several explanatory pages written, which included the funding issues I wished to address, and to ask why some of these took place. Unfortunately, facts are connected to times, places, and the actions of board members and a mayor who speaks out publicly to push board decisions on Main Street, Downtown Sylva Association and political appointments (for instance, hers and Moody’s choice for the TWSA board). The mayor has certainly been instrumental in funding for the Economic Development Commission. To connect the dots, a review of recent board history and disagreements on funding and issues was needed.
I started trying to review the history – Moody’s accusations against (board members) Danny Allen, Ray Lewis and Harold Hensley’s much-needed funding cuts; and Oliver and Moody’s changing of the agenda to put their choice back on the TWSA board without letting incoming board members vote, and the fat hit the fire.
From there on, it was more or less “you need to shut up,” and I agreed that Moody could shut me up, but it was only by hearing the truth would changes take place. I also stated he didn’t want to hear the truth; my facts, though true, are not very palatable. Lewis and Allen, through actions and statements in their board positions, have tried to serve their constituents in a fair manner. They realized how many of us have paid Sylva and county taxes for 50 years or more but were not even provided decent streets. The little money Sylva has, they wanted to divide it fairly and not cater to special interest groups. In Hensley, our new board member, they have found attitudes that recognize the needs of local, multi-generational people and the businesses outside of Main Street that provide most of the sales tax dollars that fund upkeep for the town. Because this board has for years been controlled by two or three dominant members, you may say the dog has been wagging the tail. Perhaps we may see the tail wagging the dog at times. I have the highest respect for these three men who recognize what just government is and realize their responsibilities in helping to create fiscal policies that help the poor economic shape that Sylva is in. The easy way is to raise taxes by giving people even less money to spend into the local economy, but the smart way is to cut out of the budget the unnecessary until you are in a position to fund basic services to all.
Lets look at the facts – why did we spend what and why:
From 1998 to 2004, the town board gave a total of $225,000 to the EDC. UDAG grant changes for 2002, 2003 and 2004 made it possible to use $86,200 of this amount for the benefit of all citizens, not just special groups, to improve existing services and implement new ones. My question is why wasn’t this money used to benefit the citizens and improve streets, curbing, guttering or other needs? I question Moody informing Hensley that UDAG funds couldn’t be used for repairing streets. And, although town money has been funneled by EDC to the Jackson Development Corp., that entity is behind in tax payments to the county with $9,920.69 of penalties, plus around $8,000 more due for 2006. With excess in the past seven years of $225,000, why is that happening?
A six-year resident (Main Street area) received 100 feet of new sidewalk, guttering and curbing – costing $14,455.14 and one-third of the annual budget for street black-topping.
Sylva’s grants that DSA claims credit through a government hand-out program for economically deprived areas; Sylva supplied matching funds for Mill Street while DSA hired a professional grant-writer. Economic-based grants aren’t given to prosperous real-estate and business owners. Only $285,000 remains of UDAG funds. There will be no more.
Marie Leatherwood
Sylva
Community involvement and land use planning
To the Editor:
Avram Friedman’s letter of Aug. 31, “County needs land use plan to protect communities,” jump-started me on similar issues that I have found troubling for some time.
The “United Neighbors of Tuckasegee” have banded together to fight a rock quarry in their community.
In Jackson County it appears to always be that way, one neighborhood standing alone defending itself while the other county neighborhoods look on from a detached distance.
Some examples of that were exemplified when the people of Tilley Creek were trying to prevent a gun range from being established in their neighborhood. And are we to forget the battle that took place in Qualla over the asphalt plant?
To quote Friedman, “It’s where people living near the Budweiser plant along Skyland Drive discovered themselves when suddenly a ‘propane farm’ began to appear in their backyard.”
These are just a few of the “stand alone” defenses that some of the townships, communities and neighborhoods have had to make for their citizens in Jackson County.
Absent county government and certain individuals: where was the official community support for a neighboring community?
Did the good people of Tuckasegee support the good people of Qualla in their time of need?
Now reverse that question and ask, “Are the good people of Qualla and the other neighborhood communities in our county supporting the Tuckasegee community in their time of need?”
I know individuals outside of Tuckasegee are helping, but have the officials of other communities made any public statements of support to keep the quarry out of Tuckasegee and Jackson County?
It appears that communities in this county have been separated by an attitude of individual sectionalism. Self-sufficient individuality has been a native trait of the local people, but it shouldn’t prevent those people from going to the aid of their neighbors. It just doesn’t seem to fit. I have met many local people in my 30 years of visiting the mountains before becoming a permanent resident, and I’ve always known them as giving, caring people. Why aren’t we helping one another, one community helping another community?
Are there too many newcomers to the mountains who still identify with where they came from as opposed to identifying with these neighbors in another community in their new home county?
It would be a rush to judgment to compare these people who stood idly by to the H.G. Wells, “Time Machine” cattle people who just stood around while one of their own was drowning.
Because individuals did help and officially communities did not, one would have to believe that these issues were political more than personal. It would seem that these communities are all little political sub-divisions within the county, and that people stayed out of it because most issues were eventually addressed to the county government.
Public statements of support would not only show empathy for a sister community, but may also turn out to be very wise decisions. The quarry, for example, could be relocated to anyone’s community.
The banner “United Neighbors of Tuckasegee” needs to be made to read “United Neighborhoods of Jackson County.” We can do together what we cannot do alone.
Lastly, to protect private property rights, we, the legal voting residents of this beautiful county, need to have strong industrial and commercial zoning laws in place without variances and leave the private property rights alone.
Yes, it’s possible to have zoning that actually protects private property rights. That’s what these fights are all about.
Developers, industrial and large commercial interests laugh at our inability to get our zoning and growth management plan act together.
Until we do, the developers will eat us up one community at a time, because there will be those citizens who refuse to understand the difference between private, commercial and industrial property usage. The zoning laws that should effect their use are on the books now to protect us.
The fact is we need to change the way we are doing business. We don’t need a “Land Development Plan,” that is a term of the land developers. We need a “Growth Management Plan,” that’s a term of the people, for the people. We don’t need to develop the land, we need to manage the growth of developers.
There will be growth, so let’s nurture it and help the county grow strong and prosperous and not out of control. And let’s work together to do it.
If there is to be variance in the law, let the citizens vote on it.
James McCarthy
Dillsboro
‘Catman’ urges pet adoptions
To the Editor:
Watching the news last week gave me an idea for a story. A hurricane was coming towards the United States, and no one knew where it would land. So the television people went into “spin mode,” drawing a large cone on the map and telling everyone from Mississippi to Florida to get ready by going out to buy batteries, plywood, lots of water and other supplies in case the storm came their way. It worked. People mobbed the stores and bought them bare. It was great for business. I think there was a method behind their madness, the television people and their merchants. It got a lot of people to buy stuff. Good move.
Now I have something to warn you about. There is a horde coming. Rats, mice, moles, voles and lemmings. They are going to invade your homes, farms, businesses and every aspect of your life. The only way to protect yourself from disaster is to adopt a cat from Catman. Just having a cat will keep the critters from invading your premises. No varmint would dare enter your dwelling if there were a Catman2 cat in there. And think of all the other benefits. If you were to buy batteries for the hurricane, they might go dead if you didn’t have to use them. You would have to put up with a load of plywood on your carport. No other use for it, and what a job to take it back to the store. You might even hurt your back putting it in the SUV.
No, even if the horde never came your way you would still have a sweet, loving, warm and fuzzy cat to love on. It would sit on your lap and purr. As a result, your heart rate would lower and stress would disappear. As a result, you would live a longer and happy life. Your children would be less likely to have allergies later in life and they would learn compassion and responsibility.
Having a pet can add years to your life and teach your children care for a living thing. The Catman has so many cats that could enrich the quality of your life. There could be a horde coming your way, so why take a chance? Batteries and plywood could be a problem and a waste of money, but a cat is an investment in the future. It is a win-win situation.
Call Harold at 293-0892 to make an appointment to meet the cat of your dreams. A fair wind is blowing your way. It is not a hurricane, but a companion that will give you years of love, pleasure and longer life.
Harold Sims
Cullowhee
|
