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Time to manage growth in our county
To the Editor:
I went to the Jackson County Voices meeting on Nov. 16.
The speakers on the panel presented a clear and relevant picture of the current situation and the challenges that face our county, and I am grateful to them for the time and effort they put into their presentations.
Two points seemed especially relevant to me. The first was that several of the panelists spoke as if there were forces from outside Jackson County that we who already live here were required to accommodate – that all the people and businesses that want to move into Jackson County must be provided with places and public services according to their desires and needs.
I totally disagree with this assumption. I firmly believe that it is the people of Jackson County who should decide what kind of growth we want and how much we can accept. Many of us live here because we have a deep love for the natural area and for the pace of life we have enjoyed for many years. We live here because the forests are deep and lush, because there are family-owned businesses and farms, and because there is relatively little traffic and congestion. Things have changed rapidly in the last five years, and in my opinion, not for the better, largely because we have not taken the initiative to set out a plan to manage this growth and make Jackson County the place we want it to be.
The second point that got my attention was brought up by Jim Davis, the mayor of Forest Hills, during the public comment portion of the meeting. He stressed that Jackson County needs to have a comprehensive plan for managing growth and that, until such a plan can be put into operation, there be a moratorium on issuing building permits and approving new subdivisions. I certainly support this proposal, because every day I see what will happen without any kind of plan for managing growth. And the other people who attended the meeting also overwhelmingly showed their support for a moratorium by their votes in the final portion of the meeting, selecting it as the most important topic of the evening.
Right now we are at a choice point. We have new county commissioners who have run on platforms expressing their concern about managing growth and preserving resources. They have said they will listen. We need to let them know what we want. We need to raise our voices loud and clear to help them preserve and create our Jackson County.
Ronald Arps
Sylva
Town leaders should have acted sooner to close trailer park
To the Editor:
Ordinarily I don’t involve myself in town politics and issues, but the matter of the Virna Lisa Mobile Home Park in the Nov. 23 Sylva Herald is more than compelling.
Having been an official in a town smaller than Dillsboro (in another state), I am all too aware of how complex (and sometimes thorny) a seemingly simple decision can become.
At the same time, however, I have to admit I’m not sure which is more staggeringly repulsive – that a landlord would allow his property to deteriorate to the deplorable extent described in this newspaper, or that Sylva officials (obviously knowledgeable of the situation for several years) would allow it.
And it isn’t as if this property is 10 miles back in the mountains on an infrequently used dirt road. The trailer park is in a well-traveled area leading to the regional hospital, the community center, the board of education and (of all places) the health department, which is just over a football field’s length away for crying out loud. It’s also parallel to, and within sight of, another well-traveled artery – Skyland Drive.
Literally hundreds of people pass within sight of this trailer park every day, including this writer. I’ve thought for years that no one lived there – that no one could live there – and that it was abandoned.
That town officials (with knowledge of these horrendous conditions) would cause, by their own neglect, fellow citizens to live in such circumstances is unconscionable. To allow this to continue is a case of gross negligence, not only on the part of the landlord and town officials, but indeed on our community as a whole.
However, I’m realistic enough to believe (having lived and worked in this area for six years) that when dealing with bad behavior, the community is apt to witness far more reaction than action. In this case, I sincerely hope I’m wrong.
David Snell
Dillsboro
Changes needed in school system
To the Editor:
Here we are again in another year of elections to the many positions to be filled, hopefully with a few responsible enough to carry out and fulfill their duties as we voted for and need. We just hope many of us voted wisely, and in hopes that the newly elected will stop and listen to the many needs coming from us locals.
Again our school systems are not getting any better – it seems like they’re getting worse because our educators will not accept their fair share of responsibilities towards our children’s education.
Many times we ask ourselves where is that quality education promised by our state and federal government? What happened to “No Child Left Behind?” Many children are being singled out because of such things as low income or otherwise not college bound by the school system.
If the state requires 20 credits to earn a high school diploma, what makes a county make it a requirement to have 28? Sounds like someone is trying to push too much on our children. What happened to the basics of an education? Why must the school systems push the college courses on those who are not college bound?
Many times the issue comes up from parents concerning the bullying within the schools, yet when a student complains about it, it gets swept under the rug and nothing is done about it. Then the school wants the student who complained to seek help from the school shrink. Looks like some of those educators need the shrink more than the student.
What happened to the safe and protected rights of those who are trying to achieve their education without being pressured from other students who bully? What happened to the “quality education” our children are entitled to?
Smaller class size will not achieve anything, and pep rallies and assemblies concerning bullying will not accomplish anything unless the educators do their part to curb it. It has to be enforced by the educators and school leaders, yet is not being done.
Much of it goes into the wind, simply because many of those educators fail to accept their part and do their share to curb it. Is this not a simple reason that many students drop out of school? Poor leadership, lack of interest, passing the buck – that’s just a few examples from our educators.
Again, our schools are no better than those who are supposed to instruct, and thus far, we don’t have that many, or many that us parents can count on.
I feel that the whole educational system should be revamped, some legislation be passed and strict guidelines be put in place pertaining to this bullying situation. But if many parents don’t stand up and fight for change in their system, then many of us will watch our children denied their education and go to school in fear.
Often our paid resource officers sit in an office and will not police the areas of problems until it gets out of hand and students get hurt or in the middle of a touchy situation. And our educators just seem to brush much of it off for their own good.
Our school system needs good quality educators and leaders, not someone who throws tax money away on trips for no reason.
The attention should be placed on education – a quality and safe education for all concerned. Yet many people complain about the elections, and then our children are left in the dark to achieve what’s in their best interest. They are the ones who will lead this nation in the future, but many are being denied that right. Because the fat cats won’t stop and take time to think about our future leaders who are trying to achieve a quality education and make our school system safer for all concerned.
Our elected sheriff writes about the safety for our children, but where is the enforcement from within the schools from the school resource officers? He points out facts that are important not only to parents, but it should be carried out by the schools and the educators. He can only do so much, but others have to do their part. And this is where parents should step in and wake up concerning our children’s safety and educational process, and the responsibilities of our school bus drivers who refuse to take action against bullying on our school buses when complaints are made.
Is it not time for a real change within our school system?
Alvin Frady
Sylva
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