Recycling continues in Dillsboro

By Rose Hooper

Jason Smith, an attorney with Jones, Key, Melvin and Patton, said the baler had been returned and "Webster Enterprises will continue to fulfill its obligation to the county."

As reported last week, Gregg Thomas of Country Collections removed the baler in question from its Dillsboro location at Webster Enterprises to the former Tuckaseigee Mills plant next to the Community Service Center Wednesday, Oct. 24.

The move took place following an all-night standoff between Thomas and Doug Lamb of Webster Enterprises, who had parked his truck in front of the gate to the recycling lot in an effort to prevent Thomas from taking the baler.

The standoff appeared to end early Tuesday, Oct. 23, when Sheriff Jim Cruzan ordered Thomas, whose contract to operate the Dillsboro recycling facility for Webster Enterprises is being disputed, to leave the baler on the premises.

But Thomas contended that as long as he was still under contract with Webster Enterprises, the baler should be in his possession. He further said he was moving his recycling operation to the former Tuckaseigee Mills location and would return it when the his contract is set to expire Dec. 31.

When asked about the voluntary return last week, Thomas said his attorney, Tony Sexton of Killian-Kersten law firm in Waynesville, had advised him to no longer discuss the situation.

In a letter dated Sept. 27, Webster Enterprises Executive Director Arlene Stewart informed Thomas that Webster Enterprises "intends to exercise the option of not renewing the lease at the recycling facility with Country Collections."

In June, 2000, Webster Enterprises signed a five-year, annually-renewable lease with Thomas and Country Collections to collect and dispose of the county's recycling materials. Webster Enterprises maintained the county contract, subleasing the work to Thomas.

Jackson County Manager Ken Westmoreland said he has instructed all county recycling to continue to be taken to the Dillsboro facility.

"It seems to be working out fine this week," Westmoreland said Oct. 31.

Tommy Thompson, Sylva's town clerk, said recycling for the town, also contracted with Country Collections, was also running smoothly this week.

Meanwhile, Sylva zoning administrator Jim Aust said he had not been notified that Thomas planned to occupy the former Tuckaseigee Mills site. Before that can happen, Aust said, Thomas must receive a building and fire inspection and certificate of occupancy, none of which had been done by Oct. 31.

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