|
"These people are a part of Jackson County history," she said. "I'd hate to see them put in a basement and put away."
Collins's father, who was known as "Mr. Democrat," a title he earned as a leading vote-getter during his 36 years of public service, was said to have known 90 percent of the people in Jackson County prior to his death in 1989 at age 86.
Hughes' portrait was dedicated during a ceremony presided over by then-District Attorney Marcellus Buchanan at the old courthouse in May 1981. It was accepted by Wayne Hooper, then-chairman of the board of commissioners, in recognition of Hughes' years of service.
"It has been a long time since you moved into the new building and these portraits were placed in storage," Collins told the board. "I know that most of you were not commissioners then, but you can take a stand and do what is right.
"I can promise you without a doubt that if any of you asked my father today to do something for you, he would," she continued.
Upon the suggestion of Commissioner Conrad Burrell, who followed in Hughes's foot steps when he was elected register of deeds in 1978, minutes from planning meetings concerning Justice Center decor will be researched prior to the board's next meeting.
"If I'm remembering correctly, the two prior boards wanted photos (at the Justice Center) to be uniform. That's why everything here is the same, these plaque-type photos," said Burrell, pointing to the rows of wood and bronze plaques that line a wall of the board room. "The other boards probably wanted to hang the photos back in the (old) courtroom."
In fact, that was the case, according to an August 2000 letter to commission Chairman Jay Denton from Tom Jones, president of the county Bar Association.
"...it is my recollection that in 1994 the Jackson County Board of Commissioners... agreed with the appropriate representatives of the Jackson County Bar Association... that the portraits which had hung in the courtroom of the old Jackson County Courthouse would be rehung in that courtroom upon completion of renovations..." Jones wrote. "Obviously, that plan was abated when the old courtroom was subsequently leased to the Kudzu Players..."
Also last Thursday, Aug. 15, board members named Cherokee Principal Chief Leon Jones to replace former county Commissioner George Hooper on the Southwestern Community College board of trustees.
"Chief Jones is known for his commitment to education and his dedication to improving the quality of life for all the citizens of Western North Carolina," said Burrell. "I welcome the insight, energy and leadership qualities he will bring to the SCC board."
Commissioners Denton, Stacy Buchanan and Roberta Crawford approved Jones 3-0 after Burrell abstained from voting due to his role as chairman of the SCC board. Commissioner Franz Whitmire was not present for the vote.
Prior to voting on the nomination, board members took time to clarify a rule of procedure they had not been following. Rule 23 of the "Rules of Procedure" requires board members to grant another member permission to abstain from voting for reasons that would constitute a conflict of interest. If permission is not granted, the abstention would be recorded as a "no" vote, the board agreed.
Commissioners reached much the same conclusion as members of the county board of eduction on the subject of the Freshman Framework, a transition program at Smoky Mountain High School. Instead of both boards signing a contract that outlines expected improvements in areas such as freshman failure rates, discipline referrals and end-of-course tests, members will discuss the program at the end of the school year and decide then if funding should continue.
This year's funding for the program - some $82,000 - would be contingent on "a gentleman's agreement" to meet next spring and discuss the program's outcome, Commissioner Buchanan said.
McMillan Smith of Spartanburg, S.C., was chosen from 13 proposals submitted by architects vying for the job of designing a new facility to house the county's Department of Social Services. As of yet no site for such a facility has been selected.
Board members agreed to transfer a small strip of land adjacent to the Hooper House to the Hooper House Preservation Foundation. The .017 of an acre that includes a brick wall between the house and public library was not included in the original survey.
The next meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners will get under way at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Justice Center.
|
Hughes