Go to the homepage for the Sylva Herald and Ruralite

EDC hires consultant to draft polluting industries ordinance

By Rose Hooper
After deciding they did not have the expertise to write an ordinance regulating polluting industries, members of the Economic Development Commission of Jackson County voted to hire a consultant to do the job for them.

The action came during Monday night's EDC meeting. Consultant Dale Holland of Wilmington was expected to prepare a draft for members to review during the EDC's special meeting 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, at the Justice Center.

The EDC will then present the draft to the county board of commissioners during a 5 p.m. work session tonight (Thursday).

Timing on this issue is crucial, said EDC Chairman Tom McClure, noting that Jackson County's yearlong moratorium on asphalt plant construction projects is set to expire May 11. After working on the document, McClure suggested that a better name might be "Industrial Development Ordinance."

Acting on a charge from county commission Chairman Jay Denton, EDC members set out to determine how a new asphalt plant being proposed in Qualla community would impact the county economically. The group concluded the economic impact would be minimal, and further recommended that the county enact a polluting industries ordinance to address not only asphalt plants, but other industries that could potentially harm a community or the environment.

Also Monday night, Dillsboro's EDC representative Herb Nolan asked the board to consider encouraging Duke Power Co. to keep the Dillsboro dam. The Tuckaseigee River Cooperative Stakeholder Team organized to work on a consensus agreement for Duke's relicensing proposal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has proposed removing the dam.

Nolan said the dam, once the only power source in the county, has not only historic significance, but economic impact as well.

"Next to our courthouse, the Dillsboro dam is the most photographed spot in Jackson County; it's a great tourist attraction," said Nolan.

After some discussion, the EDC agreed to invite one person representing each side to make a brief presentation at their next meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21.

"I don't expect us to do an extensive study like we did on asphalt plants, but we do need to hear both sides," said EDC member Mark Leonard.

Back to Archive: 04/18/02.