County leaders OK funds for EDC to purchase old Tuckaseigee Mills

By Lynn Hotaling

With the $150,000 authorized by members of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, the Jackson County Economic Development Commission can go ahead with the purchase of the Tuckaseigee Mills property on Scotts Creek Road, said EDC Chairman Tom McClure.

"We need a product if we are to recruit businesses," McClure said Tuesday. "This site is centrally located, the grounds lend themselves to expansion and it has a rail siding, which is a real asset."

The EDC intends to purchase the 103,000-square-foot former Heritage Quilt factory and 8 acres for $800,000, McClure said, and already has two businesses committed to locating there.

"One company is set to move in," he said.

An announcement as to that company's identity is expected within two weeks, McClure said.

"It's an expanding company with sophisticated and automated equipment," he said.

McClure said he expects another announcement within a month, and that he is talking seriously with a third company. As many as five businesses could locate in the existing plant, he said.

Commissioners learned July 25 that the county did not have sufficient capital reserves to aid the EDC with the purchase of Tuckaseigee Mills.

Funding for the EDC project was approved Aug. 1 after finance officer Darlene Fox told board members the state House of Representatives had approved an additional half-cent sales tax for counties, effective Jan. 1. Both the House and state Senate must agree on a budget before the sales tax becomes official. In other business Aug. 1:

- At the recommendation of Bob Cochran, director of the Jackson County Department of Social Services, commissioners approved a planning committee for Work First, the state's welfare to work program.

County Manager Ken Westmoreland will replace Commissioners' Chairman Jay Denton on that committee.

Also, commissioners accepted Cochran's recommendation that Jackson remain a "standard" county with regard to the administration of the local Work First program. By remaining a standard county, DSS officials will administer Work First according to a statewide plan rather than developing one of their own.

Cochran also told the board that all North Carolina counties will receive at least the amount they received last year for subsidized day care in the county, which means some $300,000 will be restored.

"That's good news," Cochran said.

- Commissioners tabled an appointment to the Southwestern Community College Board of Trustees. Chairman Denton proposed Cherokee Tribal Council member Tommye Saunooke, but a decision was postponed after Commissioner Stacy Buchanan said he thought she was ineligible because she already served on another SCC board.

A motion to reappoint former county Commissioner George Hooper to the SCC board failed July 25 by a vote of 2-2. Commissioners Buchanan and Roberta Crawford supported the appointment, while Denton and Commissioner Franz Whitmire voted against Hooper. Commissioner Conrad Burrell abstained from voting, citing his role as chairman of the SCC board as a conflict of interest.

- Commissioners approved a local match of $1,700 requested by Sheriff Jim Cruzan for a $7,100 highway safety equipment grant. Local funds will be taken from the Sheriff's Department budget.

- Commissioners appointed community members Michael Coward, Ron Stephens and Dick Hotaling and Cullowhee Fire Department members Tim Green (chief), Lenn Wilkes and Terry Ashe to a committee to study the feasibility of a fire department substation in Caney Fork. Emergency Services Coordinator Mike Ensley will lead the group.

Funding for a Caney Fork substation was initially included in the county's 2002-03 budget; however, commissioners removed that item before adopting the budget in June.

Back to Archive: 08/08/02.