County attorney resigns; clerk to board removed

By Lisa Majors-Duff

County attorney Raymond Large tendered his resignation last week (Nov. 21) after four years on the job, while longtime clerk to the board Darlene Fox was dismissed from these duties by Chairman-elect Stacy Buchanan.

"(Buchanan) told me (the board-elect) had met and that they would not need my services as clerk," Fox said.

Before leaving last week's meeting, Large said he had recently learned that the board-elect had been considering several local lawyers, including him, for the position of county attorney.

"Please be advised that I do not seek to be the attorney for Jackson County, and, if selected, will not serve in that capacity," Large said. "Myself and my office will make every effort to make the transition to new council a smooth one."

In his statement to the board, Large went on to say that "for the four years I have served as county attorney, myself and other members of my firm and employees have made every effort to provide quality legal services to the board and the various departments of county government. For the past four years county business received top priority in our firm - often to the delay of other important business for other clients."

Immediately after taking the position of county attorney in 1998, Large and the members of his firm - Hunter, Large and Sherrill - were called upon by commissioners to negotiate a resolution to threatened legal action from Western Builders' owners Don Hensley and Roger Bartlett, who said their property's water source was contaminated by the county's adjacent landfill. The agreed upon settlement prevented a lawsuit from being filed.

Action against another Dillsboro property owner, Great Smoky Mountain Railway, soon followed when officials there attempted to deny the county from accessing property it was using to grind and store yard waste.

The firm next tackled the issue of collecting back taxes with a lawsuit against the owners of Santa's Land in Cherokee and a garnishment of U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor's salary.

In addition to the Taylor case, which is scheduled to be heard by the N.C. Court of Appeals, five other county tax matters are pending, said tax assessor Cecil Dills, who praised firm partner Diane Sherrill's handling of the county's tax matters.

"Diane has done a good job with our tax issues," Dills said. "Hopefully, she will continue to help us until these are resolved."

Large was also asked to assist with several pieces of legislation during his term as county attorney. One of the most noteworthy was the 1999 billboard ordinance, which, when challenged, Large successfully defended on behalf of the county to the N.C. Court of Appeals. The court's decision required an out-of-compliance billboard on U.S. 441 just south of Dillsboro to be removed.

Against their attorney's advice, board members pushed for regulations designed to put a Cherokee tourist helicopter out of business. The legislation approved to address the issue was, in fact, not drafted by Large, but by newly-hired county Manager Ken Westmoreland and declared unconstitutional by District Court Judge Steve Bryant within a matter of weeks.

"The new board will face challenges as well," Large said. "When those challenges come, and they will, you will be best advised to rely on the advice of your attorney, who will, as I did, tell you what the law is as opposed to what you want to hear."

Prior to his resignation, Large was preparing to defend the county in a suit filed by Rolling Meadow Ranch, a Florida-based corporation, which alleged county employees trespassed on its property in Cashiers and removed valuable vegetation, include several trees.

"Suffice it to say that the job has been challenging, interesting and trying," said Large "This board has accomplished a lot during the past four years, and myself and my firm have been a part of that. This makes me proud.

"It has been an honor and privilege to serve Jackson County for the past your years, and I wish the new board the best of luck in its future endeavors," he concluded.

"I appreciate all you have done for this board," Chairman Jay Denton told Large. "You've done an outstanding job for us."

Chairman-elect Stacy Buchanan would not comment when asked who the board was considering to replace Large. An announcement of the new county attorney and clerk to the board is expected during Monday's organizational meeting.

Back to Archive: 11/28/02.