|
"I saw WCU as an opportunity to really build an institution dedicated and committed to serving the people of the region."
Robinson died of heart failure in 1988 at age 69. WCU's H.F. Robinson Administration Building, which houses the university's administration offices and the Mountain Heritage Center, is named in his honor.
The resolution is expected to be addressed by the DOT at its July meeting in Raleigh, said Commissioner Conrad Burrell, who also serves as a member of the DOT board.
"It's a very common thing throughout the state to name a road after someone," Burrell said, "but to my knowledge there are no roads in Jackson County dedicated to any individuals."
Another resolution receiving board support last Thursday (June 6) was titled "To Improve Telephone Service." Presented by Commissioner Stacy Buchanan, the resolution pointed out that long-distance telephone service has been interrupted 20 times in Jackson County since 1999, and these interruptions "severely impact industries, businesses, schools and government entities."
The resolution goes on to request that Verizon and BellSouth develop, create and maintain a redundant regular and/or trunk line and telecommunications system to ensure electronic failures do not continue to occur.
Spokesmen for both companies told The Herald that a redundant loop should be operational by the end of the month.
The details of how a fire tax would be imposed on county residents held up action on the county's Smart Growth development plan. Members of the Smart Growth committee had requested commissioners approve the plan - which outlines several strategies to address concerns voiced by residents during numerous community meetings - and appoint another task force to begin work on a "proactive, long-range planning" document.
But the strategy suggested to provide for adequate emergency services - a fire tax system - caused commissioners some concern. They tabled the issue for further discussion at a later date.
Commissioners heard a concern from Sylva business owner Jason Kimenker, who said glass has been stored and co-mingled at the Webster Enterprises Recycling Center in Dillsboro. Some of the glass, Kimenker said, has been transported to the Macon County Landfill instead of being recycled.
"We are trying to do a good thing," Kimenker told the board, "but it's not happening."
County recycling responsibilities are contracted to Webster Enterprises, which last year subcontracted the operation to Country Collections, a garbage/recycling business owned by Bobby Gunter and Bud Boynton.
In response to Kimenker's concern, Boynton said Tuesday that no glass has been landfilled since he and Gunter took over operations. Boynton did confirmed that the glass being stored in Dillsboro is co-mingled, but that situation started with the previous Country Collections owner.
Co-mingled glass is harder to market, said Boynton, who reported Tuesday that he may have found a solution by paying up to $4,000 to have the glass removed by another recycler. Until at least half the glass collected is removed, Country Collections will not have the space to separate glass being brought to the Dillsboro facility, he said.
"I wish Jason would have talked to us before he talked to the commissioners," Boynton said. "It's absolutely false that any glass has been taken to the Macon County Landfill."
County Manager Ken Westmoreland said following the meeting that the glass pile in Dillsboro is not in violation of any state regulations since the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources allows a one-year storage of glass.
Westmoreland reported during the meeting that personal property tax card information is now available via the Internet at www.jacksonnc.org as county government continues to move toward making more services accessible from home computers.
A request from the Village of Forest Hills that the county's noise ordinance be enforced within the village's corporate limits died during discussion for lack of a motion. Commissioners requested more information on the status of private security employed by Village officials.
The following appointments were approved: Janie Davis was named to the Council on Aging; Dawn Madden was chosen to join the Social Services board of directors; and Commissioners Stacy Buchanan and Roberta Crawford were selected to serve on the Department of Social Services architect selection committee. Funding in the amount of $1.25 million has been included in the county's proposed 2002-03 budget to purchase property and construct a new DSS facility.
The next regular meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, June 20, at which time board members are slated to tour the new jail facility.
The first regular meeting in July has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 11, at 7 p.m. to avoid a conflict with the Fourth of July holiday.
|
Robinson
Country Collections owner Bud Boynton Tuesday denied a claim that co-mingled glass stored at the Webster Enterprises recycling center is being taken to the Macon County Landfill. A solution is in the works, he said, that will require Country Collections to pay to have the glass removed. - Herald photo by Kelly Timco