TWSA considers bylaw change to relocate its headquarters out of Sylva

Longtime board chairman to resign

By Lisa Majors-Duff

The amendment says that TWSA's "principle office, facilities, garages, equipment and/or other offices, buildings or structures shall be located in Jackson County, North Carolina, at such specific locations within Jackson County as the directors of the authority may from time to time designate."

As they stand now, TWSA's bylaws restrict the location of the authority's principle office to the Sylva town limits.

Action on the proposal has been delayed until TWSA's next regularly scheduled meeting June 19. Should it be approved, the amendment would then need to be ratified by a majority of the four political subdivisions - Jackson County and the towns of Sylva, Dillsboro and Webster - that created the authority nine years ago, Large said.

TWSA's customer base outside Sylva's city limits is approximately equal to that inside the town, Executive Director Jerry King said.

"Convenience to the customers will be part of (my) recommendation," King told the board May 15. King's recommendation in April was to move the TWSA headquarters to D&R Professional Park in Webster. The 2-acre lot would provide ample space for an office, warehouse, maintenance and equipment storage, he said.

Since the announcement was made, some Webster Town Board members have voiced concerns about such a move, said TWSA Chairman J.C. Alexander, Webster's appointment to the authority board.

D&R Professional Park, which is located on N.C. 116 across from Southwestern Community College, is currently home to Smoky Mountain Center. The property was annexed by Webster in 1997 and designated the town's only business district, using the owners' (Don Hensley and Roger Bartlett) own restrictive covenants as a basis for expanding Webster's zoning ordinance, said Webster Mayor Steve Gray.

"It appears from the restrictive convenants that TWSA could move to Webster's business district, which, along with business and professional offices, also allows light industrial with some restrictions," Gray said.

Also of concern to both Webster and TWSA is Alexander's resignation as of June 30. A member of the authority board since TWSA's beginning, Alexander said he is planning to move away from Jackson County this summer.

"At this point I don't know who we'll appoint to take (Alexander's) place," Gray said. His board meets again June 14.

News Editor Lisa Majors-Duff contributed to this report.

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