County continues to address 'nuisances'

By Lisa Majors-Duff

Herb Zachmann, a Sylva resident, spoke out against a Parris Branch junkyard, which he called "a safety hazard." Until last week, commissioners had heard complaints about the business mainly from Marion Forest resident Michael Pritchett.

Echoing Pritchett's concerns, Zachmann asked commissioners to consider purchasing the property and improving its appearance. Any funds spent on the property would be made up, he said, when property values in the area return to their pre-junkyard levels.

An improved entrance to the new Scotts Creek School could also assist with economic development in the county, Zachmann said. Industry leaders interested in relocating to Jackson County would not be forced to see a junkyard when touring area schools, he said.

In a similar vein, commissioners gave the go ahead to county attorney Raymond Large to send a letter to the N.C. Attorney General seeking assistance with available legal avenues to ban or regulate a sight-seeing helicopter business in Qualla community. In addition, Large reported he'd had a conversation with a Department of Transportation official with expertise in the area of aviation who offered to speak with the board in more detail.

In other business to come before the board, commissioners agreed to send a resolution to Gov. Mike Easley requesting he fully reinstate local reimbursements from the inventory tax and elderly homestead exemptions, an amount totaling more than $151,000 for Jackson County. Gov. Easley has announced plans to withhold these funds in an effort to cover an estimated $900 million state budget shortfall.

County Manager Ken Westmoreland reported he'd honored a request from the N.C. Highway Patrol to use the old Qualla School building for training exercises. He also reported that work at the new Law Enforcement Center is on schedule, and that the recreation facility in Cullowhee could be open for public use in March or April.

Appointments to the board of equalization and review were approved as follows: Chairman Richard Wilson, Vice Chairman Arlie Moss, Gail Cooper, Rogers Shelton and Frank Wilder.

Before going into closed session to discuss a lawsuit filed against Sheriff Jim Cruzan and others in connection with a sex scandal at Blue Ridge School last year, board members scheduled a special meeting with the Department of Social Services to discuss an alternate location for the agency to alleviate overcrowding. That meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, March 4, at the Community Service Center.

The next regular meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the Justice Center.

Back to Archive: 02/28/02.