Commissioners approve AC at SMHS

By Lisa Majors-Duff

The air-cooling equipment could be installed by Thanksgiving, engineer Kevin Brock of Reece, Noland and McElrath Inc. of Waynesville said during the commissioners' meeting Sept. 6. The estimated cost of the project is $40,500, he said, with at least another $20,000 required to adapt the equipment to the layout of a new cafeteria and kitchen currently in the planning stages.

The commissioners' vote on the issue was similar to one taken the week before by members of the Board of Education, who voted 4-1 to proceed with the air-conditioning project. Commissioners' Chairman Jay Denton cast the "no" vote, as did school board member Ray Trine. (Commissioner Franz Whitmire did not attend the Sept. 6 session.)

"I'd like to see us save money and make sure we have everything we need," Denton said before voting against Commissioner Stacy Buchanan's motion to move ahead with the project. "The (school) board is very concerned with the extreme heat of up to 130 degrees in which students, parents and staff are having to eat and work," Superintendent Mack McCary wrote in a letter to county Manager Ken Westmoreland. "They are also concerned that the current heating system... is totally inadequate resulting in both staff and students having to wear coats to eat breakfast during the winter."

In his motion, Buchanan pointed out that about $140,000 remains in the project budget, and that investment earnings on $1.5 million have been added during a yearlong delay in construction. He proposed either of these sources be used to fund the air-conditioning units. Commissioners' approval of the project was required because school officials requested to use a portion of funds set aside to construct the new cafeteria to air condition the existing space. Commissioners borrowed money for the new cafeteria as part of the first phase of a $6.5 million renovation and upgrade of the 40-year-old school.

On another school-related request, commissioners agreed to a recommendation from maintenance director Arlin Middleton to spend $165,000 to $195,000 in ADM funds to make roof repairs at Fairview, Smokey Mountain Elementary and the old Scotts Creek School. ADM funds are provided by the state and must be used for repairs to buildings that are used for student instruction. A 25 percent match, or $48,750 in this case, is required from county commissioners in order to qualify for the funding.

Also last week, commissioners approved a budget amendment request from Sheriff Jim Cruzan to pay 30 days of annual leave to former Chief Deputy Jim Ashe, who recently resigned "to pursue other avenues," the sheriff said.

Changes resulting from Ashe's resignation include promotions for Ronnie Melton, an 18-year veteran of the department, to chief deputy; J.P. Gallardo to major; Kim Hooper to road captain; Scott Buttery to fourth-shift supervisor; and Matt Helton to fourth-shift assistant supervisor, Cruzan said last week.

Sources close to Ashe say his departure from the Sheriff's Department, where he has been employed for some 20 years, was a preliminary step to seeking the office of sheriff in the May 2002 primary election.

Also approved was a new county purchasing policy, which allows department heads to spend up to $300 on items without securing bids or a purchase order, as long as funds are available in the department's budget. The spending limit had previously been $100.

The new policy also eliminates the county manager's signature on purchase orders between $300 and $29,999, requiring instead the finance officer's approval. According to state law, purchases of materials or execution of contracts estimated at $30,000 or greater must be approved by the board of commissioners and will be subject to the formal bid process.

At the recommendation of officials with Southwestern Commission, board membres approved a memorandum of understanding in hopes of being named one of state's first Rural Transportation Planning Organizations. Jackson is one of the seven Western North Carolina counties that make up Region A, which includes Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Macon and Swain counties, all of which would be included in the designation.

If Region A is approved for an RPO designation, opportunities to work with the DOT on "sound, short- and long-range transportation planning" concerns would increase, said Steve Eller of Southwestern Commission.

As outlined in the memo, some of the reasons for creating a RPO are to allow public participation in the transportation planning process; to develop and prioritize suggestions for transportation projects; and to undertake mutually agreed upon transportation-related tasks to enhance transportation system development, coordination and efficiency.

"Southwestern Commission (would) receive approximately $100,000 in state funding to implement the Region A RPO," Eller said. "Designation as an RPO will ensure that rural governments have the same opportunities for input and coordination with the N.C. DOT planning processes that our urban communities have through their metropolitan Transportation Planning Organizations.

"There is a great deal of competition among the regions for designation," he wrote. "If we are going to be among the first, we need to act as quickly as possible."

In another N.C. Department of Transportation matter, commissioners agreed to forward a resolution to the DOT requesting that three-fourths of a mile of Elk Road in Sylva be added to the state road system.

Board members then tabled appointments to the transportation committee and county planning board.

The next meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 20. A work session, which is expected to include presentations from the Canada Fire Department and the Cashiers Library, will be held at the Canada CDC Building at 5 p.m., followed by a regular meeting at 7 p.m.

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