Budget discussions include SMHS fixes, moving public library

By Lisa Majors-Duff

As preparations for the Fiscal Year 2003-04 county budget move forward, commissioners met at length with county Manager Ken Westmoreland and finance office Darlene Fox to touch on a variety of topics they'd like covered in the finished document, which must be adopted by July 1.

The planning discussion included Phase II improvements at Smoky Mountain High School, how to meet needs identified at the Cashiers Community Development Center, moving the downtown Sylva public library to the Southwestern Community College campus in Webster and how to handle solid waste collection and disposal.

Also discussed were funding options for a new Department of Social Service building, the office shuffle that will occur when the detention center's second floor is completed, and new fire stations in both Qualla and Caney Fork communities.

After receiving revenue and expenditure projections through 2008, as well as financing potential for the same time frame, commissioners were brought up to speed on work to date at Smoky Mountain High School and what remains to be done at the 45-year-old facility. When the largest project in Phase I (a new cafeteria) is completed in August, school officials will begin looking at their list of priorities for Phase II, maintenance director Arlin Middleton said.

This list includes a new science building; the need to acquire the adjacent Alexander property, which, so far, has prevented school officials from using the Jones property for campus expansion and a new school entrance route; upgrading water lines to Fairview School while excavation is under way on the SMHS campus; the best use of $1.2 million in interest-free technology funds; and minor building repairs, such as rest room fixtures, doors that won't shut and new windows for the gymnasium.

Revisiting the components of a presentation they received in February, commissioners discussed ways in which to modify a request from officials with the Cashiers CDC. Community representatives requested financial assistance from commissioners to expand both the public library and the CDC building.

Instead of acquiring the Summit Charter School site for an expansion of the Cashiers SCC campus, as was proposed in February, board Chairman Stacy Buchanan suggested additional college classroom space could be incorporated in the library expansion. This project would require the purchase of two adjacent parcels - one for $900,000, the other for $200,000.

The cost to add about 5,500 square feet to the library will run about $1.5 million, said Buchanan, who suggested Westmoreland meet with library supporter Barbara Carlton of Cashiers and SCC President Cecil Groves to discuss a three-way split in funding.

As for the CDC, Buchanan suggested commissioners agree to purchase the land for the building expansion, but then leave that work to the community to fund. Another $200,000 was estimated for this land purchase.

Moving north, commissioners discussed changes proposed on SCC's Webster campus, including the relocation of the county's public library from downtown Sylva. Following a recent land exchange between SCC and the N.C. Forest Service, campus expansion plans call for development on N.C. 116 in that space, Westmoreland said.

"(SCC officials) don't want to bury the library on campus," he said. "They want to give it a major presence."

A new library for the college and the community would be funded with $2 million in state bond money, which should be allocated in July, and matching county dollars. Another $2.5 million has been earmarked for classroom improvements, similar to those at SMHS, Buchanan said.

While board consensus seemed in favor of moving the downtown library to Webster, commissioners were not in favor of matching bond funds to build a health and wellness center on the college campus.

"I don't want to support with county dollars something that will compete with the Cullowhee Recreation Center," said Buchanan, who proposed SCC could reallocate funds to use for a wellness center to the project in Cashiers.

As the discussion turned to county space needs, it was reported that funds will be needed in next year's budget to pay for a new DSS building, the site for which has yet to be determined, and more administration space on the second floor of the new jail. A games of "musical offices" will follow, with plans tentatively calling for the Board of Elections to move to the Justice Center, 911 expanding into space being occupied by the Community Service program and the Transit Department moving to the Western Builders' site in Dillsboro. County finance, a new commissioners' board room and manager's office will also be located above the jail.

While a public meeting has been scheduled in Qualla to receive comment on razing the old Qualla School building to make room for a new fire station, board members seemed unimpressed with the idea. Instead, Buchanan asked that Chief David Bell continue his search for property more centrally located in the community to house the department, perhaps with the aid of a Realtor in the area.

Commissioners concluded their meeting on the budget, the first of many scheduled prior to the June 30 adoption deadline, with a discussion on solid waste and recycling. The county's $110,000 contract for recycling with Webster Enterprises is set to expire in June, at which time WE has announced plans to get out of the recycling business.

With that in mind, it was suggested that recyclables could be housed at the county's construction and demolition transfer station before being sold. Some modifications would be needed at the transfer station, including the addition of a truck scale in the warehouse, Westmoreland said.

The county manager also informed board members that methane gas has become a problem at the former Dillsboro landfill, so much so that monitoring sites have registered levels that exceed Department of Environment and Natural Resource's limits.

Instead of spending more than $1 million to install the equipment needed to burn the gas, a mitigation solution approved by DENR, Westmoreland suggested the same funds be spent to collect the gas for beneficial use. While the consumer's cost to change from electricity to gas may not be justified at this time, a recent feasibility study showed the landfill produces enough gas to service all of Dillsboro for the next 20 years, Westmoreland said.

Gas collected in containers, though, could be used to heat greenhouses or fire kilns, which could lead to more business development opportunities in the Dillsboro community. Such a county-sponsored endeavor would require the purchase of the remaining Webster Enterprises' property adjacent to the landfill, Buchanan pointed out. Commissioners last week agreed to buy 2 acres from WE, where the Dillsboro staffed recycling center is located.

Commissioners will continue their discussions regarding next year's budget during a special meeting called today (Thursday) at 4 p.m. at the Justice Center.

Back to Archive: 03/20/03.