EDC urged to make no changes

By Rose Hooper

Coward, who chairs the committee studying equitable contributions to the EDC, reported that his committee "recommends no change to the bylaws right now." Coward's committee was formed to answer a concern by the town of Dillsboro that "each municipality is not meeting its obligations."

Since the EDC was formed in 1992, its bylaws have called for equal financial support and per capita assessment from each municipality "in so far as their individual fiscal budgets will allow."

The Village of Forest Hills, incorporated in 1997, was not part of that agreement.

Dillsboro contributes $16.80 per person, as does the town of Sylva. Both Webster and Forest Hills contributed $500 each to the EDC. For Webster, with a tax rate of 4 cents per $100 valuation and a population of 487, that amounts to $1.02 per person. For Forest Hills, with a tax rate of 10 cents per $100 valuation and a population of 345, it amounts to $1.45 per person.

"Dillsboro and Sylva, along with Jackson County, have met their obligation since the EDC was formed," Dillsboro's EDC representative Herb Nolan told board members. "Other municipalities appear hesitant to tax their citizens to do likewise. This creates a most unfair burden on some and though minor, a reduction in funds required for the EDC to operate."

Nolan further requested that if the municipalities did not pay their fair share, their EDC representatives should not be allowed to vote. Coward serves as Webster's EDC representative, while Forest Hills is represented by Ron Stephens.

Also Monday night, Nolan, who chairs the commercial development committee, reported on a recent "non-professional and unscientific" survey he conducted in Jackson County to determine the retail needs of county residents.

"We received a lot of requests for full-service auto repair," Nolan told the board. "Requests were also made for lawn mower sales and service, a foreign car dealership, home-based computer consultants, crafts supplies and yard goods and home services like plumbing, heating and air conditioning."

The committee's next job, he said, will be to prioritize the list and check feasibility of locations.

"If we get into that kind of recruitment, we must be sure we don't step on toes of the current business community," Coward interjected. "For instance, I'm not sure our other car dealers would like the EDC to solicit a foreign car dealership."

EDC Chairman Tom McClure said that Western Carolina University is currently conducting a retail gap study, with results to be available this spring.

N.C. Department of Transportation 14th Division Engineer Ron Watson reported that not many local people spoke at the Nov. 15 Transportation Improvement Plan public hearing because Hendersonville residents took up most of the allotted time.

"If you have a transportation concern and didn't get a chance to speak at the hearing, send those comments to me within the next couple of weeks," Watson said. "Written comments will count just as much as the spoken ones."

Following the open meeting, EDC went into closed session to discuss real estate.

Back to Archive: 11/23/00.