Sylva leaders approve natural gas franchise

By Lynn Hotaling

Town board members unanimously granted a 30-year franchise to PSNC Energy that will allow the gas company to place its distribution lines in town-owned right of ways.

If all goes well, natural gas should be online in Sylva in early 2002, said Don Hollingse, director of external relations for PSNC. Gas lines currently end at the old Dayco plant near Waynesville. Plans are to begin construction in June on a 6-inch pipeline that will bring gas to Sylva, Dillsboro and Western Carolina University. The pipeline will follow Old Balsam Road in Haywood County, then run along U.S. 23-74 to N.C. 107, he said.

In addition, Hollingse said, some 27,000 feet of 2-inch distribution line will be installed in Jackson County. Those lines have not been mapped yet but will be placed in the areas where the greatest interest is generated, he said.

The franchise is not an exclusive one, Hollingse said, but an agreement to allow PSNC to construct its pipeline and distribution lines. The contract requires the gas company to replace and repair all pavement, sidewalk and curbing disturbed during construction.

In other matters Feb. 1:

- Board members gave town zoning administrator Jim Aust the go-ahead to advertise for bids to clean up the George Bryson property on Chipper Curve Road. The property is delinquent in taxes and consists of less than one-tenth acre valued at $2,100, Aust said. He gave the amount owed in back taxes as more than $2,000.

Statutes grant the town the authority to take the property since it is tax delinquent and no next of kin has been found, Aust said. The cost of cleaning up the property and removing the burned-out structure was estimated at $6,500.

Aust mentioned several other properties in the same neighborhood that are health and safety hazards. Board members agreed to his plan to contact the owners and give them one last chance before the town takes action to eliminate the hazards.

- Board members approved Aust's request to have town crews secure a building that has become a target for vandals and a shelter for vagrants. The old East Sylva church on East Sylva Circle near Sylva Plaza is also delinquent in taxes, he said, but he cannot find the owner.

- Scott Welch, general manager of GDS, indicated to board members that his company would like to extend its contract for hauling the town's residential solid waste. That contract will expire in June. The company, which also has the contract for hauling Sylva's commercial solid waste, is also interested in collecting the town's business recyclables, Welch said.

Commercial recyclables are currently picked up by Country Collections, a Cullowhee company that has four years remaining on its contract with the town.

Mayor Brenda Oliver referred GDS requests to Sylva's solid waste committee for consideration.

Country Collections has voiced an interest in securing the contract to haul Sylva's residential trash, said town administrator Tommy Thompson. His recommendation is to have the solid waste committee draw up a set of specifications and put the trash contract out for bid.

Sylva's solid waste committee will meet Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 10 a.m. at town hall.

- Revisiting a matter discussed in January, town board members amended a resolution passed with regard to the access road to Jackson Plaza to require a sidewalk be constructed before the town will accept it. Town officials agreed last month to accept the road into the city system if a new post office is built at the shopping center and the road is improved to state specifications.

- Board members were unwilling to approve a $100 per month contribution to the Community Table, but they did approve a onetime donation of $100.

"I have a little problem with singling out one charity, even though worthwhile, to support with taxpayer money," said board member Maurice Moody. "I'm not questioning the good they do, but we have to be careful with taxpayer money."

Mayor Oliver said the organization, which provides meals at little or no cost to those who need them, only has funds to operate through February.

- Board members elected Oliver to serve on the Economic Development Commission of Jackson County. She will replace Boyd Sossamon Jr., whose term on the board has expired. Mayor Oliver expressed appreciation to Sossamon for his outstanding service on that board.

- Sylva's town greenways committee will consist of Hoyt Roberson, Harold Hensley and Lou Bryson, Oliver said.

- Board member Norma Lee said she had received complaints about brush piled at the town's old settlement pond on Fisher Creek. Town employees are stockpiling brush there, Thompson said. The plan is to accumulate the brush and then chip it every year or two.

It costs some $5,000 per year to take the brush to the county's C&D landfill, said Aust. Town employees will chip it and then give it back to town citizens to use as mulch, he said.

- Mayor Oliver announced several upcoming meetings. Board members will hold a planning session Thursday, Feb. 15, after a joint meeting of local government leaders at 5 p.m. at the Justice Center. Sylva's meeting is expected to get under way around 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

Town officials will meet with SPIR's board on Monday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. town hall.

Town board members have scheduled an all-day planning retreat for Saturday, Feb. 24. That session will be held at board member Audrey Tritt's cabin near Cashiers.

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