Forest Hills to seek DOT maintenance for North Country Club Drive

By Rose Hooper

On a motion by member Harold Williford, the council decided to proceed with the possibility of state maintenance for North Country Club Drive.

"We already have 90 percent of the property owners who've signed the petition granting the state right-of-way," Williford said. One of the main hold-outs in not signing, he indicated, is the Meuller Family, owners of University Inn, which is currently for sale. As a municipality, Forest Hills does have the power of condemnation, village attorney Jay Coward said.

"You can also 'bond out,'" he told the council, which means putting up the estimated value of damages that might occur with any legal expenses in the condemnation process. "That way you can override any property owner who holds out."

DOT will consider the project, even without 100 percent of the property owners signatures, DOT Assistant District Engineer Jonathan Woodard told the village at its last meeting. But before DOT can begin, approval must first be given by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.

"We need to go ahead with that move and ask the commissioners to approve our request," said council member Larry Kolenbrander.

Woodard told the council last month that if the state agrees to take over the road, it would accept and maintain it as a gravel road; however, grading and widening it up to state standards would destroy existing pavement. North Country Club Road would then have to be placed on the DOT priority system for paving, a process that could be accelerated if property owners choose to share the $35,000 expense.

Finance officer Carol Pearce reported that she had received and deposited the $11,000 Powell Bill Funds which can be used for road maintenance. Member Sharon Jacques asked if those funds could be used for paving and Williford replied they could, but the village would have to maintain ownership of the road, rather than the state.

Once the state begins a study of North Country Club Road, the village is not bound to go with the recommendations, Kolenbrander said.

"We're not jumping the gun if we go ahead with our request, because it will probably take two years before we actually get state trucks out here," he said.

Meanwhile, the road committee was charged with securing signatures from additional property owners on South Country Club Drive.

In other business, the planning board recommended that an engineering study be authorized to determine the feasibility of sewer service to the village. Engineer Victor Lofquist estimated the study would cost around $3,000. Council members asked Coward to research if the village needed to use a competitive bidding process to award the project.

For the past two years Forest Hills has requested a traffic light at the intersection with N.C. 107. Several members were concerned that a red light had been placed on the Western Carolina University campus at the intersection of Central and Centennial drives when their request had not been honored.

The campus red light had been on schedule for three years, said Kolenbrander, who recently talked with DOT's Reuben Moore.

"It is my understanding from Mr. Moore that Forest Hills will get a red light this fiscal year; that means any time between now and July."

Reporting on the joint municipalities "Smart Growth" meeting, Kolenbrander told of the various meetings scheduled throughout the county. At these meetings, trained facilitators will ask residents "What would you like to see changed in your community?" and "What would you like to see not changed in your community?"

He said the village had the option of joining with Cullowhee, or requesting a separate meeting for Forest Hills. A recommendation by Jacques carried, with an abstention by Williford, that the village participate in the Cullowhee meeting, which will be held Feb, 27.

The council expressed thanks to Jean Adams, chair of the village "Clean Sweep" litter pickup, and participants Robert Kehrberg, Dick Iobst, Margarette Scull, Williford, Ian Pritchard, Ruth Shuler, David McCord, Ann Chambers, Eugene Tweedy and Mayor Irene Hooper.

Ann Melton, assistant clerk of court, swore in new planning board members Steve Owens and Joe Rizono; Sally James will be sworn in at a later date. Each will serve a three-year term. James Weir, a retired CPA and new village resident, was sworn in as assistant financial officer.

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