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'Put ETJ aside,' Jamison tells Forest Hills

By Rose Hooper
The Carolina Crossmen Herald photo by Rose Hooper

"Don't divide this community further. We will not accept extra-territorial jurisdiction and our resolve is strong. We ask you to put ETJ aside," Mark Jamison (standing) told the Forest Hills Village Council at its May 1 meeting at Cullowhee Valley School.

As an orderly show of force, some 65 residents of Forest Hills' proposed extra-territorial jurisdiction attended the village's May Day meeting.

Their spokesperson, Mark Jamison, told the village council, "We are here tonight to tell you that extra-territorial jurisdiction is unacceptable to your neighbors in any way, shape or form. ETJ violates the most basic principles of our democracy. We cannot vote for the council that would pass ordinances that govern us. The fact is we could not even vote for our representatives on the planning board - they are appointed by the county commissioners.

"ETJ offers us no vote and no real voice," Jamison continued. "Beyond this fundamental flaw, your exercise of ETJ would do nothing more than provide a framework for zoning. We are overwhelmingly opposed to zoning. ETJ offers us nothing but another level of government regulation, something we do not need or want."

Jamison said his group's resolve was strong and asked the council to set ETJ aside.

"Don't divide this community further," he concluded.

Mike Clark, another resident opposed to ETJ, told the council he did not want "any of my tax dollars going to defend you for this silly idea of ETJ... and you will have lawsuits."

LaRae Hooper asked, "Why does Forest Hills want to do this? It just doesn't make sense."

On a suggestion by council member Larry Kolenbrander, the council agreed to prepare a set of educational plans, including fact sheets, informational items, newspaper articles, editorials and posters to clarify issues related to ETJ.

The village council further agreed to meet in small groups with those in the proposed ETJ.

"By the same token," Kolenbrander said, "the village council can be educated and learn what the people in the community think. What we want to establish is an on-going discussion of ETJ."

Council attorney Jay Coward advised that such meetings could take place without public notice "as long as a majority of the council members are not present. If a majority is going to be present, then the meeting has to be posted in accordance with the open meetings law."

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