|
By Lynn Hotaling
County commissioners last week (Nov. 18) added "the last
piece" to a "Cashiers corridor" that will link
the post office, community center, library and community college
campus.
Jackson County's Board of Commissioners approved the purchase
of a 3.5-acre tract known as the Nichols property, for $1.5 million,
said Commissioners' Chairman Stacy Buchanan.
The property, which includes a 4,000-square-foot house, was appraised
at $1.6 million, Buchanan said.
"It's prime commercial real estate," Buchanan said Monday.
The house and approximately 1 acre will likely be sold, allowing
the county to recoup a large portion of the funds expended, Buchanan
said.
"We had to buy it all, but we don't need the house,"
Buchanan said.
Along with the 2.9-acre Freeman tract county leaders purchased
Oct. 28 at a cost of $450,000, the new parcel will be used for
expansion of the Cashiers Community Center and Albert Carlton
Library and construction of a building to house Southwestern Community
College's Cashiers classes, Buchanan said.
"It's great that we're finally going to be able to do some
things in Cashiers to help with the quality of life and sense
of community," Buchanan said.
The "corridor" plan was developed by the Cashiers Community
Council, Buchanan said. That group has already committed to paying
half the cost of the planned library expansion.
In other action Nov. 18, commissioners approved several funding
requests from the towns of Sylva, Dillsboro and Forest Hills:
- Sylva will receive $10,000 to help construct a foot bridge across
Scotts Creek, Buchanan said. The proposed bridge would connect
the downtown area and Poteet Park and is part of planned improvements
in the Mill Street area.
- Dillsboro will receive $7,000 in county funds to help develop
the Monteith property Dillsboro plans to purchase to create additional
town parking, a permanent building for Kudzu players and other
community uses.
- Forest Hills will receive $3,000 in county funds to help fund
improvements to the town entrance.
In other action Nov. 18, commissioners tabled a request from Cashiers
area Realtor Ray Trine to close a portion of Knob Creek Road.
Commissioners were scheduled to meet Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 6 p.m.
Items slated for action during that session include:
- A request from the Department on Aging that the commissioners
match $5,000 raised by local churches to support the group's efforts
to build wheelchair ramps.
- Asbestos removal contracts for the old Canada School and the
old Qualla School.
- Disposal of obsolete computer equipment. One suggestion was
to donate the items to certified non-profit organizations like
Pathways for the Future.
- A policy that would allow new county employees to transfer all
annual leave accrued at other state or municipal jobs.
Currently, employees may only receive credit for one-half the
leave they've accrued on previous jobs.
|
