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By Lynn Hotaling
Jackson County leaders last week (Oct. 21) selected a former Swain
administrator to fill the new position of planning coordinator/zoning
administrator.
Linda Thomas, who spent 23 years with Swain County government,
will assume her new duties Nov. 1, said Jackson County Commissioners'
Chairman Stacy Buchanan.
"I'm excited to have someone who brings her amount of experience
in local government to the table," Buchanan said. "She's
from an area similar to ours, and she has a wealth of experience
with boards - both boards of commissioners and planning boards.
"(Thomas) will be a great asset as we bring our planning
boards on line," Buchanan said.
Thomas, who most recently worked with the Federal Emergency Management
Agency assisting Western North Carolina counties in completion
of a risk assessment concerning terrorist attacks, will be paid
$48,000 annually.
Money for the position was included in the budget for the current
fiscal year.
"I'm really happy, and I'm excited about the opportunity,"
Thomas said Tuesday. "This is a new position that we will
develop as we go.
"As a county administrator I did a little bit of everything.
The exciting part (of this job) for me will be to focus on one
area and give it my all," Thomas said.
Thomas worked for Swain County government from 1980 until July
of this year.
In other action Oct. 21, commissioners appointed the members to
serve on two new boards to administer the Cashiers Commercial
Area zoning ordinance.
Appointed to the Cashiers Area Community Planning Council were
Tammy Bryson, Brent Buchanan, Arnold Nicholson, Lester Freeman
and Ed Henson. Alternates are Charlie Ward and Adrian Fowler Jr.
Appointed to the Cashiers Area Design Review Board were Lloyd
Rice, Darrell Stewart, Bill McNeely, Johnny Hooper and Sharon
Holt.
Also, commissioners approved Recreation and Parks Director Jeff
Carpenter's recommendation of four new members to his department's
advisory board.
Appointed to serve two-year terms were Mark Melrose of Cullowhee,
Terry Wilson of Sylva, Ben Tholkes of Cullowhee and Steve Jones
of Sylva.
In one other item of business, commissioners approved extending
dental insurance benefits to retired county employees.
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