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County approves financing agreement for loan package

By Lisa Majors-Duff

Following a public hearing with no comment, Jackson County's commissioners agreed to accept BB&T's offer of 5.5 percent financing on a loan of more than $9 million over a period of 15 years.

The money will be used to make improvements at the county's largest high school; construct a law enforcement center, which will include a 60-bed jail; and build a multi-use recreation facility at the Jackson County Recreation Park in Cullowhee. A request for the loan was made to the Local Government Commission in Raleigh earlier this month.

"We are making a lot of needed improvements, things that have to be done, with recreation being an added bonus and a quality of life issue for our residents," board Chairman Jay Denton said.

Denton emphasized for board members that applying for this loan would require a hike in taxes to pay for it. The first payment on the loan, which will be due in October, will be $1.109 million, according to finance officer Darlene Fox.

"If you don't want to raise taxes, you shouldn't vote for this," Denton said just prior to a unanimous vote of approval for the loan and the projects to be funded.

Another public hearing held prior to the March 16 regular meeting did entice comment from those concerned with the county's watershed and rivers. The hearing was called to discuss changes to the watershed protection ordinance, which establishes rules for land use between the intake in Cullowhee and the Continental Divide near Glenville. The area serves as the headwaters for the Tuckaseigee River, from which the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority gets its water.

The proposed changes to the ordinance were being considered as a means of making the document easier to administer, Denton said.

"The changes clarify some loopholes what had existed," he said.

Tony Belcher, who described himself as a flyfisherman, pronounced the county's protection of the Tuckaseigee's headwaters a benefit and suggested that the county's other water sources receive the same treatment.

Mickey Henson of Appalachian Environmental Services in Webster concurred, saying an recent study of erosion along the Tuckaseigee River "is not at an alarming rate yet, but the county's growth will continue to affect it."

All requested changes were approved by the board.

Commissioners also heard a report from Savannah Fire Department Chief Darrell Woodard, who requested they consider needed upgrades to the county's emergency communication equipment in next year's budget. Most of the equipment currently being used, he said, dates to 1980.

An estimate to replace or upgrade equipment including a radio tower, repeaters, hand-held radios, and other items was given at $331,000.

"This equipment is a top priority for all seven fire departments and two rescue squads to continue providing services for the residents of Jackson County," Woodard told the board. Calls to all fire departments continue to go up each year, he said, with more than 400 calls made annually to the county's larger departments. These volunteers are asked to respond to all types of emergencies, including structure fires, vehicle fires, car accidents, hazardous spills, fire alarms in homes and businesses, hazardous road conditions during winter weather, floods and medical emergency as first responders to name a few.

Commissioner Stacy Buchanan suggested that a reserve be established in the budget each year until the funds are available. A special meeting to continue the discussion will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 6, with representatives of the county fire departments and emergency management.

Appearing again before the board of commissioners, Jackson County teachers in favor of a local supplement told board members about updates to their information on the subject. Statewide projections call for 8,000 teachers due to retire next year with only 3,000 replacements expected to enter the field from the state's universities and colleges, said Cullowhee Valley School teacher Marsha Cameron. Some 75 percent of these new teachers are expected to go to the state's larger school systems, which offer them salary supplements, she said.

Board members approved the appointments of Richard Wilson, Ray Ferguson and Barbara Collins to the Solid Waste Advisory Board.

The next meeting of the board will be held Thursday, April 6, at 7 p.m. in the Justice Center.

Back to Archive: 03/23/00.