Letters to the editor: 01/31/02

Open letter to Gov. Easley

Dear Gov. Easley:

The NSR program is designed to provide protection of the public health and the environment. When the Clean Air Act became law more than 25 years ago, existing power plants and factories were exempted or "grandfathered-in" from strict emission control requirements. The NSR stipulated that should these older plants be upgraded in size and capacity or modernized in the course of time, the owners would be required to bring emission controls up to standard.

Today many of these power plants and factories are still operating under exemptions and are polluting the air we breathe every day. Many are in need of major overhauls and the owners would like to expand their size and capacity. The EPA's new proposal for NSR would allow these changes to occur without meeting Clean Air Act standards. This would be a sad betrayal of the public trust.

The attorneys general of New York, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont have united in strong opposition to the changes in the NSR program being proposed by the Bush Administration's EPA, citing the devastating impact on the health of their citizens. While many of these states already have better air quality than parts of North Carolina, they still recognize the risks these proposed changes to the Clean Air Act pose to their citizens.

The Canary Coalition urges you to direct the North Carolina attorney general to join forces with these other states immediately. We implore you to come out publicly and strongly in opposition to the proposed changes in NSR. The evidence is abundant and clear that emissions from coal-burning power plants in North Carolina and in surrounding states are causing severe respiratory illness for thousands of our citizens each year. This is no time to move backwards in the process of cleaning up the smokestacks.

The Canary Coalition also urges all who read this letter to take action now to prevent this travesty from occurring. Let your elected representatives (1-888-552-9406, White House comment line) and the EPA (Atlanta office 404-562-9900) know that you do not want the proposed changes to the NSR provisions of the Clean Air Act.

It's time to put our priorities in order. The health of our citizens must come first.

Respectfully,

Avram Friedman

Executive Director

Canary Coalition

Three cheers for cheerleaders

To the Editor:

The cheerleaders from both schools were in an alternating formation with two separate groups, each facing a different set of bleachers and doing a unified cheer for "Junior Varsity." They exhibited the joy of cheerleading through a unique presentation of working and having fun together.

They are to be commended for learning and performing a cheer together as one group, allowing a demonstration of their cheerleading skills and audience recognition of a unique display of cooperation and enjoyment between competing schools.

It presented an opportunity for spectators from both schools to appreciate and applaud their performance as one squad of fantastic cheerleaders.

This is yet, another example of the numerous good things that happen right here in our own wonderful community. Thank you, JV Cheerleaders. Sincerely,

Larry McDonald

Sylva

County is shining example of openness; town is not

To the Editor:

I would like to voice my opposition to staggered terms for county commissioners. When we had a county board a few years ago that did not truly represent the views of Jackson County voters, we were able to vote each and everyone of them out to office at one time mainly because we did not have staggered terms in effect.

The Sylva Town Board voted for a staggered terms, and it was put in effect in the recent town election. As a result, we will not be able to change the make-up of the complete board if we do not agree with what they are doing. This is because two members were elected to four-year terms and the other three have to run again in two years, which makes it impossible to completely remove a board that is pushing an agenda that most people disagree with.

Now that I've said that, I would also like to say that I was originally against the county manager form of government. I thought it was a waste of money, and I thought Commission Chairman Jay Denton was doing a very good job administrating the county.

When the current county commissioners ran for office, they put a non-binding resolution on the ballot and let the voters of Jackson County decide if they wanted a manager. The voters decided they did, and our county commissioners, some of whom did not agree with this, went and advertised for a county manager. Over a period of the next few months they interviewed many candidates and finally decided to hire Kenneth Westmoreland as Jackson County's first manager. Mr. Westmoreland came with good references and had experience in management and has done an excellent job since being employed by Jackson County.

What I am really getting at is to thank our county Commission Chairman Jay Denton and the members of our county commission for doing everything they do out in the open where the public can offer input and by putting all the things they consider to be really important on the ballot where the voters can vote on it. I know they do not always agree on what should be done, but they have always looked out for the best interests of the citizens they represent. When in doubt, they held public hearings, and when that could not decide the issue, they put things on the ballot so we can vote on it. Thank you for putting the staggered term issue on the ballot. This way the wishes of the voters will really decide the issue.

It would have been very easy for the Sylva Town Board to not only put the issue of staggered terms on the ballot in the recent election, but also to have put the decision on whether this was the proper time to hire a town manager. I guess they were afraid that the voters would vote against both issues is why they pushed their agenda through in unannounced or sparsely attended meetings with very little or no input from the citizens and voters of the town of Sylva.

Let's not let the mayor and the town board continue to conduct our town government in this manner. Let's demand that they conduct all meetings out in the open so we can see what is really going on. An example of this is the annual planning retreat being held at the M.L. Tritt residence 425 Yellow Mountain Road in Glenville on Saturday, Jan. 26, at 9 a.m. It is fine that they go out of town to discuss long- and short-term issues relevant to the town, but they also announced at the conclusion of the planning retreat a special meeting will be held for the sole purpose of approving a change order to the N.C. 107 sewer project.

It is my belief that any meeting that might affect the spending of tax dollars should be done in view of the public and not at some out-of-the-way place that makes it difficult or uncomfortable for the public to attend. What is the big rush on this? Why couldn't it have been put off until the February regular town board meeting about a week later.

Thanks again to the county commissioners for doing everything in an open manner and giving us a vote on what they think is really important. Let's make Sylva's mayor and town board act in the same above-board manner. Get involved, let them know what you think and what you would like them to do.

Thank you,

Herb Zachmann

Sylva

Community Unity Day was successful event

To the Editor:

We also wish to thank the many local businesses, restaurants, volunteers, speakers and performers who came together to make this a very special event. Also, thank you to the Jackson County Health Link for their co-sponsorship of the event.

The Community Unity Day was a special project of the AmeriCorps-VISTA members, who are working throught the area at various sites on behalf of the Jackson County Family Resource Center.

It was so very moving to see such a large crowd of people from many races and religions coming together in celebration and reflection. Its not often that I tear up at the singing of a song, but not only did I have tears in my eyes during one of the moving performances, but many in the audience had to wipe away their tears, too.

And, when children from our community led the audience in song, yet another precious moment presented itself.

If you and your family did not attend this most wonderful event, please keep us in mind for next year. We hope to see this event grow and provide even more people with a very special way to celebrate our unity with one another.

Regards,

Linda Gillman

Director

Family Resource Center

Reader applauds planning board member's ideas

To the Editor:

I absolutely agree with Mark and his characterization of the long-time citizens of Jackson County. I also agree with him that we must always plan with these people in mind, for they are the ones to whom we are first obligated.

Second, we owe consideration to those like me who are later comers, and third we must consider those that will come in the future. But we must also bear in mind our obligation to be good stewards and good neighbors, just as Mark and his neighbors are.

Mark gives many hours of soul-searching thought and labor to his duties on the planning board, and we are all better off for his efforts.

Bill Lyons

Cullowhee

Commissioners should enact junkyard rules

To the Editor:

The board of commissioners rejected this recommendation by a vote of three to two. Only Jay Coward, a Republican, and Dan Robinson, a Democrat, voted to accept the planning board's recommendation. Although the three other board members voted to ask the planning board to spend their time, effort and money to come up with a recommendation, it became apparent they had no intention to vote for any restrictions on land use. Thank goodness the voters saw fit to turn them out of office the next election!

I am sure that the present board has the intelligence to enact an ordinance to cure the junkyard eyesores without using the delaying tactics of committee referral. If they need any legal advice or research done, the taxpayers are paying for a county attorney and county manager to provide that assistance.

What the Parris Branch junkyard owner has done to the Parris Branch residents and the county is a shame and disgrace. The previous board, which had the opportunity to correct this situation and failed to do so, is a shame and disgrace to the office they held.

There is a need for salvage yards. There is no need for them to become a plague upon the community. The present board can cure this plague without putting the junkyard owners out of business. The board has the sole authority and responsibility to cure this plague. Their failure to do so would be a shame and disgrace to their office.

We need action. No more political gimmicks!

Burl Henson

Sylva

Reporter misrepresents board member's statements

To the Editor:

Based on the reporter's account, many readers would be led to believe that I gave an opinion critical of decisions made by Arlene Stewart, the executive director of Webster Enterprises. The audio recording of the Jan. 17 commissioners' meeting reveals this is inaccurate. While I acknowledged that the board of directors for Webster Enterprises had not participated in nor had an opportunity to discuss a recent decision by Ms. Stewart, I was deliberate in avoiding an evaluation of that decision until the Webster Board does have an opportunity to discuss it.

Webster Enterprises provides vital services to our community through programming that supports the occupational and social development of persons with disabilities. These persons, as citizens of our community, deserve not only the support of Webster Enterprises, but that of Jackson County so that they can better reach their individual potential as contributing members of our society. This was the context and meaning of my comments to the board of commissioners.

As we work together to address needs within our community, it is important that this work not be portrayed in ways that unnecessarily create discord where there is none, nor exacerbate issues that are still in the process of being resolved. There is a strong culture of collaboration and mutual support in our county. We all need to value, preserve and promote that culture as we move into the future. If we do, we'll be better able to respond to the many challenges and opportunities ahead.

Sincerely,

Bob Cochran

Webster Enterprises

Board Member

and Director

Jackson County Department of Social Services

In support of junkyard regulations

To the Editor:

I totally endorse Mr. Pritchett's efforts and time to see that the Jackson County Board of Commissioners take immediate remedial action to resolve this blight and insure the safety of our children and the scenic beauty of this area.

Please do not delay; act as quickly as possible to remedy this on-going disgrace.

Respectfully,

Judy Parris

Sylva

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