Letters to the editor: 12/19/02

'Shame' on area Baptists

To the Editor:

Tim Sparks

Cullowhee

Tuesday night parades are not good for children

To the Editor:

I have a 10-, 9- and a 4-year-old, and it is very difficult to get supper ready, homework completed, outfits for the parade put on (if you are participating) and arrive early for the line up. We look forward to the parade every year, and we do everything possible to make it.

The excuse has been given that commercial floats cannot be reserved if we do not use this night. So what? Make early reservations. Perhaps there would be an even better turn out if it could be done on a weekend.

Another thing, we really need to make use of our biggest asset, which is Western Carolina University. Maybe they would be able to participate if it were on the weekend.

It seems to me that having the parade on a weeknight is for the convenience of the organizers; however, I think most would agree that it is most inconvenient for the participants and spectators.

David Kelly

Sylva

TWSA reorganization a good idea

To the Editor:

I think that since the town of Sylva and Jackson County put up most of the infrastructure and a whole lot of the start up money when TWSA was formed 10 years ago, the town and county boards should be the ones to make the decision on who to hire as TWSA's new director.

Secondly, the new director should be a resident of Jackson County. The first director was from outside of Jackson County, and although he said he would move here, he never did.

Also, the TWSA board should be made smaller through reorganization by putting the mayors of Sylva, Dillsboro and Webster on the board, as well as the chairman of the county board and a representative of Western Carolina University and Cashiers.

The mayor of Sylva and the chairman of the county board should then be able to select a second representative to represent the town of Sylva and Jackson County from a list submitted to them by their respective boards. This would give Sylva and Jackson County two representatives each, with one representative each from Dillsboro, Webster, Cashiers and Western Carolina University, for a total of eight board members.

This new TWSA board would then elect a chairman from among its members. This would not only result in a board that could better serve the needs of all Jackson County citizens, but it would ensure the director works for the TWSA board rather than the TWSA board working for the director.

When TWSA was formed many years ago, one of the things they promised to do was make water and sewer available where it was needed. During its formation, it was discussed that since Sylva and Jackson County had given so much in infrastructure and money, that when public buildings and schools were built, TWSA would assist the schools and public buildings with the costs of sewer and water. This wasn't done as promised, and it seems to me that they only want to extend sewer cheaply to commercial endeavors such as Food Lion and the new hotels in Dillsboro.

In closing I commend whoever came up with the idea of the reorganizing TWSA, and I hope our government leaders come together and reorganize the TWSA board so that each time our local governments need water and sewer someplace, they don't have to fight for it and end up paying most of the cost.

Thank you,

Herb Zachmann

Sylva

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