Richard Collings resigned as president of Southwestern Community College on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and the resignation was effective as of Wednesday, Feb. 9. The board of trustees is moving forward to begin the search for a new president, according to Conrad Burrell, chairman of the SCC board of trustees.

The reason for Collings’ resignation is not known at this time, but sources close to the college have alleged that serious medical problems may have forced the decision on Collings, who had suffered health issues after starting the new position six months ago.

With the full support of his board, County Commissioner Ronnie Beale has announced that he will be running for the second vice-president seat in the North Carolina Association for County Commissioners. A successful bid will give Beale an executive seat on the NCACC board of directors, put him in line for the presidency, and give Macon County as well as the Western North Carolina region a greater voice in the organization.

The NCACC is a statewide local government association and one of the most effective lobbying groups in the state, advocating for local issues before state legislature as well as the executive and judicial branches of government. Boards of commissioners in every county are eligible for membership in the association.

Retiree benefits also under scrutiny

In the future, Macon County may offer its employees an option when they sign up for the county’s insurance program. During the a mid-year work session on Jan. 29, the board of commissioners discussed the possibility of adding a Health Savings Account (HSA) plan to the county's program that would be optional for employees. At the same meeting the board also discussed possible modifications to the current employee policy regarding retiree benefits that could affect post-retirement insurance benefits for future county employees.

An HSA is pre-taxed medical savings account that is available to individuals enrolled in high deductible health plans (HDHP). In most such plans, unused funds roll over and accumulate year to year. HSAs are owned by the individual and may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses and medications at any time with federal tax liability.

Last week at a joint meeting with the Macon County Planning Board, commissioners reviewed currently active planning projects and set the board’s priorities for the coming year. At the top of the list is the completion of the county’s comprehensive plan, a general document that will give elected officials guidelines in planning for future growth and development in the county.

At the Feb. 9 meeting, members of the planning board presented current projects as well as projects which the board and county administrators believe should be addressed in the future. The meeting concluded with discussion by the commissioners about which projects should be prioritized and recommended timelines.