The Macon County Republican Party held its annual convention on Saturday, March 12, at the Macon County Community Building. About a hundred people attended.

At large officers continuing their positions were Joyce Handley, Larry Hollifield and Carla Miller.

Former Chair Gary Dills and Vice-chair Vince West were presented with plaques of appreciation for their work for the party.

Soft subsoil ups construction costs over $170,000

A $4.5 million sewer line project being funded jointly by Macon County and the Town of Franklin has run into problems that will likely lead to significant cost overflows. The issue, which brought a halt to progress on the project in December, means the southern end of the Little Tennessee River Greenway may remain closed for some time to come.

With the project currently at 65 percent completion, engineers say that a section of the planned sewer line along the bank of the Little Tennessee River passes through soil that is much softer than expected and which will require additional and costly stabilization measures.

Community objects to release of statement to media

Three members of the Board of Directors for the Swain County Department of Social Services resigned last Thursday, March 10, in the continued in-fighting between the DSS and the county commission.

The Swain County Board of Commissioners released a statement last Wednesday calling for the board’s resignations after they failed to suspend the director of the DSS during an emergency DSS board meeting on Tuesday.

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will not ask the county planning board to prioritize consideration of an amendment to the High Impact Ordinance. Some residents of the Clarks Chapel community have requested the amendment as a way to preempt the development of a training course for dirt bikes in their neighborhood.

At a December meeting of the county board of adjustments, after meeting stiff resistance from neighbors, Herman “Bud” Talley withdrew a request for a variance that would have allowed him to develop an officially sanctioned, mile-long, motocross racetrack on his 45-acre farm in Clarks Chapel. While Talley has stepped back from his plans for an official facility, he has publicly stated that he is still considering a training course that would operate under the limits proscribed by the High Impact Ordinance.

The Macon County Board of Commissioners gave Macon County Transit the go-ahead to apply for state and federal grants that will help keep the transportation service rolling smoothly for another year.

On March 8, commissioners unanimously approved a resolution stating their commitment of $39,922 in matching county funds. With the approval, the funding request will now be up for review by the state and federal Departments of Transportation, as MCT now begins their grant seeking process.

Former Town of Franklin employee Mike Decker has recently moved to county work, after more than a decade of service to the town.

With Wilma Anderson stepping down at the end of the month as Macon County’s Human Resources Director and Deputy Clerk to the Board of Commissioners, Decker will step in to take on her duties.

“Let’s make it real clear, I’m not replacing Wilma,” said Decker. “Nobody could. I’m just going to try to fill the position.”

WNC Communities as announced Southeast Livestock Exchange has scheduled the first livestock sale at the WNC Regional Livestock Center at 474 Stock Drive in Canton for Monday, March 21, at noon with future sales to be conducted on Mondays thereafter. Cattle can be received at the WNC Regional Livestock Center on Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m. and Mondays beginning at 7 a.m.

It is important to note all livestock traffic should use the industrial entrance to the new livestock market which is Freedom Drive to Beaverdam Road. The following are specific directions traveling from the east or west.

Change in light color to alert drivers better

When David Lynn opened his door July 12, 2010, he saw a large truck headed straight for him.

“I pulled my leg back in and braced myself,” he said. The truck slammed into Lynn’s pickup, bashing and ripping metal.

Three Swain County Department of Social Services board members, Chairman Jim Gribble, Wall Treadway and Bob Thomas, resigned Thursday, March 10 following the Swain County commissioners’ statement on Wednesday that they should resign after not suspending the Director of the DSS during an emergency DSS board meeting Tuesday.
Robert White and Vice-Chairman Frela Beck did not resign.

DSS Fiscal Officer Kim Hight confirmed the resignations stating they had been immediate and explained that copies of letters of resignation aren’t available to the public.

One system, Macon County, has found some solutions others may learn from

Five percent. Ten percent. Fifteen percent.

As superintendent of Macon County schools, Dan Brigman balances numbers and percentages in his head all day. But these intervals of five are particularly bothersome.

In January, the North Carolina Department of Instruction, the branch of state government that most closely handles education funding, informed school superintendents across the state to prepare for education cuts beginning on July 1 in anticipation of the state’s massive budget shortfall. With competing proposals being released, how big and where those budget cuts will be is yet to be determined.