Commissioners on the move
Meeting location to change
Carla Gwaltney Owens Sentinel writer

At what was to have been a very lengthy commission meeting with an agenda that ran a full page, bad weather caused many who were scheduled to appear before Clay County Commissioners at February's regular monthly meeting to cancel.

A shortened agenda and inclement weather didn't stop commissioners from meeting, however, as they met with those who were able to make it and then recessed until Thursday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m. at which time commissioners will complete the business on February's agenda.

Items to be covered this Thursday include the new skateboard park, an update from Smoky Mt. Mental Health, land trust for Little Tennessee, Susan Ward concerning subdivision roads, and Rob Tiger concerning the old courthouse.

This Thursday, however, will be the last time commissioners hold a monthly meeting at the county office building. On Feb. 1,

Commissioners passed a resolution to officially change the meeting place of the commission. Commissioners said there is a need for a larger space to handle the growing crowds that have been attending the commission meetings each month. And until the new courthouse is completed and commissioners can begin holding meetings in their new home,

Commissioners said that they feel a change is in the best interest of the citizens of Clay County. Therefore, for the time being, commissioners will meet the first Thursday of each month at Hayesville Town Hall located on the square in Hayesville.

Aresolution was necessary for the meeting place to be changed and must be posted for ten days prior to the change. The commissioners will meet at Town Hall beginning Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 6 p.m. The first item of business heard by commissioners Thursday night was a draft res- olution presented by Clay County resident Phillip Moore. Moore asked commissioners to consider adopting his resolution in some form to encourage the use of native plants.

Moore's resolution would require that "all trees, shrubs, bushes and other woody vegetation used to newly landscape property owned by Clay County or to replace existing landscape on property owned by Clay County be native species."

The resolution would allow for waivers to be granted in some cases when approved by professionals listed in the resolution. By passing such a resolution, Moore said that it would encourage the use of native plants in landscaping, although it would only require such plants be used on county owned property.

"I feel that it is a wise stewardship of our lands and it really promotes a sense of pride in our heritage," Moore commented to the commission. Clay County Commission Chairman Hub Cheeks asked Moore if it was really necessary to legislate such matters.

"Do we feel we really need a resolution as such?" he asked.

Moore said that his concern is that the use of native plants gets overlooked, but that if a resolution was passed it would make sure that would not happen. Cheeks thanked Moore for the great amount of time and effort he put into drafting the resolution and told Moore that he definitely supported the idea of encouraging the use of native plants. Cheeks added that this would have to be something that the county's lawyer looked at and that it would have to be discussed.

Commissioner Harry Jarrett agreed with Cheeks, thanking Moore for his time and his willingness to work on the issue. Jarrett added that he is in full support of such planting when and were possible, but added that legally it would need to be looked at by the attorney. He also said that he would like to get public comment and input on the issue.

Commissioner Stephen "Doc" Sellers also thanked Moore for all his hard work and for the obvious effort he had put into the resolution.

Commissioners also heard from members of the Clay County Travel and Tourism Board who are asking the county to help supply a recording secretary for the board. Former board chairman and local attorney Larry Ford said that the board is made up of a group of volunteers who are appointed by the county commission and they basically oversee the administration of the funds collected from the 3% lodging tax collected by the county on lodging of less than 30 days.

The tax revenue, which annually totals $15,000, is to be used by the county to promote travel and tourism, Ford explained. The state requires that 15% of those funds (or $2,000 approx.) go to the county for administrative costs, with the remainder being used to by the travel and tourism board to promote travel and tourism in Clay County.

In the past, the tourism board has used some of the tax revenue for such things as advertising in regional publications and to help local projects such as the biking trail at Jack Rabbit which will help to attract families to the area.

Ford continued to tell commissioners that the board is made up of volunteers from the community and in the past one of the members has always served as recording secretary, which is a very time consuming job.

Ford said that the board is simply asking that the county use a portion of the money set aside to cover administrative costs to hire a recording secretary. Ford even mentioned possibly using a county employee to take minutes at the monthly meeting which is held at the county offices.

Ford clarified that he is not asking that any board member be compensated for their time, but that the county simply use a portion of the funds already set aside for administrative purposes to hire someone to perform this task.

He added that it probably would not cost more than a few hundred dollars a year to have someone attend the hour long meeting each month and then spend a few hours typing the minutes.

"My statement to you is as a citizen," Ford said. "We get no pay. We do not get reimbursed for our time and the cost to us," he commented, adding that he has used a lot of his own paper from his office over the time he served as chairman.

Therefore, he said he did not feel it was right to ask a volunteer member to do the time consuming job of recording secretary.

Commissioners told Ford that he and County Manager Paul Leek could get together and see if they could come up with a solution for providing a recording secretary for the travel and tourism board.

County Manager Paul Leek gave an update to commissioners on several items including the recently completed 2005-2006 audit by Sandy Dobson.

Leek told commissioners that the audit went very well and that there were no major findings. Leek said he continues to be very pleased by the thorough job done by Ms. Dobson who has been performing the county's audits for the past several years.

Commissioners voted to grant Dobson the contract for the 2006-2007 audit at the same rate as last year, $23,000.

Leek also reported on proposals received from design firms for furniture for the new courthouse. Leek said the county received three proposals with the best coming from Interior Dynamics out of Asheville, N.C. The design firm will do a turn-key project for $20,000 to include selection, ordering and placement of furniture, floor plans and drawings, and a budget. Leek told commissioners that this was the best proposal.

Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a resolution for Clay County to join U.S. Communities, a purchasing alliance for government agencies. Leek explained that schools and other government agencies are part of U.S. Communities which allows them to get special pricing on furniture.

Joining this purchasing alliance is no cost to the county, Leek added, but will allow the county to purchase the furniture for the courthouse at much lower pricing.

"This will save tax dollars and is the best value to the citizens of Clay County," Leek commented.

"And the NC Association of County Commissioners recommended that we do this."Leek said that the loan from BB and T for the courthouse has generated enough interest to cover thecost of the furniture for the courthouse.

The completion date for the courthouse is stilled slatedfor April, Leek added.

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
Land transfer tax-- let the voters decide	1