Bid, taxes on agenda
Commissioners pave way for industrial park
By Harrison Keely EDITOR

Clay County commissioners approved the lowest of nine bidders to begin project work at the planned industrial park June 5 during the commissioners meeting at the courthouse.

However, the $294,105.30 bid from Ledford & Parker still needed approval from the North Carolina Department of Transportation County Manager Paul Leek said.

Leek said that the commissioners had received a letter from McGill Associates recommending that the county award the project to Ledford & Parker. The project focuses on grading and paving a road through the park that would connect to the Georgia/North Carolina state line. Work would also include erosion, sedimentation and storm water control.

The bid request would be turned over to the state June 6, Leek said at the meeting. Commission Chairman Herbert "Hub" Cheeks stated that the county had experienced problems getting approval from Raleigh in the past to proceed on projects. Leek asked for authority over the issue from commissioners after approval from DOT.

The county will have extra funds left over from the grant, Cheeks said, asking if it would be feasible to use the surplus on additional projects like water and sewer lines. Leek said he would talk to North Carolina Senator John Snow about the issue, as Snow worked to assure the grant for the county. Cheeks said that $65,000 was still available for the county.

Commissioners denied a request from court service Mountain Mediation to provide employees with keys to the court- house grounds for after hours and weekend access to the facility.

Leek, who presented the case to the board in the absence of a representative from Mountain Mediation, said that the service had an officein the building but cited matters of security for his concern.

"I don't recommend that we give him a key," Leek said. "I think that's just too dangerous."

Leek said that the use of the service is set up by judges who want to prevent cases from going to court.

"Some of these [cases] can get very explosive..." Cheeks said, noting the lack of security in the building after hours and pointing to the abundance of balconies, stairs and glass as potential hazards.

The Mountain Mediation service is available eight hours every day inside the courthouse, Sheriff Joe Shook said, explaining that the ministration was typically used to sort out issues between couples. The sheriff cautioned that opening up the building would bring unsupervised children inside as well.

Cheeks said he didn't feel comfortable with people being in the building without security, despite any mediation emergencies that might occur.

The commissioners were in favor of $643.45 of special tax releases for prorated tags on vehicles and covering incorrect assessments.

The commissioners said that the budgets attached to the minutes from previous meetings and the new budget are available to the public.

 

 

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