Hayesville, N.C. – Continuing its crusade against the unsightly and corrupt, Hayesville’s town council discussed the removal of parked vehicles at the First United Methodist Church and possible price gouging by propane companies.

Town council member Gwen Weaver voiced concern that local propane prices lack regulation, citing charges upwards of $3 per gallon.

“It seems maybe like this is taking advantage of the older people,” she said. “These old people, these shut-ins, they’re the ones who absolutely get hit.”

Town council member Harry Baughn suggested that encouraging people to price shop was the only solution.

“I don’t know that we have any jurisdiction [on propane] since it’s an open and free market,” he said.

Zoning Administrator George Schaff said price shopping wouldn’t provide realistic prices.

“The quote that you get with a new dealier, it’s at least a dollar less, but it’s only for the first fill,” he said. “That’s just a bit of a promotional gimmick… after that you go back up to the regular prices.”

Hayesville Mayor Harrell Moore recommended that the Better Business Bureau be notified.

Weaver also noted that drivers using Old Highway 64 as a shortcut into town face a dangerous corner at the intersection of Hiawassee Street.

“When you come around [the curve] you have to go out in the middle of the street,” she said. “You could certainly get hit.”

The vehicles blocking the edge if the road have not been moved in a long time, Weaver said.

Schaff said the issue had been discussed with the state a few years ago, but that little could be done.

“You can’t do spot parking,” he said. “You have to have some rhyme and rhythm.”

He said that it might be possible to get the Department of Transportation to prohibit parking on the curve as an issue of public safety.

Removing several parking spots would only push the degenerate autos further in front of First United Methodist Church, he said.

“Some vehicles don’t look very good. There are some vehicles that are parked there all the time and they’re all rusted and falling apart,” Schaff said.

Weaver suggested that the cars be moved to the back of the church. Schaff said he would reinstate discussion with the DOT on the issue.

Schaff also told the town council that he is preparing an updated reprint of the town’s official Zoning and Sign Ordinance handbook.

He said Hayesville Printing would publish 50 bound books for $115, besting other regional competitors.

“I would much rather see us spend local,” Baughn said.

Schaff said he’ll ask the Planning and Zoning Board to proofread the handbook and return in May with changes.

“We could have it to the printer by June,” he said.

The ordinance handbook was last published in 2003.

Mayor Harrell Moore said he recently discussed the post office with Congressman Heath Shuler’s regional field representative, Boyce Deitz.

“He said it was a dump,” Moore reported. “I said we’ve known that for a long time.”

Sandy Zimmerman, local representative for Congressman Shuler’s office, said the Department of Transportation needed to evaluate the entire site and determine what should be done with it. Zimmerman said that issues like parking and crossing the street were becoming hazards in and of themselves.

Town Council member Gwen Weaver said automobile accidents at the post office were still common. Zimmerman agreed that the location presented a difficult safety issue.

“I’ve almost been hit down there a couple of times myself,” Zimmerman said. “Something needs to be done.”

Moore expressed concern over a recent article in the Asheville Citizen Times focused on the closing of rural post offices. He commented that Deitz said the Hayesville post office was a disgrace to the Postal Service, but that perhaps the parking situation could be remedied.

“I don’t know whether we need to get a parking lot before we get a post office or not,” Moore observed.

Zimmerman said Deitz was in the process of persuading DOT officials to inspect the spot, nothing that it might help. She said that last year her office was told there was no money available for any such project.

“I think this may wind up being a permanent part of our agenda,” town council member Harry Baughn said. “We need to just keep hammering at it until we get somebody’s attention.”

Baughn said the alternative was to wait for someone to get into an accident and sue.

“That would get their attention,” he said.

SIGNAGE

George Schaaf is going to war against illegal signs.

“[They] compromise public safety and degrade the appearance of our main thoroughfares,” Hayesville’s zoning administrator said.

Schaaf said he’s appealing for voluntary support from the community to solve the problem, which he said is worst on Highways 64 and 69.

“These [small signs] deter motorists from pulling off,” he said. “If somebody has a flat or they have any kind of problem all those signs out there kind of shy them away.”

Schaaf said the signs are also often difficult to read.

“They’re too small, so they distract the driver,” he said.

Town Council member Harry Baughn said the most frustrating signs were the ones without a clear owner, often featuring few words and a large 1-800 phone number.

“They just magically appear and you don’t know who to penalize,” Baughn said.

The Department of Transportation, which owns about nine meters of right-of-way on both sides of the asphalt, has regulations against such signs as well, Schaaf said.

“Periodically they go down and they pull those signs out,” he said, adding that the town’s sign ordinance prohibits off-premise advertising as well as ads in the right-of-way and on utility poles unless written permission is given.

Schaff urged local patrons with an interest in the welfare of the community to speak to business owners about any illegal signs that might exist.

“We have a penalty but we don’t want to go there,” he said. “We want to get things safe and looking good but the penalty’s substantial. It’s $50 a day once [a sign is] found to be a violation; that’s why we’re optimistic we’ll get voluntary compliance.”

Schaff said the town’s goal was not to collect “penalty dollars,” and encouraged citizens to contact Town Hall at 389-1862 during business hours to ask questions or report violations.

Listen to Hayesville’s February 8, 2010 Town Council meeting

Listen to the February 4, 2010 commissioners meeting

Clay County commissioners passed the Sexually Oriented Business Ordinance Thursday, following Hayesville’s lead.

“This pretty much just follows suit with what the state tells us that we can do,” Commissioner Herbert Cheeks said.

Cheeks said he has received multiple phone calls from citizens asking about how much control he has over the ordinance.

“Different people have called me wanting to know ‘why can’t you do this or that?’” he said. “There are certain things that the state says that you do and that’s exactly what we’re trying to follow here; make it as stringent as possible.”

Clay County Manager Paul Leek preferred not to read the 13 page document at the meeting due to its length, but said that background checks will be carried out before anyone can get a business license. The annual license fee is $1,000.

“This ordinance does not prohibit this kind of business from locating in Clay County but it does restrict the location, the hours of operation and those kind of things,” Leek said.

Commissioner Harry Jarrett reminded the board that crime rates in North Carolina have increased and property values decreased after the opening of a sexually oriented business.

“The general assembly [determines] that sexually oriented businesses can and do cause adverse secondary impacts on neighboring properties,” he said.

In the ordinance, the board wrote that it “seeks to reduce and eliminate the deleterious effects of sexually oriented businesses while preserving constitutionally protected forms of expression.”

The ordinance states that sexually oriented businesses must not be located within 1,000 feet of any other sexually oriented business, school, church, day-care, park or residence. Such businesses also may not operate between the hours of 1 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Sundays.

Sexually Oriented Business Ordinance

The equalization ordinance was adopted in November and the board was appointed in December.

“The county attorney contacted me last month and was a little concerned,” County Manager Paul Leek said. “He said ‘you need to do that all at one time.’

The equalization board originally consisted of three county commissioners but Commissioner Harry Jarrett proposed appointing citizens who were more familiar with local land value.

The individuals serving on the board must have been residents of Clay County for a minimum of two years, at least 18 years old, and have a record of paying all taxes imposed by the county.

The three regular members and two alternates will serve a two year term with a compensation of $30 per hour.

“I want to be sure we do everything properly this time,” Leek said. “I’m going to go ahead and reappoint the members that we have already appointed so that their terms will start as of February 5, 2010.”

The commissioners approved Johnny Burch (chairman), Tina Mallamas (vice chair) and Tighe White on the board. Richard Kelley and Charlie Kohler were appointed as alternates.

The commissioners also approved a motion to advertise delinquent taxes the week of March 22 in both county newspapers.

Listen to the February 4, 2010 commissioners meeting

The department investigated 159 reports in 2009, a 50 percent increase since 2007. Abuse or neglect was found in 19 of the reports.

Social Services stated that 14 children entered foster care, nine were adopted, one aged out, five returned home to parents and three were returned to grandparents in 2009. Five children have become legally free for adoption.

There are currently 25 children in custody.

Clay County commissioners appointed and reappointed fifteen members to the Community Child Protection Team for 2010: Melvin Cantrell, Clay County Sheriff’s Department; Scott Penland, Clay County School System; Jackie Craig, Guardian Ad Litem Program; Theresa Waldroup, Communities in Schools; Sandra Mazza, County Board of Social Services; Rev. Greg Carroll, Faith Community; Dawn Wilde, Clay County Drug Coalition; Tanya Long, Clay County Health Department; Ken Gomez, Children’s Development Services Agency;Nancy Chastain, Smoky Mountain Center, Mental Health Professional; Emily Hedden, Juvenile Services; Judith Alvarado, REACH, Domestic Violence Representative; Sandy Conaty, Mountain Youth Resources; Tessa Sellers, Clay County District Attorney’s Office; and Todd Goins, Clay County Department of Social Services.

The team recently identified several areas that need improvement to effective protect children, suggesting that a lack of mental health services, substance abuse by parents, lack of services for perpetrators of domestic violence, lack of local foster homes, court continuances and the downturn in the economy are contributing factors placing children at the risk of abuse and neglect.

The team meets quarterly and had “excellent” attendance and participation in 2009, the report said.

The Board of Commissioners also:

• approved three budget amendments from the health department at Leek’s recommendation.

• approved Greg Stiles to replace Susan Kaagan as a business owner on Clay County’s Travel & Tourism board. Kaagan was ineligible to continue on the board when she sold her business, Molly & Me.

• approved Mary Wiegold to replace Stiles as the Chamber representative for the balance of his term. Both terms expire in June 2011.

• reappointed Bryan Hedden to serve another three-year term on the Rural Development Authority.

• rescheduled Julie Lyver’s county health report for the next commissioners meeting.

Listen to the February 4, 2010 commissioners meeting

by Richard C. MacCrea, Andrews Valley Initiative

rmaccrea@mountainhomeshow.com

The Green Column is about our corner of the Appalachian Mountains, and how we can keep them beautiful, consume less energy, and in the process put some people to work. I write this column, but it belongs to you. To keep it interesting and current, I need your input. Know some green news, a great local project, have an idea?  Please, email me.

First, let me introduce you to the non profit organization I work with, the Andrews Valley Initiative. This is a group of people working together to make Andrews a great community. There are many interesting ideas we are working on, like an algae farm that produces diesel fuel and animal feed while creating local jobs. Another idea is a large organic farm with grocery chains waiting in line for produce. We want to share these ideas with the rest of our mountain region. For more information see our web site: andrewsvalley.com

My project is called The Greening of Andrews Valley. By greening, we mean living in ways that reduce the damage to our planet. Many believe they cannot afford to make this change. Can we lower our cost of living, create jobs, and live green? Yes!

Would you pay someone to fix your home if the money you save on your electric bill would cover the cost? What if you could also get some money to help you do this? And if it made your home more comfortable? By educating the community on how living green can lower their cost of living, more people will make the change. They will see the benefit of making their buildings more energy efficient. They will hire people to do this work. And the power company can burn a little less coal every month.

Did you know there are local companies that can help you do this? By hiring them to fix your home or office, you would be putting your neighbor to work. Needed materials can be purchased locally. Their paycheck is spent in the community. As more people have their buildings upgraded, these companies will hire and train more employees. Here is a business model that can help our local communities right now, financed by reduced energy bills, tax incentives, and caring building owners.

The Greening of Andrews Valley will be helping by educating the community and promoting the green businesses in our region. That is why we are building a web site with business contacts and plenty of articles about living green. This newspaper column is also part of our program. And we are organizing a community green fair to be held this summer. We have some great ideas. Would you like to be part of this? Please email me with your ideas.

The next Green Column will list some of the most successful ways to reduce energy costs without spending a lot of money. Richard C. MacCrea is the director of The Greening of Andrews Valley, a program of Andrews Valley Initiative. He is also the organizer of The Mountain Home Show, and a home designer, planner specializing in super energy efficient designs.

President Sara J. Smith told Hayesville’s town council and county commissioners that she was giving them a “one year heads-up” last week to ask for support in preparations.

“We believe it is only fitting that CCHAC begin immediately to set the pace and lead the way for celebrating this important milestone in our county’s history,” Smith said.

The council said it is also asking for participation community organizations, businesses and churches.

“We want to make it an ongoing thing; not just a big weekend splash, but something that’s going on most of the year,” Smith said.

Town Council member Harry Baughn said he was glad the historical council was taking leadership in the project, adding that the extra publicity could provide a boost to local tourism.

“We may draw in a lot of outsiders who may want to come and see our beautiful county,” he said, adding in whisper, “and spend money.”

Baughn said UNC Public TV and “Our State” magazine were examples of strong avenues to promote the county.

CCHAC s was already a lot of interest from various county groups that wanted to be a part of the planning process.

Sandy Zimmerman, local representative for Congressman Heath Shuler’s office, said that the school system would be a big part of the sesquicentennial.

“It’s going to be a good educational experience and history lesson for all of us,” she said, noting that a lot of research had already been completed. “We’ve got 150 years to work with so we’ll be able to come up with some good stuff.”

Baughn praised the initiative as a way to preserve a great deal of oral history that would otherwise be lost.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity for some young people to talk to their grandparents and great grandparents (if they’ve still got them) to see what stories they can collect,” he said.

Smith asked the Board of Commissioners to plan an opening ceremony as a part of their first meeting in January 2011. The ceremony would proclaim the forthcoming year to honor the forefathers, current citizens and efforts to preserve information for the future.

Commissioner Herbert Cheeks said he recalled the centennial celebration in 1961.

“We had a great time,” he said. “I was a few days younger than I am now but hopefully this will be just as good an experience for all of our citizenry as it was then.”

Smith told commissioners that the CCHAC may want to research the county’s public records in preparation for the sesquicentennial. The council is also considering events suitable for period costumes.

“I think all of us are in full agreement that it’s a great thing,” Cheeks said.

Hayesville Mayor Harrell Moore said the town council would be glad to help in any way possible.

Clay County was established by enactment from the North Carolina General Assembly in 1861.

The CCHAC would like any groups or individuals interested in helping to contact Judy Greenstone at 828-389-0110 or info@claycounty150.org.

Listen to the February 4, 2010 commissioners meeting

Audrey Heirs,  a former president and fifteen-year member of the Misty Mountain Quilters Guild,  presented the January program to the organization.  The Guild, currently with over 200 members from five counties, met January 25 at the First United Methodist Church of Blairsville.  Ms. Heirs, who has collected and studied historical fabrics, articles of clothing, and quilts for over thirty years,  is especially  interested in items made from feed sacks.   Wooden barrels, used for shipping feed and food,  were slowly replaced by hand-loomed cotton sacks in the 1800’s.  The first sacks were white, brown, or echru colors.  As more women began using the sacks for clothing, tablecloths, and quilts,  manufacturers started printing designs on the sack fabric.  A one hundred pound sack would yield one yard of fabric, which was extremely valuable during Depression years.   To avoid wasting anything, the selvages were used for shoelaces, and the thread for tatting and crochet.  Ms. Heirs saw her first feed sack quilt at age four, when she received a doll quilt from her mother.  The quilt shown in the  photo is named  ”Conversations With Granny Carrie and Grandma Ethel”,  and was made in  2007 with vintage fabric and feed sacks by Ms. Heirs.              .

For more information about the MMQG,  visit the website: mistymountainquiltguild.com.

In the event of winter weather, motorists are asked to give snow plows and other NCDOT equipment plenty of room and to avoid unnecessary travel, both for their safety and to allow crews time to clear affected roadways.

If travel is absolutely necessary, motorists should use the following precautions:

• Clear windows and mirrors;

• Reduce speed and leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles;

• Bridges and overpasses accumulate ice first. Approach them with extreme caution and do not apply your brakes while on the bridge;

• If you begin to slide, take your foot off the gas and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide. Do not apply the brakes as that will cause further loss of control of the car;

• Come to a complete stop or yield the right of way when approaching an intersection where traffic lights are out. Treat this scenario as a four-way stop; and

• If you have a cellular phone, take it with you. You can contact the Highway Patrol statewide by calling *HP (*47) or call the county emergency center by dialing 911.

Saturday, February 6, from 1:00 -4:00, ArtWorks Artisan Centre will be featuring the work of local woodworker Roland Hardee.  Demonstrating will be jewelry designer and creator, Evelyn Gantnier.  ArtWorks is located behind the Holiday Inn Express at 308 Big Sky Drive.

When Roland Hardee sees a tree he is actually envisioning a beautiful turned bowl, a table or chair, or some other useful item or accessory.

Hardee has had the desire to work with wood since a boy but, lacking knowhow and experience found his endeavors produced equal parts of frustration and pride. It wasn’t until Hardee met an accomplished woodworker who invited him to spend time with him in his workshop, that he experienced the ultimate joy in woodworking.  As Hardee puts it he was “sawdust anointed”.  Hardee is constantly honing his skills, learning something new with each project he undertakes.  After seeing Hardee’s work you’ll look at a fallen tree in a whole new light.  Wood becomes synonymous with beauty.

Evelyn Gantnier is a master at her craft, wire wrap jewelry. She also creates her own dichroic glass pieces that she incorporates into her work.

Gantnier was first a student then later an instructor at William Holland School of Lapidary Arts.  Gantnier has also taught at the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, the Bead Shed and ArtWorks.

Gantnier enjoys making traditional pieces but her real love is in the creation of her own original designs, using a variety of stones, semi-precious gemstones and her own dichroic glass.

Mark your calendar and plan to stop by ArtWorks on Saturday, February 6. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet and chat with these talented artists.  This event is sponsored by Mountain Regional Arts and Crafts Guild, Inc.