Macon County Commissioners 09-10-2013

The Macon County Commissioners met last night in a meeting that lasted (minus the 22 minute closed session) for nearly 3 hours. I posted a text play by of the meeting as it happened on Google Plus [LINK] if you care to read the particulars. The video, a few photos and supporting documents from the meeting are below.



MEDIA ROLL CALL

Macon Media (me)
Macon County News
The Franklin Press
WFSC-AM/WNCC-FM


PHOTOS



Lori Hall (L), the Macon County Finance Director, with Kevin Corbin (R) as she and her department are recognized for being awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). This is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. This is the eighteenth consecutive year the department has received the award.


Macon County Manager Jack Horton at his last meeting of the county commissioners before his retirement that is scheduled for September 30, 2013.

The Nikwasi Resolution

Page One of the Proposed Nikwasi Resolution (changes were made to reflect a softer tone after Commissioners Haven and Higdon expressed concerns they would be appearing to tell the Town of Franklin what to do with their property)


Page Two of the Proposed Nikwasi Resolution (changes were made to reflect a softer tone after Commissioners Haven and Higdon expressed concerns they would be appearing to tell the Town of Franklin what to do with their property)

Page Three of the Proposed Nikwasi Resolution (changes were made to reflect a softer tone after Commissioners Haven and Higdon expressed concerns they would be appearing to tell the Town of Franklin what to do with their property)

Commissioners voted to approve the resolution with language in it that specifically addressed that the county was not taking sides in this issue, that they would merely facilitate discussions between the Eastern Band of the Cherokee and the Town of Franklin regarding ownership of the Nikwasi Indian Mound.

To give you some background on this issue, I have embedded videos I recorded of Chief Michel Hicks speaking about Nikwasi on two previous occasions:


Principal Chief Hicks at the Hall Mountain Celebration in the Cowee Community on May 31, 2013 (about 12 miles north of Franklin, NC)


Principal Chief Hicks at a meeting of the Macon County Commissioners on August 13, 2013 (this was the request that prompted the Nikwasi Resolution)


Miles Gregory, Chairman of the Macon County Airport Authority, addresses the county commissioners, updating them on what the Airport Authority has been up to lately and to request $290,000 from the board in order to secure a $2,900,000 grant from the FAA so they can widen the runway of the Macon County Airport. Commissioners approved his request 5-0.


Macon County EDC Director Tommy Jenkins informs the county commissioners about the economic impact of the Macon County Airport to the local economy and the potential for the future of the county.


The Macon County Commissioners addressing the impending retirement of Macon County Manager Jack Horton.

PUBLIC AGENDA

1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Corbin

2. Announcements
    A. Awarding of the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Macon County Finance Department

3. Moment of Silence

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Public Hearing(s) – 6:15 p.m. – Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) application for Macon County Transit
NOTE: 

Consideration of the ROAP Certified Statement will immediately follow the public hearing

6. Public Comment Period

7. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

8. Reports/Presentations
    A. Proclamation regarding Constitution Week

9. Old Business
    A. Resolution Making Donation of Ambulance to Southwestern Community College
    B. Revised Agreement to Provide Recreation Opportunities with the Scaly Mountain Historical Society, Inc.
    C. Resolution regarding Nikwasi Mound

10.New Business
    A. Consideration of supplemental contract with NCDOT regarding purchase of new vehicle – Kim Angel, Transit Director
    B. Changes to Macon County Public Health Fee Schedule – Public Health Director Jim Bruckner
    C. Consideration of resolution regarding the National Incident Management System (NIMS) – Emergency Services Director David Key and County Attorney
    D. Consideration of matching funds for airport grant – County Manager and Airport Authority representatives
    E. Consideration of License Agreement with the Town of Franklin and Franklin 111/C Flyers – County Manager and County Attorney

11.Consent Agenda – Attachment #11
[All items below are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion. No separate discussion will be held except on request of a member of the Board of Commissioners.]
    A. Minutes of the August 13, 2013 meeting
    B. Budget Amendments #25 through #29
    C. Tax Releases
    D. Monthly ad valorem tax collection report

12.Appointments

13.Closed session – Attorney-client privilege -- NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3)

[note: According to the press kit, the closed session is for the purpose of discussing "...a matter related to the closeout and final payments for the Iotla Valley Elementary School water and sewer project."]


(I have added the text of the law and inserted it into the agenda below)

To consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the public body, which privilege is hereby acknowledged. General policy matters may not be discussed in a closed session and nothing herein shall be construed to permit a public body to close a meeting that otherwise would be open merely because an attorney employed or retained by the public body is a participant. The public body may consider and give instructions to an attorney concerning the handling or settlement of a claim, judicial action, mediation, arbitration, or administrative procedure. If the public body has approved or considered a settlement, other than a malpractice settlement by or on behalf of a hospital, in closed session, the terms of that settlement shall be reported to the public body and entered into its minutes as soon as possible within a reasonable time after the settlement is concluded.

14.Adjourn/Recess

PRESS KIT

Macon County Commissioners 09-10-2013 Press Kit