A task force originally formed in October 2003 and designed to bring together dissenting parties in the Jackson County Southern Loop debate is about a month behind schedule, according to Rural Planning Organization officials.

The task force — which includes representatives from the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Statewide Planning Branch, Rural Planning Organization, Jackson Smart Roads Task Force, Smart Roads Coalition, Jackson County Transportation Board, Southwestern Community College, Western Carolina University, and the Towns of Sylva, Dillsboro, Webster and Village of Forest Hills — came about as the result of heated arguments about a proposed bypass connecting U.S. 441 near Webster with U.S. 23-74 north of Sylva.

Following last year’s Transportation Improvement Program meeting in October, DOT officials agreed to step back and revisit the road’s planning process. The plan was for a new study to be conducted, encompassing a larger area from north of Sylva to south of Western Carolina University, with appointed members from local advisory boards and the public being given the chance to advise the DOT every step of the way, officials said.

“We’re basically about a month behind on that,” said Region A Rural Planning Organization Planner Matt Roark, located in Bryson City.

The delay stems from one of the task force’s town members — Dillsboro — having failed to appoint a representative as of yet. All other task force members have appointed representatives, Roark said.

Dillsboro Town Manager Herb Nolan said the town was aware it had to make an appointment and was in no way attempting to stymie the process. However, Nolan said that he is spread thin and finding another potential representative has proven difficult.

“With a town of 215 people you’re kind of short-handed,” Nolan said.

Finding someone within that small population who isn’t coming to the table with their mind previously made up also is a task, Nolan said.

“We would like to send someone who doesn’t have a lot of preconceived ideas,” he said.

In the meantime, the RPO — which is overseeing the administrative organization of the task force — is pushing ahead to come up with a game plan for how often meetings will occur and other such ground rules. Roark, representatives from the Statewide Planning Branch and Jackson County Manager Ken Westmoreland met last week and set the first task force meeting for 6 p.m., April20, at the Jackson County Justice Center. All meetings are open to the public.