<< Back 6/12/02 Jackson gets public input on budget By Don Hendershot Jackson County commissioners held a public hearing June 6 to solicit public comment on the Fiscal Year 2002-2003 budget and a resolution considering the half-cent local sales tax option. Jackson County Sheriff Jim Cruzan petitioned the board to provide for six new detention officers rather than the four in the proposed budget. Cruzan told commissioners six was the minimum the county could get by with and still provide adequate coverage. He said he would be willing to forego the proposed administrative position. Sylva mayor Brenda Oliver asked commissioners to reconsider the way ABC funds were distributed. Oliver suggested the funding agreement be modified, allowing Sylva to receive all the revenues from the ABC store. Oliver said the town would would provide money to the county to replace law enforcement revenue currently provided by the ABC agreement. Other budget consideration requests came from: ° Wayne Hooper asked that the budget include provisions for purchase of land in Cullowhee for a community development club. ° Peter Roberts of the Cashiers Area Humane Society asked the board to reconsider the $2,500 appropriated for rabies vaccinations for CAHS. He said it was the first time in the organization’s 10-year history that it had sought funding from the county. He said CAHS took in 438 stray animals last year, and he asked that the county consider a more “reasonable” level of funding. ° Bob Cochran and Lorna Barnett asked the board to reconsider $10,000 requested by Community Health Link. Barnett said that as a community organization it was important to receive community support. She said the money provided leverage when the organization sought outside funding. She pointed out that community Health Link secured $135,000 of outside money for the county last year. ° Arlene Stewart of Webster Enterprise asked the board to reconsider a $49,000 request. The county appropriated $20,000 for Webster Enterprises. Jim Dukes of Dominium Development presented an update on Heritage Hills’ plans for a mature life center. The plan incorporates unassisted and assisted living accommodations with rental and ownership options. Dukes asked the board to consider leasing space to consolidate county senior services at the site. The proposal would cost the county about $9,000 per month. Stacy Buchanan and other commissioners expressed concern about entering into a lease agreement. Chairman Jay Denton said the county would love the type of facility Dukes was describing but that logistics, details and options would have to be thoroughly studied and the board was not prepared to make any kind of commitment at the present. Commissioners also briefly discussed the land-use recommendations from the Development Plan Task Force. The recommendation set four broad goals and listed a strategy and a timeline regarding each goal: ° Proactive long-range planning. ° Manage and control residential and commercial growth. ° Provide for adequate emergency services. ° Preserve the small town-rural nature of the county by creating a walkable community. Commissioners scheduled a work session and regular meeting for June 20. They will review the budget, half-cent sales tax proposal, Heritage Hills plans and the Plan task force recommendations.