A new telecommunications ordinance was one issue reviewed by Jackson County Commissioners during a busy work session followed by a regular meeting Oct. 18.

Commissioners consulted with planning director Tamera Crisp and planning board member Mark Jamison during the work session, trying to agree on the wording of the ordinance.

Prior to the work session, the planning board had provided commissioners a rough draft to preview. Jamison recommended to the board that a third party be contracted to assist in drafting and administering the ordinance should the county choose to work with the draft ordinance.

One consulting company, Trigon Engineering Consultants, had seen the draft ordinance and said it was something that could be applied, Jamison said.

“We have heard from some tower companies and they said they could live with the ordinance,” Crisp said.

“We’re satisfied the ordinance won’t inhibit growth of the industry. The industry is market driven. If companies can make money, they will find a way to provide service. This ordinance will give us the opportunity to site less visible towers,” Jamison said.

The board told Crisp and Jamison to proceed with the draft and seek a third party consultant and asked County Manager Ken Westmoreland to review third-party proposals.

Public hearings dates were also set on two proposed ordinances — one banning sightseeing helicopters and another concerning solid waste. The helicopter hearing is Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. and the solid waste hearing is at 6 p.m. the same night. Both will be held in the commissioners’ meeting room at the Justice Center.

The commissioners also discussed the county’s solid waste contract with GDS, a solid waste management company from Hendersonville. John Thornton of Altamont Environmental acted as an intermediary on behalf of Jackson County.

Thornton told the board GDS had agreed to reduce container and hauling fees. GDS will also provide much more flexible service to the county, Thornton said. The lower fees will save the county more than $44,000 annually. He said GDS had agreed to implement the reduced fees in January rather than waiting until their contract expired in June, thus increasing the county’s savings.

GDS also agreed to increase their liability insurance from $300,000 to $4 million and give the county the option to buy containers. In what Thornton described as “middle ground,” GDS agreed to a 3-percent cap on rate increases.

“From my standpoint, GDS has made important concessions. The county might find a lower price if you bid, but you wouldn’t find anyone with this flexibility,” Thornton said.

Thornton suggested the county make the decision before January so it could start the new year off with the added savings that would be provided by GDS lowering its rates in January.

“I would like to say we’ve worked diligently with John to come up with the flexibility the county desires and that GDS appreciates our relationship with the county and would like for it to continue,” said Scott Welch, GDS’s general manager.

Commissioners also viewed an informal Power Point presentation from Department of Social Services Director Bob Cochran. The presentation spotlighted DSS’s accomplishments for fiscal year 2000-2001. Some of the highlights include state rankings of “100 percent accuracy” for the Food Stamp program and “100 percent accuracy and 100 percent timely” for the Medicaid program.

Jackson County DSS also surpassed the state’s target goal of 27 successful Work First participants with a FY 2000-2001 total of 43. DSS also received $12,000 in special adoption funds for meeting goals in that department.

Jackson County DSS received the North Carolina Social Service Chapter of the Year Award and the Gold Award for their Food Stamps program.

Jackson County sheriff James Cruzan and Westmoreland petitioned the commissioners for seven new employees (six detention officers and one clerical worker) for the new detention facility.

Cruzan urged commissioners to begin filling the positions soon.

“We can’t put ’em in there cold,” Cruzan said.

Cruzan’s and Westmoreland’s plan called for hiring two officers for each of the next three quarters to allow them to learn the intricacies of the new facilities.

Cruzan also asked commissioners for funding to help outfit the department to be able to handle biological terrorism threats.

Jim Dukes, chairman of the Greenways Commission, told the board that three grants totaling $25,000 had been acquired. Two of the grants, $1,000 from Kodak and $10,000 from Duke Energy, were designated for general planning and design. The third grant, $25,000 from Clean Water Management Trust Fund, is to go towards completing the greenway link between Dillsboro and Sylva.

 

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