<< Back 12/4/02 Noland wins Haywood chairmanship By Scott McLeod Haywood County commissioners have a new chairman, a new meeting time — and maybe a TV slot. Two-year commission veteran Bill Noland, a Democrat, was elected chairman by consensus this week after newcomer Mark Swanger conceded defeat in his bid for the post. Carlyle Ferguson, a Republican and the other two-year veteran on the board, nominated Noland for the post. Incoming Republican Kevin Ensley then nominated Swanger, a Democrat. The former school board chairman and top vote-getter in the Nov. 5 election, though, knew he did not have the votes and so gave his support to Noland. “I am fully aware of the outcome prior to a vote, and in the interest of unity — we have lots of problems and challenges ahead of us — and getting off to a good start, I’ll endorse Bill Noland,” said Swanger. Swanger was named vice chairman, but only after Ferguson was nominated by Noland for the post. Ferguson subsequently conceded the job to Swanger, who was named vice chairman by acclimation. The swing vote in the battle for the chairmanship had rested with newcomer Kirk Kirkpatrick. Both Swanger and Noland had sought his support. At his first board meeting, though, he neglected to speak up and explain the reasons for supporting Noland despite having brought a prepared statement. Afterward, explaining that he was going to have to learn to speak up, he gave the statement to reporters. “First, I believe that a chairman should have served as a member of a particular board. Mr. Noland has been a member of this board for the last two years. “Second, this county is in the process of continuing a building project that started approximately four years ago. I ran for commissioner on a platform of continuing this process with possible reasonable modifications that could save the county money. Mr. Noland has served on this board for the last two years and is familiar with the project, and I feel it is in the best interest of the board that the chairman be a proponent of continuing this project as scheduled with reasonable modifications,” Kirkpatrick’s statement read. The board then debated the best possible meeting times, settling on 9 a.m. for the first Monday of the month and 5 p.m. for the third Thursday of each month. The change came at Swanger and Ensley’s urging. Ferguson said a previous evening meeting time had failed to attract many citizens, and he also worried that having staff attend evening meetings could cost the county money. In the end, the board voted unanimously to try the new times. Also, the board discussed videotaping their meetings and airing them on the government information channel on Charter cable. If this occurs, the tapes would also be available for those who don’t have cable. “There’s a good possibility we do that,” said Noland after the meeting.