A Swain County commissioner who met with Cherokee Principal Chief Leon Jones urged the county to reconsider its opposition to a land swap between the Tribe and the Park Service.

That resolution, adopted in November 2000, upset tribal officials.

Commissioner Dick Ensley asked the board to reconsider its resolution opposing the land swap because it was his opinion that the resolution had resulted from a lack of communication. According to Ensley, Chief Jones did not contact the county regarding Ravensford tract being considered for the swap because he didn’t realize it would affect Swain County. Swain was receiving Payment In Lieu of Taxes from the National Park Service for the property.

The Tribe is committed to pursuing this land swap, said Ensley.

“I think most of us agree - we’re not opposed to education and the Tribe is in dire need of schools,” Ensley said.

He said Chief Jones was willing to sign a contractual agreement with the Park Service stating the property would only be used for schools. Swain County Attorney Kimberly Lay and Ensley said plans for the property included buildings for Southwestern Community College and Western Carolina University.

“It will be a big thing for them and could be tremendous for us, too,” Ensley said.

Lay and Ensley had been appointed as Swain County Board of Commissioner’s liaison to the Eastern Band of the Cherokees after a March 29 joint meeting between the Tribe and commissioners.

The EBCI had asked for the March meeting in response to a November 2000 resolution from Swain County opposing a proposed land swap between the Tribe and the National Park Service. The EBCI and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are studying a land swap that would give the Tribe approximately 180 acres, known as the Ravensford tract, as a site for schools. The Tribe would be required to procure land of equal value for the swap to occur.

Ensley told commissioners his meeting with Jones had been productive meeting, and both parties had agreed to meet quarterly. The next meeting was scheduled for the first Monday in October.

Ensley told commissioners the Tribe has found land along the Blue Ridge Parkway which it feels would be suitable for a swap.

“We need open communication. It would be beneficial to both parties,” Douthit said.

Douthit and commissioner Austin Greene expressed concern over the growing trend of the Tribe purchasing property in the county that was then put in trust with the Bureau of Land Management, effectively taking it off the tax roles. The Governor’s Island (Ferguson Fields) and Cooper’s Creek tracts were noted.

They are small parcels, said Douthit, “but they keep adding up.”

The board agreed to revisit the November resolution at their August regular meeting.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News