On the heels of approving a 90-day moratorium on the construction of cell towers, Jackson County commissioners are expected to get their first look this week at an ordinance that could force a sightseeing helicopter operation to locate elsewhere.

Commissioners were asked Aug. 2 by members of the Qualla community to halt helicopter sightseeing tours based in the community.

Cherokee Helicopters has been operating from deeded property along Casino Trail in Cherokee for at least three years.

Community members complained that the tours were too loud and too frequent. One resident noted there were tours last year on Christmas Day.

Marie Junaluska, Cherokee council representative from Paint Town, said she had received numerous complaints from tribal members. She said the tribal council had an ordinance forbidding helicopters on the reservation but it did not apply to Cherokee Helicopters because they were on deeded land.

Jim Garst, manager for Cherokee Helicopters, said the company “flies friendly. We try to appease the community. We fly at least 2,000 feet above homes,” Garst said.

He said citizens with complaints should come to the company. We are happy to take people up and find their homes so we can avoid flying directly over them.

Garst said the operation is 100 percent licensed and Federal Aviation Administra-tion approved. The parent company has operated out of Sevierville, Tenn., for 37 years.

Commissioner Conrad Burrell said he felt the tours had caused a lot of grief and recommended that county attorney Raymond Large investigate the issue and see if the county could come up with an ordinance regulating the industry.

The board agreed, and chairman Jay Denton said he expects to have an ordinance ready for a first reading Aug. 16. A public hearing would have to be held and then a second reading before the ordinance could be adopted.

 

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