Free Speech Under Fire in Haywood County Tonight

Our friends in Haywood County are facing a test of their Free Speech rights tonight at a meeting of the Haywood County Commissioners. If any of you can spare the time and effort to attend, it would be greatly appreciated!

The meeting starts at 5:30, if you want to speak, you must sign up before 5:20. I'm planning on being there before 5pm, probably around 4:30 or so.











Here is a copy of the agenda for the meeting, I've put the agenda item that has people worked up in bold (Item IX (3):

HAYWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

AGENDA FOR

September 20, 2010

The Board will meet in the HAYWOOD COUNTY COURTROOM

of the HISTORIC COURTHOUSE at 215 N. Main Street, Waynesville

beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Citizens must sign up for public comment prior to 5:20 p.m. and are limited

to three (3) minutes.  Audience members may not address the Board at any time

during deliberations unless recognized by the Chairman.

I.          Call to Order – Chairman J.W. “Kirk” Kirkpatrick, III

II.         Pledge of Allegiance

III.       Public Hearing

Schedule of Values – Ron McCarthy, RSM Consulting and Judy Ballard, Tax Assessor

VI.       Call to Public Hearing

Animal Control Ordinance Revisions – Jean Hazzard, Animal Control Director - ATTACHMENT 1

V.        Public Comment Session

VI.       Constituent Concerns   

VII.      Discussion / Adjustment / Approval of Consent Agenda

VIII.     Consent Agenda

1. Approve September 7th, 2010 Regular Meeting Minutes
2. Budget Amendments – Julie Davis, Finance Director
   a. Sheriff’s Office – $65,884 – Car to Car grant – ATTACHMENT 2
   b. Tax Collections – $16,000 for collection agency fees from prior year’s tax - ATTACHMENT 3
   c. Solid Waste Special Revenue Fund – $144,612 from S/R fund balance for balance of contract due to McGill for groundwater well installation at Francis Farm - ATTACHMENT 4
   d. E-911 Fund – $56,204 from fund balance in S/R fund as complies with Section 9 of House Bill 1691, which allows 50% of funds in Emergency Telephone System Fund on July 1, 2010 to be used for public safety needs, including costs not eligible expense under G.S. 62A-46 – ATTACHMENT 5
   e. Approve August 2010 Refunds, Releases, Amendments and Discoveries - David Francis, Tax Administrator – ATTACHMENT 6

IX.       Old Business

1. Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) Grant for Haywood County Sheriff’s Office – Ellen T. Pitt, Representative MADD / WNC – ATTACHMENT 7
2. NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program Local Government Resolution form GHSP-02-A – request for approval of four year traffic safety program funded partially with grant funds – Sheriff Suttles and Mark Banks – ATTACHMENT 8
3. Public Comment Session Guidelines – David Teague, Public Information Director  - ATTACHMENT 9

X.        New Business

1. Modification of Crabtree Fire Insurance District – Johnny Glance, Fire Marshal  - ATTACHMENT  10
2. Extension of Insurance District to Six Miles for Saunook, Junaluska, Jonathan Creek, Waynesville, and Maggie Valley – Johnny Glance – ATTACHMENT 11
3. Budget Amendment – Mountain Projects – $16,000 Foster Grandparent grant match from contingency – Julie Davis, Finance Director – ATTACHMENT 12
4. North Canton United Fire Department – request for approval to borrow money to purchase two demo fire trucks – Rick Early, North Canton Fire Department Chief and Julie Davis – ATTACHMENT 13
5. World Alzheimer’s Day Proclamation – Vice-Chairman Upton – ATTACHMENT 14

XI.       Closed Session

1. Closed Session Minutes – Approval and / or Release Minutes – G.S. §143-318.11(a)(1)
2. Personnel – G.S. §143-318.11(a)(6)

XII.      Adjournment

Here is the information I received regarding the meeting from the Haywood 9-12 Project:

Haywood 9-12 Project has invited you to the event 'Mon 5:30 - Speak up Haywood County - before it is TOO LATE - Read on... 1st amendment rights?' on 9 -12 TEA Party - WNC! SPeak NOW - or please came support us in defense of the 1st Amendment... Time: September 20, 2010 from 5:30pm to 7pm Location: Historical County Court House - Main court room Organized By: Haywood 9-12 Project Event Description: We NEED your SUPPORT - The County Commissioners meeting will be one of those "Speak now or forever hold your peace" moments... as they try to pass a limit to PUBLIC COMMENT section of the Board meeting. Times have changed and they do not seem to approve of the public involvement in OUR own Government. Just be quiet and Pay Your TAXES. We will either win this battle or have one of our most important liberties taken from us. Besides this subject, they will also have on tomorrow's agenda: to discuss amending the evaluation process for land value (horticulture, agriculture, forestry) --soil testing and rates for each parcel - to determine your tax value. Watch as Haywood County commissioners cause more farms and tree farms to go into foreclosure. Private property is soon to be extinct in Haywood County b/c no one will be able to afford to continue as a landowner, especially a large landowner. Think it couldn't happen here in WNC or the USA? Think again! Rural ethnic cleansing! We do not need the TAX Assessor on our land - doing soil tests. and to discuss amending the vicious or dangerous animal ordinances to --among other things--allow the animal service officer to enter your house --not just your property--to determine if your windows and doors properly restrain even an indoor "dangerous animal." What part of "private property" do they not understand? Many people question "If I do not plan to break the law - whay should I care?" This is how we have had so many personal freedoms stripped... rather that 10 guilty men go free than one inocent to be imprisoned... we have forgoten this... we must protect everyone to save oursleves.