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I am working on the template of this blog today in order to chase down some problems that have developed with my template and widgets.

Macon County Commissioners

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County Board of County Commissioners.

Franklin Town Board of Aldermen

Coverage of the meetings of the Franklin Town Board of Aldermen.

Macon County School Board

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County School Board.

Photoblog

Photos from my photoblog.

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About

Monday, September 30, 2013

Macon County Board of Education 09-24-2013
Ethics Training and Legislative Update

Macon County Board of Education Sept 24th of 2013
Photo and Titles ©2013 Bobby Coggins

The Macon County Board of Education met last Tuesday in a continuation meeting from their Monday night meeting. I was the only member of the media or public present for the meeting, which lasted from 11am to a little after 2pm.

I have embedded copies of the Ethics Training slides, the Legislative Updates and Teacher Tenure information provided during the Legislative Update Portion of the meeting and a copy of the Macon Middle School Fund Redistribution motion passed by the board at the end of the meeting.

Here is the video of the meeting:




And for those who don't want to sit through almost an hour and a half of Ethics Training (I found it to be very informative), here is just the Legislative Update portion of the meeting. It lasted almost an hour and a half also.





SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Ethics Training





Legislative Updates





Teacher Tenure



MMS Fund Redistribution



Saturday, September 28, 2013

Video and Photos of the 2013 Tour de Franklin

Tour de franklin

The 9th annual Tour de Franklin was held today and I was there for the start of the race. Here are a few of the photos and a little video I put together:



Route Map

Registration

Smoky Mountain Bicycles

Sponsor List

Map and Route Marking Codes

O76 and bicycles

Stay and Play in the Smokies

Oranges

Main Street Coffee and Tea

Bicycle on Car

Coming Together

In the Zone

Race Briefing

Racer on Iotla Street

Racer on Phillips Street





Wednesday, September 25, 2013

League of Women Voters and Venture Local Franklin Host a Hangout with the Candidates

Macon Bank Corporate Center
Photo and Title ©2013 Bobby Coggins

The League of Women Voters and Venture Local Franklin hosted a Hangout with the Candidates last night at Macon Bank were the candidates for Aldermen and Mayor had the opportunity to draw from a pool of four questions and answer them, then could address any other topic or speak about their campaign within a six minute time limit. Nine of the ten candidates for Alderman and both the candidates for Mayor were in attendance and everyone gave a good account of themselves. 

A video of the full event is embedded below, along with a few photos and some of the slides from the presentation at the event.


I would like to thank the local League of Women Voters and Venture Local Franklin for teaming up to host this event for the community. Both organizations contribute a great deal to our community and we are blessed to have these groups of civic-minded people volunteering their skills to help their neighbors. Here are some links to help you find out more about these organizations:

League of Women Voters 


Venture Local Franklin


Here is a slide show of the photos that turned out good enough to share:

Thunder-Pig's 2013 Hangout with the Candidates album on Photobucket








Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Franklin Aldermen 09-23-2013


Franklin Aldermen Sept 23rd meeting 
Photo and Titles ©2013 Bobby Coggins

The Franklin Town Board of Aldermen met last night in a continuation meeting from their September 3rd meeting [see coverage of that meeting] to discuss a street closing request, a tax release and a dozen requests by local non-profits for funding out of the Community Funding Pool.

A video of the complete meeting, the public agenda and the press kit are embedded below for your convenience.




PUBLIC AGENDA

Town of Franklin Board of Aldermen 

Meeting Agenda
Monday September 23, 2013 - 5:30 p.m. 

  1. Call to order -Mayor Collins
  2. New business
    • Street Closing Request- Main Street Executive Linda Schlott
    • Tax Release- Town Manager Warren Cabe
    • Board Discussion on Non-Profit Funding Pool Applications
  3. Adjourn
MEDIA ROLL CALL

Macon Media (me)

No other members of the media were present. I suspect they were all in Highlands for the monthly meeting of the Macon County Board of Education and did not have reporters available for this meeting. I decided this meeting was more important.


CANDIDATE SIGHTINGS

Barbara McRae (running for Town Alderman)
Mack Brogden (running for Town Alderman)
Angela Moore (running for Town Alderman)

Billy Mashburn, Board Member (running for re-election as a Town Alderman)
Sissy Patillo, Board Member (running for Mayor)
Bob Scott, Board Member (running for Mayor)

After some discussion, the non-profit funding pool was distributed as follows:

$3,700.00 Angel Medical Center
$3,700.00 Community Care Clinic of Franklin
$1,870.75 Franklin Garden Club
$3,700.00 KIDS Place
$3,700.00 Macon County Care Network
$3,700.00 Macon County Habitat for Humanity
$3,700.00 Macon County Historical Society Museum
$3,700.00 Macon County Public Library
$3,700.00 R.E.A.C.H.
$3,700.00 Read2Me
$1,869.25 Scottish Tartans Museum
$2,960.00 Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center

Motion carried. Pattillo motioned and Scott seconded. Vote: 6 to 0.



PRESS KIT 
(provided to Board Members and Members of the Media, but not to the general public)


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Franklin TDA 09-16-2013

Franklin TDA Generic Meeting Notice 
Photo ©Bobby Coggins


Here is the video of last night's meeting of the Franklin Tourism Development Authority. I did a nearly live play by on Google Plus and have embedded the press kit below for your convenience.


Friday, September 13, 2013

Franklin Dialysis Center Open House and Ribbon Cutting



Here is video and some of the photos I took at the open house and ribbon cutting of the Franklin Township Dialysis center that will be operated by DaVita.

Thunder-Pig's DaVita Ribbon Cutting album on Photobucket

Governor Pat McCrory Visit to Dillsboro, NC

Governor Pat McCrory Visits Dillsboro
©2013 Bobby Coggins


North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory was in western North Carolina yesterday and spent the early part of the day in Jackson County. One of his stops was to meet with local leaders to discuss items of importance to them and to share his vision of the future of the state and part that the western counties in that future.

I recorded video of the discussion before the meal was served, then I had to leave in order to be at the ribbon cutting for a Dialysis Center in Macon County. I have posted video and few of the photos I took of the Governor's visit here.

MEDIA ROLL CALL 

(clicking on the links below will take you to the stories about this event that are posted by these organizations)

There were more reporters at this thing than I could shake a stick at.
The ones I were aware of are listed below:

Macon Media (me)
The Franklin Press
The Sylva Herald
WRGC-AM
Crossroads Chronicle (Cashiers, NC)
The Asheville Citizen-Times
WLOS-TV

TECHNICAL NOTE

I've added new functionality to the photos I've embedded. If you place your cursor over the photos, you will see a dialogue box with more information and if you click on the photos, you should see them in a light box and have the ability to scroll through all the photos in the blogpost.



The Jarrett House
©2013 Bobby Coggins

Governor Pat McCrory and Rex Hodges of WLOS
©2013 Bobby Coggins

Lone Protestor
©2013 Bobby Coggins

Charles Maney and Governor Pat McCrory
©2013 Bobby Coggins

Harold Corbin and Governor Pat McCrory
©2013 Bobby Coggins

SCC President Don Tomas
©2013 Bobby Coggins

WLOS Reporter Rex Hodges
©2013 Bobby Coggins

Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland
©2013 Bobby Coggins

Jackson County GOP Chair Ralph Slaughter
©2013 Bobby Coggins

Governor Pat McCrory Speaks
©2013 Bobby Coggins

Governor Pat McCrory Answers a Question
©2013 Bobby Coggins

Govenor Pat McCrory and Ralph Slaughter
©2013 Bobby Coggins

Local Leaders
©2013 Bobby Coggins

Governor Pat McCrory and WRGC Reporter Donovan Justice
©2013 Bobby Coggins

2012 Bumper Sticker
©2013 Bobby Coggins





Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Time Lapse: NCDOT Installs Cross Walk Light in Franklin, NC

NCDOT Installs Cross Walk Light
Photo ©2013 by Bobby Coggins


A time lapse of a North Carolina Department of Transportation work crew installing a cross walk light to replace on that had been destroyed in an automobile accident the day before (Tuesday the 10th of September) at East Palmer Street and Phillips Street in Franklin, NC.

Macon County Commissioners 09-10-2013


Title Card for 09-10-2013 Meeting 
of the
Macon County Commissioners 
Photo and Titles by Bobby Coggins

The Macon County Commissioners met last night in a meeting that lasted (minus the 22 minute closed session) for nearly 3 hours. I posted a text play by of the meeting as it happened on Google Plus [LINK] if you care to read the particulars. The video, a few photos and supporting documents from the meeting are below.



MEDIA ROLL CALL

Macon Media (me)
Macon County News
The Franklin Press
WFSC-AM/WNCC-FM


PHOTOS



Lori Hall and Kevin Corbin

Lori Hall (L), the Macon County Finance Director, with Kevin Corbin (R) as she and her department are recognized for being awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). This is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. This is the eighteenth consecutive year the department has received the award.

Macon County Manager Jack Horton

Macon County Manager Jack Horton at his last meeting of the county commissioners before his retirement that is scheduled for September 30, 2013.


The Nikwasi Resolution





Page One of Proposed Nikwasi Resolution
Page One of the Proposed Nikwasi Resolution (changes were made to reflect a softer tone after Commissioners Haven and Higdon expressed concerns they would be appearing to tell the Town of Franklin what to do with their property)


Page Two of Proposed Nikwasi Resolution
Page Two of the Proposed Nikwasi Resolution (changes were made to reflect a softer tone after Commissioners Haven and Higdon expressed concerns they would be appearing to tell the Town of Franklin what to do with their property)

Page Three of Proposed Nikwasi Resolution
Page Three of the Proposed Nikwasi Resolution (changes were made to reflect a softer tone after Commissioners Haven and Higdon expressed concerns they would be appearing to tell the Town of Franklin what to do with their property)

Commissioners voted to approve the resolution with language in it that specifically addressed that the county was not taking sides in this issue, that they would merely facilitate discussions between the Eastern Band of the Cherokee and the Town of Franklin regarding ownership of the Nikwasi Indian Mound.

To give you some background on this issue, I have embedded videos I recorded of Chief Michel Hicks speaking about Nikwasi on two previous occasions:


Principal Chief Hicks at the Hall Mountain Celebration in the Cowee Community on May 31, 2013 (about 12 miles north of Franklin, NC)


Principal Chief Hicks at a meeting of the Macon County Commissioners on August 13, 2013 (this was the request that prompted the Nikwasi Resolution)

Miles Gregory Addresses the Board County Commissioners

Miles Gregory, Chairman of the Macon County Airport Authority, addresses the county commissioners, updating them on what the Airport Authority has been up to lately and to request $290,000 from the board in order to secure a $2,900,000 grant from the FAA so they can widen the runway of the Macon County Airport. Commissioners approved his request 5-0.

Tommy Jenkins Addresses the Board

Macon County EDC Director Tommy Jenkins informs the county commissioners about the economic impact of the Macon County Airport to the local economy and the potential for the future of the county.

The Macon County Board of Commissioners

The Macon County Commissioners addressing the impending retirement of Macon County Manager Jack Horton.

PUBLIC AGENDA



1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Corbin

2. Announcements
    A. Awarding of the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Macon County Finance Department

3. Moment of Silence

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Public Hearing(s) – 6:15 p.m. – Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) application for Macon County Transit
NOTE: 

Consideration of the ROAP Certified Statement will immediately follow the public hearing

6. Public Comment Period

7. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

8. Reports/Presentations
    A. Proclamation regarding Constitution Week

9. Old Business
    A. Resolution Making Donation of Ambulance to Southwestern Community College
    B. Revised Agreement to Provide Recreation Opportunities with the Scaly Mountain Historical Society, Inc.
    C. Resolution regarding Nikwasi Mound

10.New Business
    A. Consideration of supplemental contract with NCDOT regarding purchase of new vehicle – Kim Angel, Transit Director
    B. Changes to Macon County Public Health Fee Schedule – Public Health Director Jim Bruckner
    C. Consideration of resolution regarding the National Incident Management System (NIMS) – Emergency Services Director David Key and County Attorney
    D. Consideration of matching funds for airport grant – County Manager and Airport Authority representatives
    E. Consideration of License Agreement with the Town of Franklin and Franklin 111/C Flyers – County Manager and County Attorney

11.Consent Agenda – Attachment #11
[All items below are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion. No separate discussion will be held except on request of a member of the Board of Commissioners.]
    A. Minutes of the August 13, 2013 meeting
    B. Budget Amendments #25 through #29
    C. Tax Releases
    D. Monthly ad valorem tax collection report

12.Appointments

13.Closed session – Attorney-client privilege -- NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3)


[note: According to the press kit, the closed session is for the purpose of discussing "...a matter related to the closeout and final payments for the Iotla Valley Elementary School water and sewer project."]


(I have added the text of the law and inserted it into the agenda below)
To consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the public body, which privilege is hereby acknowledged. General policy matters may not be discussed in a closed session and nothing herein shall be construed to permit a public body to close a meeting that otherwise would be open merely because an attorney employed or retained by the public body is a participant. The public body may consider and give instructions to an attorney concerning the handling or settlement of a claim, judicial action, mediation, arbitration, or administrative procedure. If the public body has approved or considered a settlement, other than a malpractice settlement by or on behalf of a hospital, in closed session, the terms of that settlement shall be reported to the public body and entered into its minutes as soon as possible within a reasonable time after the settlement is concluded.
14.Adjourn/Recess


PRESS KIT