The Franklin Town Council held a continuation meeting tonight in the town hall. During this meeting, a public hearing was held on a proposed new substation for Franklin VFD to be built on US-441 north of town. No one from the general public spoke at the hearing.
After the hearing was closed the town council awarded the bid to Western Builders for $399,199.00 and awarded the bid to finance the construction to United Community Bank. The term of the loan is $400,000 at a 1.99% interest rate for ten years.
Roll Call
Macon Media (Bobby)
The Franklin Press (Jake)
Video of the meeting has been embedded below.
CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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A plume of deep tropical moisture from the Atlantic has spread
over the area last night, ahead of a slow moving cold front that
approaches from the west. The front will slowly cross the forecast
area today through early Friday, helping generate widespread
rain.
Veterans Day
Vaterans Day will be observed this year in a private ceremony at a new facility in the Onion Mountain area established to help Gold Star families and veterans. Macon Media will, if there is enough internet bandwidth, stream live video of the ceremony. The ceremony will also be broadcast live on 1050 WFSC-AM and 104.1 WNCC-FM. < br/>
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Weather Sponsor
Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.
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General forecast through Friday night
Today
Showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog before 11am. Highs ranging from the mid-to-upper 60s in the higher elevations to the mid-70s in the lower elevations. Light winds out of the southeast. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3am, then showers likely. Patchy fog. Lows raing from the low-to-mid 60s in the higher elevations to near 60 in the lower elevations. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday
Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4pm, then a slight chance of showers. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs ranginf from the upper 60s in the higher elevations to the mid-70s in the lower elevations. Light winds out of the northwest. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with lows ranging from the mid-40s in the higher elevations to near 50 in the lower elevations. Calm winds.
Friday
Sunny, with highs ranging from the mid-60s in the higher elevations to the lower 70s in the lower elevations.
Friday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with lows ranging from the upper 30s in the higher elevations to the mid-40s in the lower elevations.
HAZARDS
Macon County is under a Flood Watch until 7pm Friday afternoon. A copy of the warning is posted below.
A second round of tropical moisture and with periods of heavy rain
may arrive this weekend as the remnants of Eta pass to our east.
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
318 AM EST Wed Nov 11 2020
...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...
The Flood Watch continues for portions of northeast Georgia...North Carolina and upstate South
Carolina, including the following areas,
Greenville Mountains, Oconee Mountains and Pickens
Mountains.
* Through Thursday evening
* Flooding may occur through this morning near the south and
southeast-facing areas of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and adjacent
foothills. Rainfall may diminish from late morning to early
afternoon, but likely will occur again this evening through
Thursday. Flooding will become increasingly likely in areas that
experience multiple rounds of heavy rainfall.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on
current forecasts. Please monitor the latest forecasts and be alert
for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding
should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
News Brief
The Macon County Board of Commissioners met last night for their regular meeting for the month of November. [LINK]
COVID-19 Briefing
Coronavirus Briefing: NC Gov. Roy Cooper (11/10/20)
The governor has paused North Carolina at Phase 3 for three more weeks and has dropped the limit on the number of people who can gather indoors from 25 to 10. He and the DHHS Director emphasize the 3Ws in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 so our hospitals are not overwhelmed like they are in other states.
Dr John Campbell: Hydroxychloroquine as a theraputic
Biden COVID-19 advisory board member Michael Osterholm on pandemic response challenges
Here are the latest COVID-19 Numbers and Demographics Report from Macon Public Health, along with a couple of charts by Macon Media to show you the long-term trends since May 30, 2020, when the health department started releasing numbers to Macon Media.
Cases
811 Detected
(+6 from Monday and +30 from last Tuesday and +112 in four weeks)
40 Active
(+2 from Monday and +4 from last Tuesday and +8 in four weeks)
763 Recovered
(+4 from Monday and +25 from last Tuesday and +103 in four weeks)
8 Deaths
(+1 from Monday and +1 from last Tuesday and +1 in four weeks)
Testing
6647 by MCPH
(unchanged from Monday and +159 from last Tuesday and +659 in four weeks)
3307 by Others
(unchanged from Monday and +227 from last Tuesday and +861 in four weeks)
9954 total
(unchanged from Monday and +286 from last Tuesday and +1540 in four weeks)
87 tests pending results
(unchanged from Monday and +1 from last Tuesday and +16 in four weeks)
Air Quality
Air quality is in the mid-to-upper range of green today for all elevations.
Pollen
Pollen levels are expected to be low (0.3 out of 12) with ragweed being the main culprit. Tomorrow is expected to be lower (0.3 out of 12).
Weather Extremes for Macon County for November 11th
Highest Temperature 80°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2006
Lowest Temperature 0°F in Nantahala in 1950
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 2.88 inches in Highlands in 1998
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 2.0 inches in Highlands in 1968
TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)
Tropical Tidbit from Levi Cowan
(video recorded yesterday)
Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
100 AM EST Wed Nov 11 2020
For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical
Storm Eta, located over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, and on
Tropical Storm Theta, located over the eastern Atlantic.
1. A tropical wave located over the eastern Caribbean Sea is producing
a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The wave is
expected to move slowly westward into more conducive environmental
conditions over the next several days, and a tropical depression is
likely to form late this week or this weekend when the wave reaches
the central or western Caribbean Sea. Regardless of development,
this system is expected to bring heavy rainfall along with possible
flash flooding to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and portions of
Hispaniola over the next couple of days. For more detailed
information, refer to products issued by your local weather
office.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...20 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...high...80 percent.
Tropical Storm Eta Discussion Number 44
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL292020
400 AM EST Wed Nov 11 2020
Eta has become better organized over the past few hours, with a
better-defined eye feature on the Key West radar. Satellite
pictures also show a more symmetric presentation and a large
cluster of deep convection near the center. Radar data has shown
increasing wind speeds in the mid-levels, which supports
conservatively raising the initial wind speed to 60 kt. The
current position is southwest of the eye feature on radar, assuming
some shear remains, but a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is
scheduled to be in the storm in a few hours to acquire better data
on both the initial position and intensity.
It appears that the center of Eta has re-formed to the north-
northeast tonight, so an initial motion is hard to determine,
but is estimated to be northward at about 10 kt. Remarkably, model
guidance has become well clustered just east of the previous
forecast track as it seems apparent that Eta will now recurve
around the ridge toward the Florida Big Bend region and out into
the western Atlantic Ocean. The biggest change is that the models
are faster than before, and the official forecast follows that
lead, along with a small eastward forecast adjustment, near or just
east of the model consensus.
Further strengthening is possible today while the shear remains
low-to-moderate. However, all of the models do show increasing
shear by tonight, and the NHC forecast continues to call for
weakening of Eta as it approaches the west coast of Florida.
However, it would take only a small forecast error to allow Eta to
come ashore as a hurricane, and hence a Hurricane Watch has been
issued this morning. Rapid weakening is anticipated once Eta makes
landfall, and strong shear should prevent any regeneration over the
western Atlantic Ocean. The new forecast is a little higher than
the previous advisory, mostly due to current trends, and is closer
to the more bullish HMON and HWRF models.
Key Messages:
1. Life-threatening storm surge is possible early Thursday along
portions of the Florida Gulf Coast from Bonita Beach to
Steinhatchee River, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.
Residents in this area should follow any advice given by local
officials.
2. Hurricane-force winds are possible along portions of the west
coast of Florida from Anna Maria Island to Yankeetown by early
Thursday. Tropical-storm-force winds are expected by late Wednesday
along portions of the Florida Gulf Coast from Bonita Beach to
Suwanee River, and are possible Thursday from Suwannee River to
Aucilla River. Interests elsewhere along the Florida Gulf Coast
should monitor the progress of Eta, as additional watches and
warnings may be needed today.
3. Heavy rainfall from Eta will continue across western Cuba and
South Florida and spread northward across portions of West and North
Florida Wednesday through Friday. Additional flash and urban
flooding will be possible in South Florida on Wednesday, especially
across previously inundated areas, and across portions of West
Florida through Friday.
If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.
The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6pm. Copies of the Public Agenda and the Agenda Packet are posted below.
Macon Media will stream the meeting live on Facebook and will embed a player here when the stream goes live. A higher-quality video and segments will be published late in other articles.
DAY SPONSOR
Carrion Tree Service is underwriting Macon Media for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.
Their phone number is 371-4718.
They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.
Live Video
Roll Call
(Elected and News Media Critters who are present at the meeting will be added here once the meeting starts)
Macon Media (Bobby)
The Franklin Press (Jake)
The Macon County News and Shopping Guide (Brittney)
Public Agenda
1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Tate
2. Announcements and introduction of interim county attorney Kim Carpenter
3. Moment of Silence
4. Pledge of Allegiance
5. Public Hearing(s) - 6:00 p.m. - Macon County Transit/Section 5311 (ADTAP), 5310, 5339, 5307 and applicable state funding, or combination thereof. NOTE: Immediately following the close of the public hearing, the board may take action on the Public Transportation Program Resolution.
6. Public Comment Period
7. Additions to agenda
8. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda
9. Reports/Presentations
A. Update on request to use the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building to host a gun show - Emergency Services Director Warren Cabe and Public Health Director Kathy McGaha
B. Update on the Nikwasi Initiative - Executive Director Elaine Eisenbraun
C. Formation of a county natural resources committee - Jim Gray
D. Women's History Trail Sculpture Project update - Mary Polanski
10.Old Business
11 New Business
(A) Discussion/approval of a "3-1" form regarding the burn building at Southwestern Community College - Dr. Don Tomas, Curtis Dowdle and William Brothers
(B) Lease agreement with AG1, LLC - Economic Development Director Tommy Jenkins
(C) Lease agreement with TECO SSL, Inc. - Mr. Jenkins
(D) Resolution authorizing upset bid process for panoramic X-ray machine - County Manager Derek Roland
(E) Hazard Pay - Mr. Roland
12.Consent Agenda - Attachment #12 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 September 8, 2020 regular meeting and the September 29, 2020 special meeting.
(B) Budget Amendments #103-104
(C) Tax Releases in the amount of $4,314.59 for July 2020
(D) Monthly ad valorem tax collection report - no action necessary
13.Appointments
(A) Economic Development Commission (four seats)
(B) Community Funding Pool Task Force (all seats)
14.Closed session as allowed under North Carolina General Statute regarding property acquisition and to preserve the attorney/client privilege
If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.
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