Public safety personnel gathered to show their appreciation and respect for the life and service of Dennis Tippet on Thursday, July 11th, 2013. His body was carried in 'The 37' of the Franklin Fire Department. The body, and his family, were escorted from Macon Funeral Home to Cowee Baptist Church in a line of emergency vehicles that all passed under an American Flag displayed between Ladder 11 and Ladder 12.
The pallbearers ferried the casket between a line of public safety personnel from The 37 to the grave. The Cowee Volunteer Fire Department conducted the graveside rites for Dennis, and for his family.
Here are some photos and video that attempt to convey some measure of the level of love and respect his brothers and sisters have for him, starting with his return home from a medical center in Philadelphia and ending with some photos taken during the ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Macon Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses, PO Box 1175 Franklin, NC 28744.
See video shot by a person closer to the apparatus.
Bob Scott, a 10 year veteran of the Franklin Board of Aldermen filed Friday to run for Mayor. Scott is seeking the seat being vacated by long-time mayor Joe Collins.
Among the ideas Scott has for Franklin is a project to develop the town owned 13 acre Whitmire property into “a place for all residents to enjoy and to leave for our children and grand children and great grandchildren.” Among the ideas for the Whitmire property Scott would like to see, is space for a farmer’s market, hiking and mountain biking trails, and a multi use building similar to the one the Flat Rock Playhouse started in or the rustic style auditorium of the Brevard Music Center.
“I welcome the ideas of others for the property. I think we have spent enough taxpayer dollars on outside marketing companies when we have an abundance of local talent to come up with a plan. It is the last remaining large green space within the town limits. We need to put it to community use,” Scott said.
“Many of our business owners have property in Franklin, but because they reside outside the town limits they do not have a vote. I plan to form a business council which will meet on a regular basis so that these property owners have a voice. They may not have a vote, but we will make sure the business community has a voice,” Scott added.
“The town has ongoing issues involving water, sewer, storm water runoff and streets which need to be constantly monitored if the town is to remain viable in a rapidly changing economy,” he said.
Scott has resided in Franklin since 1967. He is a native of South Carolina. He served in the South Carolina National Guard and Army Reserve. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and is a graduate of Western Carolina University. He has had careers in the newspaper and public safety sectors. He is a graduate of leadership and management programs. He is active in volunteer and civic activities.
Scott is married to Nancy Siler Scott, who served 11 years on the town board before he ran for the board. She worked for beautification and environmental protection projects in the town during her board service. She is a retired teacher and licensed professional counselor. They have two grown children and two grandchildren.
Here is the video, agenda and press kit for the July 8th meeting of the Franklin Tourism Development Authority.
TOWN OF FRANKLIN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
AGENDA
MONDAY JULY 8, 2013
5:30PM TOWN HALL BOARD ROOM
1...Call to order - Chair Candy Presley
2...Approval of the June 10 and June 18, 2013 minutes
3...Financial Report - Summer Woodard
4...Sub-Committee Reports
A...Finance/Budget Chair report - Mike Grubermann
C...Policy and Rules of Procedure Chair report - Vickie Springer
D...Application Review Chair report - Summer Woodard
5...Old (unfinished business)
A...Sponsorship opportunity for Appalachian trail Biennial
B...Funding request for Ruby Bash Rally
C...Funding request for hiker transportation
D...Sponsorship opportunity for the Smoky mountain Theater
6...New business
A...Discussion on facebook and Google adwords
B...Discussion on electronic billboard campaign
C...Discussion on website hosting for TDA websites
7...Items from the board
8...Announcements - The next regularly scheduled TDA meeting is Monday August 12, 2013 at 5:30PM in the Town Hall Board Room.
9...Adjourn
The press kit is provided (as a public document) to the general public in the interest of promoting transparency and acountability.
Macon County Manager Jack Horton has made the announcement that he is retiring from his position effective October 1, 2013.
The text of the letter he presented to the board and media is below:
To: Macon County Board of County Commissioners
Chairman: Kevin Corbin
Vice Chair: Ronnie Beale
Commissioner: Ron Haven
Commissioner: Jim Tate
Commissioner: Paul Higdon
Gentlemen,
It was Monday February 9th, 1976 when l walked in to the County Administrative Offices in Swain County and began what turned out to be a career in local government that has spanned more than three and a half decades. In addition to Macon County, I have served as County Manager in three other counties as well as two years as a City Manager. With my service in local government now more than thirty six years, the time has come for me to make the difficult decision as to how much longer l intend to work in this capacity.
During my career, l have served a multitude of Boards and have had the privilege of working with literally hundreds of dedicated Department Heads and County Employees. It has been my pleasure to serve Macon County on two different occasions, first, from October 1985 until March 1991 and currently since January 2008. l am indeed proud of the many accomplishments that have been made since becoming your County Manager. During my first term of service with Macon County, we built the Business Development Center (incubator), the SCC Public Safety Training Center, added on to the Macon County Public Library, made school improvements following a bond referendum, and last but not least, sited and permitted the current Sanitary Landfill. Since returning to Macon County, l have been privileged to be involved in many worthwhile projects that will provide long term benefits to the citizens of Macon County. Together we have constructed three new schools, Mountain View intermediate, the Early College High School, and lotla Valley Elementary. We also expanded East Franklin Elementary School renovated Nantahala School, renovated and made improvements, including a new soccer field, to the Highlands School, and made improvements to Franklin High School. We were able to provide $1,500,000-for county-wide school system information technology upgrades.
In terms of infrastructure, we have completed the long overdue Little Tennessee/ Cartoogechaye Sewer interceptor, the Highway 28, Riverbend, Swiss Colony water projects, an extension to the Macon County Airport runway, and added a new solid waste transfer station in Highlands.
We acquired and renovated a new Sheriff's Office on Palmer Street, renovated the Barrett Building with a state of the art Emergency Communications Center, passed an Animal Control Ordinance, constructed and put into operation a new Animal Shelter, renovated and relocated our Franklin EMS Base to the Holly Springs Shopping Center, renovated the old Library into a new Senior Services
Community Resource Center, renovated the Hudson Library in Highlands, renovated the Business Development Center and created new opportunities for small business entrepreneurs , acquired the historic McCoy Bridge, and the Cowee School for a Macon County Heritage Center, acquired the Parker Meadows property for a new parks and recreation facility, made improvements to the County Recreation Park Pool and Pool House, created the Macon County Medallion of Honor in recognition of those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to improve Macon County, refinanced existing long term debt, thereby saving the county over $2,700,000, put in place a comprehensive long range development plan as well as a comprehensive county employee job description, classification, and compensation plan.
I am pleased that we have cultivated good working relationships with the Board of Education, and our municipal governments of Franklin and Highlands, and l sincerely hope the joint meetings we started will continue in the future.
Over the past five and a half years, with responsible financial planning, Macon County has consistently maintained one of the lowest property tax rates in the state, while maintaining a strong fund balance, providing a consistent level of service to our citizens, and increasing our bond rating from an A to an A+.
These things don't just happen by accident, they happen because people of vision work together toward the common good for all citizens.
l have enjoyed my tenure with Macon County as your County Manager. l am thankful for the support, and respect l have received from the Macon County Board of Commissioners, our county employees, and the citizens of Macon County, but the time has come for me to consider retiring from my profession
and to pursue other goals and objectives that l have long ignored or postponed. lt is my intent therefore to retire from my position as your County Manager October 1st, 2013.
l will assist the Board in any way as you prepare for the recruitment and selection of a qualified replacement to serve you as Macon County Manager.
Respectfully Submitted,
C. Jack Horton
The Macon County Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6pm. I have included the public agenda and have embedded the documents included with the press kit in the interest of transparency.
I will be posting a play by play of the meeting on Google Plus and will post the video at the top of this article tomorrow afternoon.
MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
JULY 9, 2013
PUBLIC AGENDA
1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Corbin
2. Announcements
3. Moment of Silence
4. Pledge of Allegiance
5. Public Hearing(s) - 6:00 p.m.
Proposed amendments to the subdivision ordinance
Application for a proposed telecommunication tower
NOTE: The board will consider the amendments to the subdivision ordinance and the telecommunication tower application immediately following the public hearing(s).
6. Public Comment Period
7. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda
8. Reports/Presentations
Highlands Middle School Courtyard - Stephanie Smathers and Rebecca Schilling
9. Old Business
Request from Macon County Schools regarding current expense
10. New Business
Consideration of contract with Bunnell-Lammons Engineering for geological and hydrogeological investigative work on future landfill Cell III - Solid Waste Director Chris Stahl
Richard Melvin's request for client's revenue stamp reimbursement - County Attorney
Designation of voting delegate to NCACC Annual Conference
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.
Minutes of the June 11, June 13 and June 17, 2013 meetings
Budget Amendments - #1, #2 and #3
Tax Releases
Monthly ad valorem tax collection report
12. Appointments
Planning Board (one seat)
Cemetery Board (five seats)
Southwestern Community College Board of Trustees (one seat)
13. Closed session (if necessary)
14. Adjourn/Recess
NOTE: The joint meeting with the Town of Franklin and Town of Highlands has been tentatively scheduled for July 30, 2013 at 6 p.m. Details to follow.
The Macon County Board of Education held a continuation meeting last night. After a 97 minute closed session, board members approved hiring people to fill 33 positions in the school system. 26 positions remain to be filled and it is anticipated that they will fill them at the July 22nd meeting. The Board welcomed Dr Chris Baldwin as the new Superintendent of the Macon County School System. See video of his swearing in ceremony. MEDIA ROLL CALL WFSC-AM Macon County News Macon Media (me)
The Franklin Town Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight in the town hall at 95 E Main Street. i will be there filming the meeting. There will be no play by play tonight. The agenda and press kit for the meeting are below.
I will post the video at the top of this post when it is complete.
Town of Franklin Board of Aldermen Meeting Agenda
Monday July 1, 2013 - 7:00 p.m.
Call to order -Mayor Collins
Approval of the June 3, 2013 board minutes
Public session
New business
Recognition of Russell Bowling for years of service with the Town of Franklin-Mayor Joe Collins
Presentation of the Town of Franklin Comprehensive Water Model and Master Plan- Brian Tripp and Land Use Administrator Derek Roland
Set public hearing for re-zoning petition by the Town of Franklin for East Main Street, Gaston Street, Green Street and West Palmer Street- Land Use Administrator Derek Roland
Set public hearing for re-zoning petition by residents of Pauline Avenue - Land Use Administrator Derek Roland
Set public hearing for application to amend text only of the Unified Development Ordinance for regulating the location of electronic machines and sweepstakes- Land Use Administrator Derek Roland
Alcohol Beverage Control Board appointment- Town Manager Warren Cabe
Economic Development Commission appointment- Town Manager Warren Cabe
Old Town Hall property disposal- Town Manager Warren Cabe
Legal
Ordinance to repeal chapter 112 Amusement Ordinance- Town Attorney John Henning
Closed session-N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a)(6) - To consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee- Town Attorney John Henning Jr.,
Announcements
Applications for fiscal year 2013-2014 non-profit funding pool are available at Town Hall and online at www.franklinnc.com.
Town of Franklin Employee luncheon July 3, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. Fat Buddies
Town of Franklin joint meeting with Macon County and Town of Highlands will be July 30, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at the Boiler Room Steak House.
Several employees gathered today in the meeting room of the Macon County Board of Education to observe the swearing in ceremony of Dr Chris Baldwin, who replaces the interim Superintendent, Dr Jim Duncan. Clerk of Court Vic Perry administered the oath of office at 10am.
I was unable to attend the going away party for Dr Jim Duncan, WFSC-AM was there.
The Macon County Planning Board met yesterday afternoon and discussed the county sign ordinance, including whether or not the county needed one and the issue of non-enforcement of the current county sign ordinance, which has been in place since the middle 1990s. It was also brought up that the NC DOT sporadically enforces their own sign ordinance, typically during mowing operations.
The county planner reminded board members that the there would be a public hearing on the county subdivision ordinance at the July 9, 2013 meeting of the county commissioners. The next meeting of the planning board will be July 18, 2013 at 4pm.
The next meeting of the board will be Tuesday, June 18th at 5.30pm.
**note** This conflicts with the previously scheduled meeting of the Macon County Commissioners. I'll try to arrange to have cameras at both events. I may need a volunteer who is willing to sit with the camera I leave at the TDA meeting to ensure that Mike Gruberman does not shut it down prior to the start of the meeting like he did the last time I had two meetings that conflicted.
Here is a copy of the agenda (I've corrected some formatting errors that were present in the official copy), minutes the financial report, which was only included with the printed version of the document. I'll try to transcribe it if I have time...but I am very busy this week and may forget.
Town of Franklin Tourism Development Authority
Agenda
Monday June 10, 2013
5.30pm Town Hall Board Room
1.) Call to order - CHair Candy Pressley
2.) Approval of the May 8 and May 13, 2013 minutes
3.) Financial Report - Summer Woodard
4.) Sub-Committee Reports
a. Finance.Budget Chair report - Mike Gruberman
b. Policy and Rules of Procedure Report - Vickie Springer
c. Application and Review Chair report - Summer Woodard
5.) New Business
a. Presentation by Premier Marketing
b. Discussion on Marketing Plan for FY 2013-2014
6.) Items from the board
7.) Announcements - The next regularly scheduled TDA meeting is Monday, July 8, 2013 at 5.30pm in the Town Hall Boardroom.
**update** Another minor quake, this one Magnitude 2.4 has happened this morning. Some people are reporting they felt two separate events. I have added information about the new quake at the end of this article. **update #2**The USGS has adjusted the magnitudes of the recent quakes as follows: The strength of the second quake (previously 2.2 Magnitude) has been more than doubled to match the first quake. Both are now rated at 2.5 Magnitude. Today's quake, previously rated 2.4, has been lowered to 2.3 Magnitude.
**update #3** They've also changed the epicenters to the quakes. They are all reported to have taken place beneath Panther Knob now.
Yesterday, June 6, 2013, two small quakes occurred beneath Panther Knob. The first one (orange circle in the above graphic) happened at 5:58:14 am and was heard or felt by people in Macon and Jackson Counties, waking a few up. It registered Magnitude 2.5 at occurred at a depth of 4.4 miles.
The second one (red star in the above graphic) happened at 2:21:19 pm and was felt or heard by a number of people also. It registered Magnitude 2.2 and occurred at th a depth of 3.17 miles. It released less than half the energy of the first minor quake.
Minor earthquakes above Magnitude 2.0 like these happen about ten times a year within a hundred mile radius of where these occurred, most of them in Tennessee, where there is more geological activity. Lesser tremors below 2.0 occur more frequently.
USGS Event Pages are available for both quakes and I have linked to them below for your convenience.
Another minor quake has been reported. It was a Magnitude 2.4 and happened at 6:28:50 at a depth of 3 miles below the Comer Knob area (just a little north of the two previous tremors. Here is a map of where the quakes are in relation to one another:
More information on this morning's tremor is below:
RALEIGH — State officials today announced the award of $3.8 million in grants from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to 14 local governments for parks and recreation projects.
“Through the local grant program of the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, state and local governments have been partners in providing green space, outdoor recreation opportunities and stimulus into local economies,” said Lewis Ledford, director of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. “The result has been healthier citizens and improvement in the quality of life in North Carolina.”
The matching grants, awarded by the Parks and Recreation Authority, will help fund land acquisition, development and renovation of public park and recreation areas. The authority considered 73 grant applications requesting more than $20 million. A maximum of $500,000 can be awarded to a single project.
Source: NC Political News
Hat Tip: Anonymous From what I heard at the Commissioner meetings, this grant was supposed to be a slam dunk. Guess not. The county will now have to pay $550,000 for the property. Here is video of the vote by Commissioners that allowed the purchase to go through to completion...
According to my calculations, the county commissioners have spent around 16 hours publicly discussing elements of the FY 2013-2014 county budget. Close to 6 hours alone have been spent on the budget of the Macon County School System.
They still have a public hearing on the budget (next Tuesday at 6pm) and another possible meeting beyond that.
This article has all the videos of their budget discussions in one place for anyone who cares to sit through something that is an hour and twenty minutes longer (and less entertaining) than The Winds of War Miniseries. I have written no commentary for this article so that you may make up your own mind regarding the content of the videos and have included copies of the annual budget message by the county manager and the proposed budget so that you may download them and read them for yourself. Please let your friends know that the entire series of public meetings is available here for them to watch for themselves instead of reading a few paragraphs in the local papers spread out over the course of the last five months. I will add a video of the public hearing and any other additional public meetings held by the Macon County Commissioners regarding the FY 2013-2014 budget to this article, so bookmark it for future reference.
Here is low resolution video of the budget work session held last night by the Macon County Commissioners, the bulk of which was devoted to "discussing" the budget of the Macon County School System. I didn't get the feel that the Commissioners were willing to budge on their previous position of not giving the Board of Education any more than they've already committed to in the FY 2013-2014 budget.
To refresh your memory, the proposed budget includes $7,118,330 for current expenditures for the Macon County School System.
I'll just leave this here and let you compare the hypocrisy of The Weather Channel's Mike Bettes speak for itself. People like him, Brandon Sullivan and Reed Timmer give legitimate severe weather chase teams a bad name with their blood lust for better footage in the name of TV Ratings and profit from the sale of footage of tornadoes.
Mike Bettes in 2011 on storm chasers who get too close to storms, risking getting flipped and injured:
“Chasing can be an educational and exhilarating experience, but it also is inherently dangerous. An increasing trend I see happening is chasers trying to get as close as possible to one-up their competition, and cash in on dramatic video. And the one thing I always hear from professional chasers is how safety is their number one concern, and warning the public is their number one priority. Me? I Call B.S. on that one. When you’re being hit by debris, and you’re flipping your car while pursuing a tornado, you’re not very concerned about your safety, or anyone else’s. You’re setting a bad example for a younger generation of chasers who follow your lead.” - Mike Bettes, 2011
Compare that to the following video from yesterday, where he gets too close, gets flipped and suffers minor injuries:
Video of Brandon Sullivan purposefully driving into the circulation of a tornado and getting pounded by debris:
Commentary
The videos above show examples of the type of "storm chaser" that gives legitimate severe weather research teams a bad name.
I am a small government type of guy, but I believe the time has come for storm chasers to go through a licensing process by the federal government, probably the National Weather Service and licenses should be permanently revoked for getting this close to a storm unless they're in an approved research vehicle.
The people in the above videos should NEVER be allowed in a storm area unless they live there.
One way to stop this storm chasing for profit would be for the legitimate research teams to start providing footage to the networks and TV Stations for free or next to free. And perhaps they could have Public Information Officers to liaise with the media and the public via social media and live streams.
If you can devalue the sale of video footage and photographs of tornadoes, then that might stop some of the nonsense of people chasing to solely sell video.
People like Reed Timmer and Brandon Sullivan is an example of the type of "storm chaser" that gives legitimate severe weather research teams a bad name.
At this point, as I mentioned above, I would even support a type of federal licensing program, but I think it would be a bear to set up and monitor. Perhaps it could be like what amateur radio operators have to go through that would subject the license holders to severe fines if they violate the terms.
I am sure this will be a topic of discussion on Monday night's episode of "Weather Brains." You can follow along on Google Plus or their website.
PS: Here are some guidelines for chasing severe weather responsibly:
Responsible Chasing
Acting responsibly is a good way to ensure that chasing isn't associated with yahoos, wackos, and thrill-seekers. Apart from ensuring that safety is a constant consideration and courtesy is an automatic action, what do I mean by responsible storm chasing?
1. Keeping our enthusiasm for violent weather in the proper place. If you've had your home and perhaps loved ones taken from you by a tornado, then you are probably not going to react favorably to a bunch of folks whooping it up enthusiastically over a tornado. When I first drove into the damage path of the Union City tornado, shortly after it left town, I realized that the tornadoes that I wanted to happen could wreak havoc on people's lives. After some reflection, I realized that what I wanted didn't really change the weather (good thing, too!), and that by happening in front of trained observers, what we learned could be used to mitigate the impact of such storms in the future. But I still feel uncomfortable dealing with tornado victims. Talking about death and destruction as a good thing in front of the wrong people, even as a joke, can create an awful impression of storm chasers. Virtually all storm chasers would be delighted to have tornadoes happen only in open country where not even crops would be damaged. 2. Chasers can be of tremendous help to science and to the public if they will take a few moments to report what they have seen. Call or visit the appropriate NWS office and give the report of what was seen, including the location of the event(s) and the time(s) of occurrence. I personally do not believe it is necessary to break off a storm chase to call in a report, unless you have some electronic communication aboard your chase vehicle so that you can make a report without terminating the chase. However, as soon as possible afterward, you should report the event(s). If you feel that the storm is about to strike without any warning and you have the opportunity to do something to warn people, then by all means do what you are able to do. 3. Responsible chasers don't endanger themselves or others. Keep in mind that your actions might be used to portray storm chasing as a whole. If you behave recklessly, without regard for your safety and, especially, the safety and well-being of others, then you invite people to make the unfair comparison. I don't want the job of having to answer for your irresponsible actions! 4. Effective chasing is a constant learning process, and responsible chasers need to be aware of what is going on in severe thunderstorm and tornado science. It behooves all of us to be informed about the latest scientific findings, even if the only rationale is to make us better chasers. Participate in the process and don't be selfish with it. If you have seen something noteworthy, you can be responsible for preventing future disasters through sharing what you have seen. Knowing what is noteworthy requires you to be knowledgeable about the science of severe storms, so it is a two-way street that works most effectively when everyone shares what they know for scientific and educational purposes freely. 5. Chasing can become a dangerous obsession. Student chasers who let their studies go to follow the convection run the risk of sacrificing their careers. Chasers who neglect their family responsibilities to chase are not folks I admire, no matter how much they "succeed" in chasing. Letting chasing get in the way of any work responsibilities is also a problem, in my view. Some folks wear their obsession about chasing as some sort of badge of honor, but I say "Get a life!" Everyone has to decide on an individual basis what is their operational definition of "responsible" chasing from this personal point of view. All I know is that building a life totally around storm chasing, in my opinion, is not a very responsible life. 6. Stay out of tornado damage areas if possible. During a chase, this seems fairly obvious. Damage paths are full of hazards that no one would enjoy if it is possible to avoid them; downed power lines, jagged pieces of sheet metal, boken boards, etc. When the chase is over, some chasers may want to do their own damage survey ... in general this is a bad idea! Stay out of such places unless you have been invited to participate as part of an organized storm damage survey or a cleanup crew. You are likely to be in the way of cleanup and folks who have been hit by a tornado tend to be suspicious of strangers in their midst. Gawkers are not appreciated and being taken for a potential looter is not likely to make you welcome!
Here is the video of the second budget work session of the Macon County Commissioners. You can see the first one by clicking here.
This session lasted for two hours and forty minutes.
The next budget work session has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 4th at 5.30pm and will focus on the budget request by the Macon County School Board. You might get a handle on what the Board of Education will be presenting to the County Commissioners by watching the last meeting of the Board of Education.
The Macon County Planning Board met yesterday for it's regular monthly meeting. The main topic of discussion was the proposed Flood Plain Ordinance. A dozen people spoke against allowing fill in the flood plain.
Members of the board discussed NC Senate Bill 612, which, if signed into law, would render the current discussion moot because it would not allow the counties to pass regulations that are more stringent than state regulations. Some members of the public wanted the board to prohibit fill in the flood plain regardless of what the state did because they felt that the bill, if signed into law, would be overturned through litigation.
To keep track of the progress of the bill, click here. I have also embedded a copy of the text as it currently stands at the end of this article. MEDIA ROLL CALL The Franklin Press and Macon Media (me) were the only news media organizations that were present at the meeting. COMMENTARY I expect that this bill will pass the NC House and be signed into law and will successfully stand potential challenges in the state court system. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
Here is the public agenda and the press kit for the JUne meeting of the Franklin Town Board of Aldermen. I plan on being there to record this meeting.
Town of Franklin Board of Aldermen
Meeting Agenda
Monday June 3, 2013 - 7:00 p.m.
Call to order -Mayor Collins
Approval of the May 6 and May 14, 2013 board minutes
Public hearing 7:05 p.m. on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2013-2014
Consideration of the proposed budget for fiscal year 2013-2014
Public session
New business
Re-zoning petition by the Town of Franklin for East Main Street, Gaston Street, Green Street and West Palmer Street- Land Use Administrator Derek Roland
Re-zoning petition by residents of Pauline Avenue - Land Use Administrator Derek Roland
Application to amend text only of the Unified Development Ordinance for regulating the location of electronic machines and sweepstakes- Land Use Administrator Derek Roland
Town of Franklin Internet Usage Policy- Human Resource Officer Ashley Hyder
Town of Franklin Banner Policy- Town Manager Warren Cabe
Sewer flow allocation for Burnette Hill Road- Town Manager Warren Cabe
Budget amendments- Finance Officer Janet Anderson
Alcohol Beverage Control Board vacancy- Town Manager Warren Cabe
Legal
Wilkie Street water tank road easement- Town Attorney John Henning Jr.,
Resolution to delegate authority to determine tax releases or refunds of tax of less than one hundred dollars to the Town Manager- Town Attorney John Henning Jr.,
Here is video of the May meeting of the Macon County Board of Education that took place on Monday, May 28, 2013. The video could not have been recorded without the help of Travis Tallent, a reporter for the Macon County News.
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