Macon County Commissioners Hold Mid-Year Work Session for 2014

The Macon County Commissioners met with selected staff members in the Cecil Groves Center at Southwestern Community College to take stock of where they are and look at options for what they want to accomplish in the coming year. It is the traditional kickoff of the annual budget cycle that will culminate in the approval of a new county budget in the weeks before July 1st.

---

Part One


This video includes the welcome by Chairman Kevin Corbin, a Year in Review by County Manager Derek Roland and EDC Director Tommy Jenkins.

Below is a scanned copy of a handout by Tommy Jenkins, the Director of the Macon County Economic Development Commission that highlights his presentation.

---

Part Two



This video includes the Mid-Year Financial Review by Macon County Finance Director Lori Hall.

Below are scanned copies of the handout that details the Amortization Schedules for two different loan scenarios for the Parker Meadows Recreation Facility, one being 2.48% for ten years and the other 3.19% for fifteen years.

Park1

Parker Meadows Loan Ver 2

---

Part Three

This video includes the introduction of the proposed budget calendar for the 2014-2015 FY by County Manager Derek Roland.

Below is a copy of the budget calendar as presented by Derek Roland.

Proposed FY 2014-2015 Budget Calendar

---

Part Four


This video includes an update on NCACC (North Carolina Association of County Commissioners) presented by County Commissioners Kevin Corbin and Ronnie Beale. There were no handouts with this segment of the meeting.

---

Part Five


This video includes a presentation on the 2015 Tax Revaluation and an update on Tax Collections by Richard Lightner, Director of the Macon County Tax Department.

Below is a copy of the handout he provided during the meeting.

Macon County Tax Collection and Revaluation

Part Six


This video includes a presentation by Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland. There were no handouts during this segment.

---

Part Seven


This video includes a presentation by Emergency Management Director David Key. There was a handout, but it was not made available to the media. I am pursuing getting a copy.

---

Part Eight


This video includes a presentation by Dr. Chris Baldwin, Superintendent of Macon County Schools. About the first ten minutes are missing because I forgot to press record when we came back from break. :(

Below is a scanned copy of his handout.

Capital Outlay Macon County Schools 2014

---

Part Nine


This video includes an update on the NC FAST Software implementation project by Jane Kimsey, Director of the Macon County Department of Social Services.

Below is a scanned copy of a handout she provided at the meeting.

NC FAST Implementation

---

Part Ten


This video includes an update on the IT SAN System upgrade by Macon County IT Director Andy Muncey.

There was a handout during this portion of the meeting, but I missed getting it and am working to obtain a copy.

---

Part Eleven


This video includes the meeting wrap up segment that ended the work session. There were no handouts.

---

The next meeting of the Macon County Commissioners will be on February 11, 2014 at the Macon County Courthouse.

Read More

Franklin Town Board Holds Annual Retreat

The Franklin Town Board held their annual retreat this past weekend to discuss several items of interest to the board and receive several updates from the town manager on some projects the town is working on. I posted a play by play on Facebook [LINK] and recorded video of the entire meeting. The video is posted below for your convenience.



A few photos from Saturday morning...

Read More

Franklin TDA 01-13-2013

The Franklin Tourism Development Authority met last night in the town hall and heard a presentation from Jessica Mason of PRemiere Marketing and Justin Belleme of J&B Media regarding the social media advertising campaign and website maintenance of the Franklin TDA website.

I posted a play by play of the meeting on the Macon Media Facebook page and you can see a video of the entire meeting below:




MEDIA ROLL CALL

Macon Media (me)

Macon County News

If you read about this meeting anywhere else, please note that media outlet has either asked a member of the board what happened or relied on the coverage that me or the reporter from the Macon County News provided.


Here is the press kit and agenda for the meeting that was distributed to members of the board and the media:

Franklin TDA January 2014 Press Kit by Thunder Pig

Read More

Macon County Board of Education 01-09-2014

The Macon County Board of Education had a special called meeting yesterday afternoon. They voted 5-0, after a lengthy discussion, to join the North Carolina School Board Association lawsuit against vouchers. Superintendent Dr. Chris Baldwin provided an update on Caital Outlay priorities for the coming budget discussion for the 2014-2015 budget.

There was a prolonged dicussion on "Flexibility of Testing" and ramifications of opting out on certain testing would have on future student performance on future tests and the potential imapct on the careers of teachers. The board also discussing the merit pay program for 25% of teachers. All of them are opposed to the idea and the board spent a good deal of time criticizing the NC Legislature.

The next meeting of the Board of Education will be at 6pm on Monday, January 27th at the same location. Dr Baldwin and the Finance Officer have been invited to the January 21st meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners.

Read More

Franklin Aldermen 01-06-201

The Franklin Town Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 7pm for their regular January meeting.

I will be posting a play by play of the meeting on Facebook and will upload the video sometime tomorrow (or the day after if I decide it is too cold to go into in town).

I have the agenda and press kit embedded below, for the purpose of transparency, along with a couple of attachments. Feel free to download them and add them to your records.

TOWN OF FRANKLIN BOARD OF ALDERMEN

AGENDA

JANUARY 6, 2014

7:00 PM

l. Call to order Mayor Bob Scott
2. Adoption of January 6, 20l4 proposed agenda
3. Approval of the December2, 2, 20l3 board minutes
4. Public session
5. New business
A.) Presentation of the 0rder of the Long Leaf Pine to Joe Collins- Mayor Bob Scott
B.) Presentation on Nikwasi Mound- Chief Michell Hicks. Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation
C.) Presentation by Venture Local of Franklin- Mayor Bob Scott
D.) Presentation on Fiscal Year 2012-2013 audit- Martin Starnes Associate
E.) Appointment to the Economic Development Commission- Town Manager Warren Cabe
F.) Appointment the Macon Program for Proposed Board- Town Manager Warren Cabe
G.) Liaisons/Committee Assignments- Mayor Bob Scott
H.) Mayors Town Hall Meetings- Mayor Bob Scott
I.) Road Name request for Technology Drive- Town Manager Warren Cabe
J.) Annexation Request For Macon Program for Progress- Town Manager Warren Cabe
K.) Fire Protection Contract between Macon County and the Town of Franklin- Town Manager Warren Cabe
6. Legal
A.) Application to Amend Text only of the Unified Development Ordinance to add additional permitted uses in Commercial (C-2) zones- Town Attorney John Henning Jr.
B.) Application to Amend Text only of the Uni?ed Development Ordinance for the Board of Adjustment- Town Attorney John Henning Jr.
C.) Closed Session "N.C.G.S. §l43~318.1l(a)(3): 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."- Town Attorney John Henning Jr.
7. Announcements
A.) Town Board Retreat will be Saturday January 18, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. in the Town Hall Board Room.
B.) Town Hall O?ces will be closed Monday January 20. 20l4 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
8. Adjourn




Press Kit Jan 6, 2014 Franklin Aldermen

Macon Program for Progress Attachment 1

Macon Program for Progress Attachment 2

Read More

2013 Meeting Index

2013 was quite a year. Here are links to my coverage of the meetings of various local governing boards I provided this past year, with few extra links to some of the other stuff I covered this past year.

I have plans to step up my coverage of local meetings this year and will be expanding to cover things that outside my normal bailiwick. I'm also hoping to launch a news website separate from this blog so I can restart my political blogging here because I really miss doing that everyday and haven't thought it appropriate to post that content here because of my concern that people couldn't tell when I was posting about my opinion or posting a recording of events. 

So, here goes...

2013 MEETING INDEX



FRANKLIN TOWN BOARD OF ALDERMEN

01-07-2013
02-04-2013
03-04-2013
04-01-2013 
04-13-2013 ANNUAL RETREAT
05-06-2013
05-14-2013 BUDGET WORK SESSION
06-01-2013 VIDEO ONLY (I forgot to post this one on the blog)
07-01-2013 
07-30-2013 JOINT MEETING WITH TOWN OF HIGHLANDS AND THE COUNTY
08-05-2013 
09-03-2013 
09-23-2013
10-07-2013 
11-04-2013 VIDEO ONLY  (I forgot to post this one on the blog)
12-02-2013 


MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

01-08-2013 
01-14-2013 
01-19-2013 ANNUAL RETREAT
02-12-2013
02-22-2013 JOINT MEETING WITH PLANNING BOARD
02-26-2013 JOINT MEETING WITH BOARD OF EDUCATION
03-12-2013
04-09-2013 
04-12-2013 
05-14-2013
05-20-2013 MEETING IN HIGHLANDS
05-28-2013 BUDGET SESSION I
05-30-2013 BUDGET SESSION II
06-04-2013 BUDGET SESSION III
07-09-2013
07-30-2013 JOINT MEETING WITH TOWNS OF FRANKLIN AND HIGHLANDS
08-13-2013
09-10-2013
10-08-2013 VIDEO ONLY (I forgot to post this on the blog)
11-12-2013 VIDEO ONLY (I forgot to post this on the blog)
11-26-2013
12-10-2013 VIDEO ONLY (I forgot to post this one on the blog, too)


2013 COUNTY BUDGET PROCESS

01-19-2013 ANNUAL RETREAT (the beginning of the budget process)
05-22-2013 BUDGET MESSAGE
05-28-2013 BUDGET WORK SESSION I
05-30-2013 BUDGET WORK SESSION II
06-04-2013 BUDGET WORK SESSION III

2013 COUNTY BUDGET PROCESS (All videos and documents in one post)


FRANKLIN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

01-14-2013
02-11-2014
03-11-2013
05-13-2013
06-10-2013
07-08-2013
09-16-2013
10-14-2013



MACON COUNTY PLANNING BOARD

02-13-2013 
02-18-2013 WORKSHOP
02-22-2013 JOINT MEETING WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
03-22-2013
05-13-2013 VIDEO ONLY (I forgot to post this on the blog)
05-30-2013
06-20-2013
07-18-2013
08-15-2013
12-12-2013



MACON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

02-25-2013
02-25-2013
02-26-2013 JOINT MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
03-20-2013 
04-13-2013 
04-21-2013 
05-13-2013
05-28-2013
06-04-2013 BUDGET WORK SESSION WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
07-01-2013 NEW SUPERINTENDENT SWORN IN
07-03-2013
09-23-2013
09-24-2013
10-28-2013 VIDEO ONLY (I forgot to post this on the blog)



OTHER COVERAGE

01-18-2013 COLD FOR A CAUSE
02-15-2013 SMALL ASTEROID EXPLODES OVER RUSSIA
04-16-2013 FLAG RAISING CEREMONY AT BOARD OF EDUCATION 
04-25-2013 BIZWEEK 2013 BANQUET
05-06-2013 LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL SERVICE 
05-21-2013 PUBLIC HEARING ON DUKE ENERGY RATE INCREASE
05-23-2013  USFS PLAN REVISION SESSION
05-27-2013 MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY
05-30-2013 HALL MOUNTAIN CELEBRATION

2013 TASTE OF SCOTLAND

BRAVEHEART 5K
OPENING CEREMONY
PARADE OF TARTANS 

07-20-2013 10TH ANNUAL FOLK FESTIVAL
07-26-2013 BOB SCOTT FOR MAYOR CAMPAIGN EVENT
08-02-2013 NORTON FARMS GAS LEAK
08-09-2013 LWV "THE SHERIFFS OF MACON COUNTY"
08-19-2013 MARK MEADOWS TOWN HALL
08-27-2013 RONNIE BEALE & JIM DAVIS RECOGNIZED
09-12-2013 GOVERNOR PAT McCRORY IN DILLSBORO
09-12-2013 DAVITA DIALYSIS CENTER RIBBON CUTTING
09-24-2013 LWV & VLF FRANKLIN CANDIDATE FORUM
09-28-2013 2013 TOUR DE FRANKLIN
10-01-2013 NCAE EDUCATION TOWN HALL
10-10-2013 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MAYORAL FORUM
11-05-2013 ELECTION DAY 2013 COVERAGE
11-05-2013 ELECTION RESULTS
11-11-2013 VETERANS DAY
11-22-2013 SECU AWARDS HOSPICE $1 MLN CHALLENGE GRANT

Read More

Weather Update for January 2, 2014

We have some wintry weather possible today and tonight, with more possible late Sunday/Monday and a brutally cold chill coming early next week, so make your preparations now people. Here is what I posted on the weather page I maintain on facebook

:

Post by Macon County Public Safety, Road Conditions and Weather Updates.

Read More