Daily Weather Briefing for Wednesday, December 16, 2020 County Commissioners Continue Search for New County Attorney

OUTLOOK

A storm system will move through the area quickly today. Some light wintry precipitation is expected, mainly over parts of western North Carolina. Wrap-around moisture may keep light precipitation going along the Tennessee border through Thursday and into Thursday night. Otherwise, cold high pressure will build in for the remainder of the week with the next system expected Saturday into Sunday.

ABOVE THE FOLD

Macon County Schools are on a 2-hour delay

As of 4am, The Franklin, Nantahala, and Highlands school districts are on a two-hour delay due to expected wintry weather.

Highlands School will begin at 10:00 AM. Please do not drop off students prior to 9:30 to insure access to the building and proper supervision. If a change to the 2 hour delay school schedule needs to be made, another call will go out by 8:30 am. If there is no change, no additional call will be made and school will begin at 10:00 AM.

In addition, buses will only pick up students at the following locations: Bus 101 will pick up students at Shortoff Baptist Church on Buck Creek Road at 9:10, and Clear Creek Baptist Church on Blue Valley Road at 9:30. Bus 105 will pick up students at the Scaly Mountain Fire Station on Hale Ridge Road at 9:30.

If you are not able to reach one of the pick up points or bring your child to school due to unsafe road conditions, please stay home and your child can attend and participate through remote learning.

County Commissioners Meet in Closed Session

The Macon County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting last night, the main purpose of which was to go into a closed session to consider candidates for county attorney to replace the previous county attorney, who had retired on October 31st. They also voted to extend the contract with the Swain County Attorney to act as the Macon County Attorney which was set to expire on December 30th. Video of the meeting is embedded below.






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General forecast through Tuesday night


Franklin area

Today

A chance of rain or freezing rain before 7am, then rain. Patchy fog between 8am and 4pm. Highs in the low-to-mid 40s. Light and variable winds. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

Tonight

A chance of rain before 8pm, then a slight chance of drizzle between 8pm and 9pm. Patchy fog before 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 20s. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-40s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm by noon.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the lower 20s. Light winds out of the northwest.

Friday

Sunny, with highs near 50.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-20s.

Highlands area

Today

Rain, possibly mixed with freezing rain and sleet, becoming all rain after 7am. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the mid-to-upper 30s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.

Tonight

Areas of fog before 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-20s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with lows around 20. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday

Sunny, with highs near 40.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-20s.

Otto area

Today

Rain, possibly mixed with freezing rain and sleet, becoming all rain after 7am. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the mid-to-upper 30s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning shifting to come out of the southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.

Tonight

Areas of fog overnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-20s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with lows around 20. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday

Sunny, with highs near 40.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-20s.

Nantahala area

Today

Rain, mainly before 4pm. Patchy fog. Highs near 40. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph in the morning becoming light and variable in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

A chance of rain or drizzle before 11pm, then a slight chance of drizzle between 11pm and 2am. Patchy fog overnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows around 30. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday

Partly sunny, with highs in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 6 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-20s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.

Friday

Sunny, with highs in the mid-40s.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 20s.


HAZARDS



A winter weather advisory is in effect for the county until noon today. Details are posted below.

Winter Weather Advisory
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1033 PM EST Tue Dec 15 2020
...WINTRY MIX EXPECTED LATE TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY...

.Light precipitation will develop late tonight and spread across the region through Wednesday morning. Cold air will support a wintry mix for much of the North Carolina mountains and adjacent foothills, with a brief period of freezing rain for other areas.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations of up to a half inch and ice accumulations of a glaze to up to one tenth of an inch.

* WHERE...Portions of western North Carolina.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon EST Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

Please report snow and ice accumulations by calling the National Weather Service toll free at...1...800...267...8101. Leave a message with your observation and the specific location where it occurred. You can also post your report to National Weather Service Greenville Spartanburg Facebook or tweet your report using hashtag nwsgsp.

Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or your favorite source of weather information for the latest updates. Additional details can be found at www.weather.gov/gsp.






COVID-19 Briefing

The Macon Media COVID-19 Briefing, aka the COVID Linkapalooza [LINK] will be published later this morning. yesterday's is available. [LINK]

The local numbers, tables, and graphs are posted below.

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 April 17th.


Cases

1119 Detected
(+12 from Monday and +40 from last Tuesday and +253 in four weeks)

125 Active
(+2 from Monday and +40 from last Tuesday and +66 in four weeks)

985 Recovered
(+10 from Monday and +59 from last Tuesday and +186 in four weeks)

9 Deaths
(unchanged from Monday and unchanged from last Tuesday and +1 in four weeks)

Testing

7540 by MCPH
(+11 from Monday and +271 from last Tuesday and +719 in four weeks)

4505 by Others
(unchanged from Monday and +129 from last Tuesday and +1038 in four weeks)

12045 total
(+11 from Monday and +380 from last Tuesday and +1757 in four weeks

149 tests pending results
-135 from Monday and +19 from last Tuesday and +20 in four weeks)

Air Quality

Air quality is in the middle range of green today for all elevations.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be low (0.3 out of 12) with a mixed trace of sources being the culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be a lower (0.3 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County for December 16th


Highest Temperature 70°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1971
lowest Temperature 4°F in Franklin in 1963
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 2.48 inches in Highlands in 1982
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 1.5 inches in Highlands in 1932

Weather Extremes for Macon County for the Month of December

Highest Temperature 78°F in Franklin in 1951
lowest Temperature -12°F in Highlands in 1917
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 6.00 inches in Highlands in 1901 Greatest One-Day Snowfall 12.0 inches in Franklin in 1876

TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)

The North Atlantic Hurricane Season is over for the year. If anything does develop, the information will be posted in this section of the weather briefing.







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Published at 3:45am on Wedneday, December 16, 2020

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Macon County Board of Commissioners October 2020 Regular Meeting

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6pm for their regular meeting for October 2020.

LIVE VIDEO PLAYER



ROLL CALL
(a record of the elected and media critters present for the meeting)

Present All members of the Board of Commissioners were present. The Sheriff was present at the beginning of the meeting. The Franklin Press had one reporter present. Macon Media had one reporter present. All other news outlets in the county were not in the boardroom for the meeting.

Public Agenda

1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Tate

2. Announcements - Recognition of Chester Jones for his 11 years of service as County Attorney

3. Moment of Silence

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Public Hearing(s)
- 6 p.m. Proposed Amended and Restated Wireless Telecommunication Facilities Ordinance NOTE: Immediately following the close of the public hearing, the board members may act on the amended and restated ordinance.

6. Public Comment Period

7. Additions to agenda

8. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

9. Reports/Presentations
(A) Update on new Southwestern Community College (SCC) burn building - Curtis Dowdle, Dean of Public Safety Training
(B) Tourism Development Commission (TDC) budget presentation -Linda Harbuck, Executive Director, Franklin Chamber of Commerce

10. Old Business
(A) Update on Macon Middle School renovation project
(1) Consideration of amended prequalification policy
(2) Consideration of prequalification form and rating matrix

11.New Business
(A) Proposed lease with Blue Ridge Broadcasting Corporation
(B) Amendment to the agreement for the Guy Taylor Memorial Scholarship
(C) Draft lease for use of the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts as an alternative jury trial site
(D) Housing Department
(1) Resolution declaring certain property surplus
(2) Resolution making donation of a truck to Central Piedmont Community Action, Inc.
(E) Free flu shots for uninsured individuals
(F) Contract documentsfor Hospice House

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 July 14, 2020 regular meeting and the August 11, 2020 regular meeting
(B) Budget Amendments #76-90
(C) Tax Releases in the amount of $2,135.55 for September 2020
(D) Settlement report for 2019 taxes
(E) Refund of taxes for Phil Scruggs
(F) Monthly ad valorem tax collection report — no action necessary

13.Appointments

14.Closed session as allowed under NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3) for the purpose of preserving the attorney/client privilege.

15. Adjourn/ Recess



Agenda Packet 

[Download PDF Copy]





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Published at 6:00am Wednesday, October 14, 2020

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September 2020 Regular Meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6pm in the Commissioner's Boardroom on the third floor of the county courthouse.

Live Video





Public Agenda


1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Tate

2. Announcements

3. Moment of Silence

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Public Hearing(s) - None

6. Public Comment Period

7. Additions to agenda

8. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

9. Reports/Presentations

(A) NC Green Power Grant/Mountain View Intermediate School -Jennifer Love, Macon County Schools STEM Coordinator
(B) Update on services offered through the Crawford Senior Center - Patrick Betancourt, Director, Department of Social Services and Jennifer Bonifield, Administrative Officer II at Senior Services
(C)Teem Hollow Update - Chester Jones, County Attorney

10.01d Business

(A) Offer to purchase property located at 11099 Buck Creek Road in Highlands, NC - Chester Jones, County Attorney

11.New Business

(A) Proposed revisions to Telecommunication Tower Ordinance -Chester Jones, County Attorney and Joe Allen, Planning, Permitting and Development
(B) Alternative Jury Site - Chester Jones, County Attorney
(C) Discussion regarding National Guard Armory bang used as a virtual learning site for Macon County Schools - Commissioner Shields

12.Consent Agenda - Attachment .12 All items below are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion. No separate discussion be held except on request of a member of the Board of Commissioners 

(A) Minutes (tabled)
(B) Budget Amendments P56-63
(C)Tax Releases in the amount of $11,375.19 (or August 2020
(D)Revised Non-Emergency Transportation Services Contract with Mountain Area Transport and Security (includes not to exceed amount) 110 Monthly ad valorem tax collection report - no action necessary

13.Appointments

(A) Boord of Health - multiple seats

14.Closed session

15.Adjourn/Recess


Agenda Packet [DOWNLOAD PDF]






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Published at 3:30am on Tuesday, September 8, 2020

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Macon County Board of Commissioners July 2020 Regular Meeting

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting Tuesday night at 6pm in the Commissioners Boardroom. Copies of the public agenda and agenda packet are posted below.

Video
The video player will go live shortly before the meeting starts.




Roll Call
(A record of media outlets and elected critters that are present at the meeting. This includes members of the board)

--to be filled in once the meeting starts--


Public Agenda

1. Call to order and welcome by Vice-Chairman Beale

2. Announcements

3. Moment of Silence

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Public Hearing(s) - None

6. Public Comment Period (via telephone)

7. Additions to agenda

8. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

9. Reports/Presentations

(A) Presentation by Richard Sneed, Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, followed by consideration of a resolution opposing Catawba Indian Nation Casino in North Carolina

(B) Introduction of and comments from Troy Waskey, the new District Ranger for the Nantahala National Forest (Tentative)
(C) Update on county's response to COVID-19
(1) Kathy McGaha - Public Health
(2) Warren Cabe - Emergency Management
(3) Sheriff Robert Holland - Law Enforcement
(4) Derek Roland -- Administration

10.01d Business

11.New Business

(A) Consideration of resolution to abandon a portion of SR 1140 (McConnell Road) - Andy Russell, District Engineer, NCDOT
(B) Approval of new fees for Macon County Public Health - Kathy McGaha, Director


(C) Presentation of the Macon County Community Needs Assessment Report - Justin Setser, Chair, Macon County Planning Board
(D) Consideration of contract for "No Wrong Door" for Fiscal Year 2020-21 - Chester Jones, County Attorney, and Lori Carpenter, Finance Director

(E) Designation of voting delegate and alternate voting delegate to NCACC Annual Conference

(F) Discussion regarding underground storage tank replacement at Macon County School Bus Garage - Derek Roland, County Manager

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 May 12, 2020 regular meeting

(B) Budget Amendments #9-23

(C) Tax Releases for June in the amount of $513.36

(D)Refund stemming from Property Tax Commission appeal in the amount of $415.28

(E) Monthly ad valorem tax collection report - no action necessary

13.Appointments (A) Highlands Tourism Development Commission - one seat

14.Closed session as allowed under NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3) for attorney/client privilege and NCGS 143-318.11(a)(5) regarding real property

15. Adjourn/Recess

Agenda Packet

July 2020 Agenda Packet MCBO by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

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Published at 4:33pm on Monday, July 13, 2020

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Macon County Commissioners to Meet Tonight, Continue Business from May 26th Meeting.

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6pm to continue the meeting they recessed on May 26, 2020. [VIDEO OF LAST MEETING]

Macon Media plans to stream the meeting live here via a player embedded below, beginning about 2 minutes or so before 6pm. Copies of the public agenda, a revised lease agreement with the Cowee School Heritage Cente, and a resolution to approach the revised lease are posted below that.



If youtube does not work in your browser, try https://youtu.be/P2uvXm8Mt04


MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
CONTINUED SESSION
JUNE 2, 2020 – 6 P.M.
AGENDA

1. Reconvene and welcome – Chairman Tate

2. Budget presentation regarding tax increase request for Otto Volunteer Fire Department – Terry Rholetter, Chief

3. Continued discussion regarding recommended Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget

4. Consideration of revised five-year lease agreement with Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center – County Attorney Chester Jones

5. Any other business

6. Adjourn

ROLL CALL
(attendance by media critters and elected critters)



Revised Lease with the Cowee School Heritage Center

(Macon Media has altered the format of the following document by entering paragraph breaks to make it easier to read)

NORTH CAROLINA MACON COUNTY
REVISED LEASE TO COWEE SCHOOL ARTS AND HERITAGE CENTER FROM MACON COUNTY

This lease is made this ___ day of April, 2020, by and between MACON COUNTY, a body corporate and politic organized and existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina, hereinafter called the "Lessor," and COWEE SCHOOL ARTS AND HERITAGE CENTER, a North Carolina Non-Profit Corporation, located in Macon County, North Carolina, hereinafter called the "Tenant."

WITNESSETH:

THAT WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina by way of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160A-351 has established the following as policy for the State of North Carolina concerning recreation:

"The lack of adequate recreational programs and facilities is a menace to the morals, happiness, and welfare of the people of this State. Making available recreational opportunities for citizens of all ages is a subject of general interest and concern, and a function requiring appropriate action by both State and local government. The General Assembly therefore declares that the public good and the general welfare of the citizens of this State require adequate recreation programs, the creation, establishment, and operation of parks and recreation programs is a proper governmental function, and that it is the policy of North Carolina to forever encourage, foster, and provide these facilities and programs for all of its citizens."

; and

WHEREAS, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160A-352 provides that "Recreation" means activities that are diversionary in character and aid in promoting entertainment, pleasure, relaxation, instruction, and other physical, mental and cultural development and leisure time experiences; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-444, Macon County is authorized to establish parks and provide recreational programs; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-449, Macon County is authorized to contract with and appropriate money to any person, association, or corporation, in order to carry out any public purpose that Macon County is authorized by law to engage in; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for recreation opportunities in the Cowee area of Macon County, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Macon County, does own a building known as the Old Cowee School, located at 51 Cowee School Drive, Franklin, NC 28734 and being the lands described in the Deed dated January 9, 2013, from Macon County Board of Education to Macon County recorded in Book J-35, at Pages 2206 - 2207, in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Macon County, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, COWEE SCHOOL ARTS AND HERITAGE CENTER, a North Carolina Non-Profit Corporation, is willing to lease such real property in accordance with this Lease Agreement and as consideration for the same it is willing to agree with Macon County as provided for hereinafter that it will use such real property in part for public "recreation" as that term is defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160A-352 and that it will provide recreational opportunities to the general public at such location; and

WHEREAS Macon County does reserve the right to appropriate and provide funds to COWEE SCHOOL ARTS AND HERITAGE CENTER, a North Carolina Non-Profit Corporation, within its discretion and in accordance with the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-449 to further assist in carrying out the public purpose of providing recreation opportunities to the general public upon such real property.

NOW THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the Lessor does hereby demise and let and the Tenant does hereby rent and hire from the Lessor, those certain premises (hereinafter referred to as the “Premises”) and being more particularly described as follows:

(1) Premises. Being the Old Cowee School Property, located at 51 Cowee School Drive, Franklin, NC 28734 and being more particularly described as the lands described in the Deed dated January 9, 2013, from Macon County Board of Education to Macon County recorded in Book J-35, at Pages 2206 - 2207, in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Macon County, North Carolina.

(2) Term. Subject to the terms below, this lease shall commence at the beginning of May 1, 2020, and shall continue for a term expiring at the end of April 30, 2025.

(3) Rent. The rent payable by the COWEE SCHOOL ARTS AND HERITAGE CENTER, a North Carolina Non-Profit Corporation, shall be as follows:

A. It shall as provided for hereinafter use a substantial part of such real property for public "recreation" as that term is defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160A-352;

B. It shall as provided for hereinafter provide substantial recreational opportunities to the general public at such location in the nature of those which it has heretofore provided at such location and which are consistent with definition of “recreation” as that term is defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160A-352;

C. Tenant agrees to make the Old Cowee School open and available to members of the general public during reasonable days and hours for “recreation” as that term is defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160A-352 for the period between May 1, 2020, and the end of April 30, 2025, and it shall in fact provide substantial provide recreational opportunities to the general public at such location and during such hours;

D. Tenant agrees to to perform its obligations hereunder in a nondiscriminatory fashion appropriate for public activity and there shall be no discrimination by Sublessee on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion or otherwise; and

E. COWEE SCHOOL ARTS AND HERITAGE CENTER, a North Carolina NonProfit Corporation, shall account to Macon County for its uses of resources provided by Lessor to it and for its uses of the leased premises in accordance with paragraph 3 A, B and C above.

(4) Use of Premises. The leased premises shall only be used by Tenant for the operation of the COWEE SCHOOL ARTS AND HERITAGE CENTER, a North Carolina Non-Profit Corporation, consistent with the manner in which it has heretofore operated the same at such location and for also providing substantial recreational opportunities to the general public at such location in the nature of those which it has heretofore provided at such location and consistent with definition of “recreation” as that term is defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160A-352.

(5) No Assignment, but certain Subleases allowed. This lease shall not be assigned by Tenant but Tenant may sublet rooms within the buildings located upon the leased premises for purposes consistent with the recreational use of premises allowed unto the Tenant under the terms of this Lease Agreement. Any subleases shall include provisions which read as follows:

A. E-Verification. Sublessee shall comply with the requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes. Further, if Sublessee utilizes a subcontractor, Sublessee shall require the subcontractor to comply with the requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the General Statutes;

B. Sublessee agrees to fully cooperate with Sublessor in connection with Sublessor’s contractual obligation under its Lease Agreement with Macon County as aforesaid to make the Old Cowee School open and available to members of the general public during reasonable days and hours for recreation as that term is defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160A-352 and it shall cooperate with Sublessor’s efforts to provide recreational opportunities to the general public at such location; and

C. Sublessee acknowledges and agrees to fully cooperate with Sublessor in connection with Sublessor’s obligation under its Lease Agreement with Macon County as aforesaid to perform its obligations hereunder in a nondiscriminatory fashion appropriate for public activity and there shall be no discrimination by Sublessee on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion or otherwise.

(6) Repairs and Maintenance.
Lessor’s sole maintenance and repair obligations of the Lease Premises shall be as follows:

A. The roof, outside walls and other structural parts of the building;
B. The parking lot, driveways, and sidewalks;
C. The sanitary sewer system, water pipes and other matters relating to plumbing;
D. The electrical wiring; and
E. The heat and air conditioning.

Except as provided for hereinabove, Tenant shall be responsible for any and all other maintenance and repairs of the Sublease Premises. Tenant agrees to accept the premises in their present condition and to maintain the interior components of the portion of the premises leased to Tenant in a good state of repair during the term of this lease not set forth as part of the Lessor’s obligations hereinabove. At termination, Tenant shall surrender the premises to the Lessor in as good condition as they now are, except for ordinary wear and tear incident to the use of the premises.

(7)Abatement of Nuisances and Appearance. Tenant shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations of any governmental jurisdiction applicable to the leased premises and shall take all measures necessary to prevent or abate nuisances or other grievances arising out of the manner of the occupancy of the premises for its business purposes. Tenant shall further maintain the appearance of the premises in manner that is aesthetically pleasing and consistent with other business users in the neighborhood and shall not accumulate trash or debris nor display merchandise on the premises.

(8)Utilities. Lessor will provide utilities for the leased premises.

(9)Alterations. Tenant shall not make any alterations, additions or improvements to the premises without first obtaining written permission from the Lessor and any such alterations, additions or improvements which are permitted shall inure to the benefit of the Lessor upon expiration of the lease and surrender of the premises by the Tenant.

(10)Indemnification. Tenant shall indemnify Lessor and hold it harmless from and against any and all claims, actions, damages, liability and expense in connection with the loss of life, personal injury or damage to property occurring in or about, or arising out of, the leased premises, or occasioned wholly or in part by any act or omission of Tenant, its agents, licensees, concessionaires, customers or employees. In the event Lessor shall be made a party to any litigation, commenced by or against Tenant, its agents, licensees, concessionaires, customers or employees, then Tenant shall protect and hold Lessor harmless and shall pay all costs, expenses and reasonable attorneys' fees included or paid by Lessor in connection with such litigation.

(11)Environmental Matters. With respect to any pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substance or material defined as such in, or for purposes of, all applicable environmental laws, rules, regulations and ordinances now or hereafter in effect ("Environmental Laws"), including without limitation, any waste constituents coming within the definition or list of hazardous substances in 40 C.F.R. §§ 261.1 through 261.33 ("Hazardous Material"), the Tenant represents, warrants and covenants that it will indemnify and hold Lessor harmless from and against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, injuries, interest, deficiencies, fines, penalties, costs, expenses, attorneys' fees, disbursements, and costs of investigation and clean-up, including without limitation, claims, suits, and proceedings by federal, state, or local government authorities with respect to, or as a direct or indirect result of

(i) the presence on or under, or the escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, discharge, emission, discharging or releasing from, the property of any Hazardous Material, if such occurs during the term of the lease,

(ii) any other environmental pollution, including without limitation, any contaminant, waste, irritant or pollutant, discharged into or otherwise contained in the environment at or adjacent to the property if such occurs during the term of the lease,

(iii) non-compliance relating to the Tenant's business or the property with any Environmental Law or any other federal, state or local statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order or decree, or

(iv) the inaccuracy, misrepresentation or violation or default of or under any matter set forth in this section unless any such loss, liability, damage, injury or the like is directly caused by negligent acts of the Lessor. In addition, the Tenant shall at all times keep on file with the Macon County Fire Marshall a list of any of the materials, substances, or chemicals described in this paragraph and stored or kept on the leased premises.

(12)Incidents of Default. Each and every term of this lease is a material part of this lease and continuation of the lease is conditioned on the parties' adherence to its terms. The breach or threatened breach of any of the lease terms by the Tenant shall be deemed an incident of default. A declaration of insolvency or the filing of a petition of bankruptcy by the Tenant shall also be deemed an incident of default. In the event Tenant defaults as defined in this paragraph, Lessor may declare the lease terminated and retake possession of the premises upon allowing Tenant a reasonable time to vacate the premises and remove its personal property from the premises.

(13) E-Verification. Tenant shall comply with the requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes. Further, if Tenant enters into one or more subleases, Tenant shall require the sublessee(s) to comply with the requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the General Statutes.
In testimony whereof, the parties have signed this lease on the date first written above in duplicate originals, one of which is retained by each of the parties.


Resolution to Revise Lease
(Macon Media has altered the format of the following document by entering paragraph break to make it easier to read)

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF MACON

RESOLUTION OF THE MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO REVISE A FIVE YEAR LEASE IN ORDER TO CORRECT A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN THE SAME

THAT WHEREAS, Macon County did on April 14, 2020, approve the entry of a five year lease from Macon County to Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center for the old Cowee School property; and

WHEREAS, Paragraph # 2 of said Lease contained a typographical error in that the date of “April 30, 2020" contained in Paragraph # 2 of said Lease should have read “April 30, 2025"; and

WHEREAS, Macon County desires to authorize the correction such typographical error by this resolution.

NOW THEREFORE, upon Motion of Commissioner _________________________, seconded by Commissioner __________________________________, and duly approved, be it hereby resolved by the Macon County Board of County Commissioners as follows:

RESOLVED, that Macon County does hereby authorize correcting such typographical error in Paragraph #2 of the five year Lease that it authorized on April 14, 2020, from Macon County to Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center for the old Cowee School property so that the date of “April 30, 2020, contained in Paragraph #2 of said Lease is changed to April 30, 2025; and

RESOLVED, that Derek Roland, Macon County Manager, is hereby authorized and directed to fill in any blanks upon the same and execute said Lease to Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center on behalf of Macon County.
Adopted at the June 2, 2020, recessed Regular Meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners.



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Published at 2:22pm on Tuesday, June 2, 2020

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Macon County Board of Commissioners Conitnued Meeting for May 26, 2020

This photo was taken on the evening of Sunday, May 25, 2020, by Bobby Coggins

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be holding a continued meeting at 6pm tonight (May 26, 2020). The purpose of the meeting will be focused on discussing items related to the 2020-2021 budget. Macon Media will stream the meeting live on Facebook. A player will be embedded here so you can watch it here also. Copies of the public agenda and the budget amendments are posted below. If any additional documentation is used during the meeting, Macon Media will try to obtain a copy of them and share them here in the interest of promoting transparency in both the local government and local media outlets.


LIVE VIDEO





PUBLIC AGENDA

MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
CONTINUED SESSION
MAY 26, 2020 – 6 P.M.
PUBLIC AGENDA

1. Reconvene and welcome by Chairman Tate

2. Update on tax software contract – Tax Administrator Abby Braswell

3. Update on Macon Middle School project – school liaison committee members

4. Discussion regarding recommended Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget

A. Otto Volunteer Fire Department
B. Macon County Schools, Dr. Chris Baldwin, Superintendent
C. Macon County Solid Waste, Chris Stahl, Director

5. Consideration of budget amendments #279-282 – Finance Director Lori Carpenter

6. Closed session

7. Recess or adjourn

BUDGET AMENDMENTS

Budget Amendments #279-282 ... by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

Published at 1:00pm on Tuesday, May 26, 2020

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April 2020 Regular Meeting of the Macon County Board of COmmissioners

**update** Documents that were handed out during the meeting are being added to the article. Please refresh to see them.





The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6pm. The meeting will be streamed live in the video player embedded below.




Public Agenda

(to be posted later..did not get them in time to transcribe)

Agenda Packet

April 2020 Agenda Packet - Regular Meeting MCBOC by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

Public Officials Briefing Document

{Pub;lic Officials Brief _ Macon County EM by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

COVID-19 Data Macon County Public Health

COVID-19 Data Macon County Public Health by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

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Macon County Board of Commissioners Declare State of Emergency Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Carmine Rocco, Interim Health Director, Informs County Commissioners what his department is doing in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic



The Macon County Board of Commissioners met this afternoon in the commissioner's boardroom in a meeting closed to the general public. Only staff, elected officials, and credentialed media were allowed in the meeting. In what may be an unprecedented event, there were three live video streams of the meeting and one audio streamed to a radio station, which then broadcast the audio over the air.

Video of the Meeting
(the county Wifi system went down during the meeting, so a portion of the middle of the meeting is missing. I will attempt to reconstruct it from a backup audio file.

A copy of the Proclamation of a State of Emergency is posted below the videos. It has been transcribed via an Optical Character Recognition program, so the text may not be accurate. The county did not have a searchable digital document available, only physical copies that were then photographed. Any errors in transcription are mine and unintentional (Bobby).

Part One



Part two




Patrick Betancourt, Director of the Macon County Department of Health and Humans Services updates commissioners on how his department is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ROLL CALL
(elected critters)

Chairman Jim Tate
Vice-Chairman Ronnie Beale
Paul Higdon (left early)
Gary Shields
Karl Gillespie

Sheriff Robert Holland

(news media critters)

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



PROCLAMATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY
MACON COUNTY

Section 1.
whereas, the coronavirus ("COVID-19") is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death and is a new strain of coronavirus previously unidentified in humans and can spread from person to person; and

Whereas, in response to the global spread of the virus and the disease it causes and the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020; and

Whereas, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared the ongoing COVID-19 a pandemic of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant an emergency declaration for all states, tribes, territories and the District on Columbia; and

Whereas, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services ("NCDHHS”) confirmed the number of cases in COVID-19 in North Carolina continues to rise; and

Whereas, The Governor of North Carolina by Executive Order 116 declared a State of Emergency for the State of North Carolina on March 10, 2020; and

Whereas, The Governor of North Carolina by Executive Order 117 prohibited mass gatherings and directed the statewide closure of K-12 public schools to limit the spread of COVID-19; and

Whereas, in consultation with health care professionals and based upon guidance provided, arrangements must be made immediately to take such actions as are deemed necessary and appropriate to ensure that residents and visitors in Macon County remain safe and secure; and

Whereas, I have determined that an emergency exists as defined by N.C. General Statutes 166A-19.3 (6).

Now, Therefore, pursuant to County Ordinance 31.05, Chapter 166A-19.22 of the General Statutes and Article 36A Chapter 14 of the General Statutes, I have determined that a State of Emergency exists in the County of Macon.


Section 2. I, therefore, proclaim the existence of a State of Emergency in the County of Macon.

I further proclaim that this Declaration of a State of Emergency does not apply within the municipal limits of the following municipal governments:

Town of Franklin
Town of Highlands

Section 3. I hereby order all county law enforcement, county employees, and all other emergency management personnel subject to my control to cooperate in the enforcement and implementation of any emergency ordinances and the provisions of the Macon County Emergency Operations Plan. and

Section 4. Mass gatherings of persons in groups of more than 100 people are prohibited.

a. A mass gathering is defined as any event or convening that brings together more than 100 people in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater, or any other confines indoor or outdoor space. This includes parades, fairs, and festivals.

b. a mass gathering does not include normal operations at airports, medical facilities, and shopping centers, or other spaces where more than one hundred (100) persons are gathered. It does not include office environments, restaurants, factories, grocery stores, and retail establishments.

Section 5. It is hereby unlawful to sell or rent or offer to sell or rent any goods or services which are consumed or used as a direct result of an emergency or which are consumed or used to preserve, protect, or sustain life, health, safety, or well-being of persons or property with the knowledge and intent to charge a price that is unreasonably excessive under the circumstances or engage in any price gouging practices as defined by General Statues

Section 6. This proclamation shall become effective immediately.

Proclaimed this the 17th day of March 2020, at 4:30 P.M.

JIM TATE
CHAIRMAN
MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS





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Published at 5:34pm on Tuesday, March 17, 2020

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Macon County Board of Commissioners March 2020 Regular Meeting - Full Video

The Macon County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday night, beginning at 6 pm and recessed the meeting after a closed session at around 11:30pm. The meeting was opened in the commissioner's boardroom on the third floor, then recessed so the meeting could be held in a venue to accommodate all those present and re-opened in the big courtroom on the fourth floor of the courthouse. A video of the entire meeting is posted below. Segments from the meeting will be published over the next several days. The public agenda and the agenda packet are also included in this article, as well as a roll call of elected critters and media outlets that were present.

Full Meeting Video
(5 Hours, 9 Minutes, 44 Seconds)





Roll Call
(Media outlets that send representatives and elected critters present at the meeting will be recorded here.)

commissioners present

Jimmy Tate, Chairman
Ronnie Beale, Vice Chairman
Paul Higdon
Gary Shields
Karl Gillespie

other elected critters

Robbie Holland, Macon County Sheriff
Bob Scott, Mayor of Franklin, NC

media outlets

Macon Media (one person)
The Franklin Press (one person)
WNCC-FM/WFSC-AM (one person)
Blue Ridge Public Radio (one person)
Macon County News and Shopping Guide (two people, one left early)


Public Agenda


1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Tate

2. Announcements

3. Moment of Silence

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Public Hearing(s)

- 6:00 p.m. - Reaffirmation and re-establishment of an appropriate and verifiable ten percent (10%) goal for participation by minority businesses in the total value of work for Macon County building projects under the provision of N.C. Gen. Stat. 143-28.2, and the reaffirmation, re-establishment, and amendment of its Minority Business Outreach Plan.
NOTE: Immediately following the close of the public hearing, the board may consider a Resolution Confirming Minority Business Participation Goal for Macon County, North Carolina & Minority Business Outreach Plan Macon County, North Carolina

6. Public Comment Period

7. Additions to agenda

8. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

9. Reports/ Presentations

(A) Macon County Public Health:
(1) Information/update regarding Coronavirus
- Carmine Rocco, Interim Health Director, and Jennifer Garrett, Public Health Nursing Supervisor
(2) Announcement regarding the new Health Director
- Macon County Board of Health representative
(B) Update on U.S. Forest Service Plan Advisory Committee
- Jim Gray
(C) Update on election activity and reporting process
- Macon County Board of Elections representative

10.0ld Business

(A) Consideration of Second Amendment resolution
(B) Consideration of a resolution regarding North Carolina Retired School Personnel

11. New Business
(A) Consideration of resolution recognizing Macon County Senior Citizen Volunteers
- Jennifer Iloliifield, Macon County Senior Services Administrative Officer
(B) Community Funding Pool recommendation
- Diane Cotton
(C) Rejection of RFP 01-5110p for Automated Computer System for the Dental Program of Macon County's Public Health Department
-Carmine Rocco, Interim Health Director
(D) Macon Middle School:
(1) Consideration of resolution exempting architectural services for proposed locker room building
- County Attorney Chester Jones
(2) Consideration of proposal from Ritter Architecture, P.A. for architectural services for mew locker room building
- County Attorney Chester Jones
(a) Reimbursement resolution
- Finance Director Lori Carpenter
(E) Discussion regarding One-Quarter Cent County Sales and Use Tax
- County Attorney Chester Jones
(F) Consideration of offer to purchase real property in Highlands, NC from the Reed Estate
- County Attorney Chester Jones

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 February 6, 2020 continued session and the February 11, 2020 regular meeting
B. Budget Amendments #190-194
C. Tax Releases
D. Board of Health approved write-offs of uncollected funds
E. Monthly ad valorem tax collection report (no action required)

13. Appointments
(A) Planning Board - 1 seat
(B) Airport Authority - 1 seat
(C) Library Board - 1 seat

14.Closed session (if necessary)

15.Adjourn/Recess

Agenda Packet

MCBOC 2020 0310 Agenda Packet by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


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.



Become a Patron!
Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia

Published at 6am on Friday, March 13, 2020

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Macon County Board of Commissioners March 2020 Regular Meeting

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6pm. The meeting will open in the commissioner's boardroom on the third floor, and if enough people show up (as have in the last few months) then the meeting will briefly recess and the commissioners will move upstairs to the big courtroom on the fourth floor of the courthouse. Macon Media will be there, and if enough internet bandwidth is available, it will begin streaming the meeting from the upstairs courtroom due to the logistical problems of breaking down and resetting the equipment for a live stream. Video from what commissioners do downstairs will be added to this article later.

live video



Corona Virus Update from Macon County Public Health
[LINK]




Meeting from Old Business to the End of Open Session
[LINK]




Roll Call
(if local or regional media outlets send representatives to the meeting, their presence will be recorded here. Also, elected critters will be recorded here. This will now include members of the board being covered.)

placeholder


Public Agenda


1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Tate

2. Announcements

3. Moment of Silence

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Public Hearing(s)

- 6:00 p.m. - Reaffirmation and re-establishment of an appropriate and verifiable ten percent (10%) goal for participation by minority businesses in the total value of work for Macon County building projects under the provision of N.C. Gen. Stat. 143-28.2, and the reaffirmation, re-establishment, and amendment of its Minority Business Outreach Plan.
NOTE: Immediately following the close of the public hearing, the board may consider a Resolution Confirming Minority Business Participation Goal for Macon County, North Carolina & Minority Business Outreach Plan Macon County, North Carolina

6. Public Comment Period

7. Additions to agenda

8. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

9. Reports/ Presentations

(A) Macon County Public Health:
(1) Information/update regarding Coronavirus
- Carmine Rocco, Interim Health Director, and Jennifer Garrett, Public Health Nursing Supervisor
(2) Announcement regarding the new Health Director
- Macon County Board of Health representative
(B) Update on U.S. Forest Service Plan Advisory Committee
- Jim Gray
(C) Update on election activity and reporting process
- Macon County Board of Elections representative

10.0ld Business

(A) Consideration of Second Amendment resolution
(B) Consideration of a resolution regarding North Carolina Retired School Personnel

11. New Business
(A) Consideration of resolution recognizing Macon County Senior Citizen Volunteers
- Jennifer Iloliifield, Macon County Senior Services Administrative Officer
(B) Community Funding Pool recommendation
- Diane Cotton
(C) Rejection of RFP 01-5110p for Automated Computer System for the Dental Program of Macon County's Public Health Department
-Carmine Rocco, Interim Health Director
(D) Macon Middle School:
(1) Consideration of resolution exempting architectural services for proposed locker room building
- County Attorney Chester Jones
(2) Consideration of proposal from Ritter Architecture, P.A. for architectural services for mew locker room building
- County Attorney Chester Jones
(a) Reimbursement resolution
- Finance Director Lori Carpenter
(E) Discussion regarding One-Quarter Cent County Sales and Use Tax
- County Attorney Chester Jones
(F) Consideration of offer to purchase real property in Highlands, NC from the Reed Estate
- County Attorney Chester Jones

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 February 6, 2020 continued session and the February 11, 2020 regular meeting
B. Budget Amendments #190-194
C. Tax Releases
D. Board of Health approved write-offs of uncollected funds
E. Monthly ad valorem tax collection report (no action required)

13. Appointments
(A) Planning Board - 1 seat
(B) Airport Authority - 1 seat
(C) Library Board - 1 seat

14.Closed session (if necessary)

15.Adjourn/Recess

Agenda Packet

MCBOC 2020 0310 Agenda Packet by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


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.



Become a Patron!
Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia

Published at 5am on Tuesday, March 10, 2020

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