Public Comment - August 2025 Macon Commissioners Meeting

Macon Media (Bobby) was unable to attend the August 2025 meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners. Here is coverage of the meeting.

Media Rollcall
(media outlets that sent reporters to the meeting are listed)

Macon Sense (Dan)
The Franklin Press (Shelby)

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Today's Spotlight:

Public Comment

Summary

A member of the public spoke out in favor of the Burningtown-Iotla Volunteer Fire Department. Another spoke in favor of keeping the Macon County Board of Health as is instead of the Macon County Board of Commissioners taking it over, and one member of the public spoke in favor of returning Animal Control back to the Sheriff's Office. (It was originally under the Sheriff's Office, but a previous Board moved it to the Health Department at the request of a former Sheriff).

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Published at 8.06am on Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

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Letter to the Editor: Macon County Animal Service and Appalachian Animal Rescue Center are Separate Organizations

Dear Editor,

The Macon County Humane Society dba Appalachian Animal Rescue Center is a 501(c)3 no-kill animal shelter. Their mission is to maintain a shelter for stray and unwanted dogs and cats in Macon County, NC. Appalachian Animal Rescue Center, or AARC, is a closed intake facility with a maximum capacity of 50 dogs and 55 cats. AARC is not a county or state-owned facility; they are funded by donations, grants, and adoptions. Appalachian Animal Rescue Center cannot and will not trap, catch, or “pick up” animals; animals can only be surrendered at the shelter. AARC is there to help animals find their forever homes. AARC will not adopt any animals out unless they are spayed or neutered. Appalachian Animal Rescue Center is located at 851 Lake Emory Rd. Franklin, NC 28734; they can be reached at 828-524-4588 or by email at info@maconhumanesociety.org.

Macon County Animal Services is a county/state regulated, owned, and funded open intake facility. Macon County Animal Services, or MCAS, is there to protect the health and safety of all citizens, both humans and animals. MCAS handles cases of animal abuse, abandonment, trapping, and picking up animals; they also do accept owner surrenders. They try their best to find forever homes or reunite animals with their families. MCAS is a kill-shelter, but over the past few years, they have lowered their euthanasia to less than 10%. Macon County Animal Services is located at 1377 Lakeside Dr. Franklin, NC 28734; they can be reached at 828-349-2106 or by email at animalservics@maconnc.org.

Both facilities are there for the animals as an “in-between” home, however, they are separate. Appalachian Animal Rescue Center and Macon County Animal Services work together to find forever homes for animals, but they are separate.

If you have lost an animal, please contact both facilities. If you have found an animal, contact both facilities. If you need to surrender an animal, please contact both facilities. If you need to report an abandoned animal, please contact MCAS. If you need to report animal abuse, contact MCAS. If you need to trap an animal, please contact MCAS. If you need an animal “picked up,” contact MCAS.

Both places are working their hardest to find every animal in Macon County their forever home, but each facility has its own role to play. Please research all avenues of animal rescue and please spay/neuter your pets.

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Macon County Board of Commissioners May 2018 Regular Meeting Segment: Revised Animal Control Ordinance

 

A segment from the May 2018 Regular Meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners featuring revisions to the Animal Control Ordinance. The board voted 3-0 at its April 10, 2018, regular meeting to approve the revised Animal Control Ordinance as presented. However, due to two members being absent, a second vote or "reading" was required to achieve final approval. The full meeting video and supporting documents are posted on the blog. [LINK]



Recorded on May 8, 2018, by Bobby Coggins for Macon Media.com



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Published on May 15, 2018

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Macon County Commissioners Regular February 2018 Meeting

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6 pm for their regular monthly meeting. The public agenda and the agenda packet and other supporting documents have been added below for your convenience and in order to promote transparency in local government and in local news reporting.

PLACEHOLDER FOR VIDEO

TO BE ADDED AFTER MEETING

MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
FEBRUARY 13, 2018
AGENDA

1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Tate

2. Announcements

A. Presentation of the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) "Edward B. Busse Award" to Macon County Emergency Services for its Community Paramedicine Program by DAAS Assisstant Director Hank Bowers

B. North Carmina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) February 2018 update video

C. Update on proposed amendments to Sedimentation and Erosion Control Ordinance

3. Moment of Silence

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Public Hearing(s) - 6:00 pm - Proposed Amendments to the Macon County Animal Control Ordinance

NOTE: Immediately following the public hearing, the board may consider acting upon the proposed amendments.

6. Public Comment Period

7. Additions to the agenda

8. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

9. Reports/Presentations

A. Cold for a Cause - Patrick Jenkins and Wenona Curtis
B. Update on Vaya Health - Shelly Foreman - Western Region Community Relations

10. Old Business

A. Discussion regarding Southwestern Community College (SCC) FIre Safety Training Complex
B. Discussion of proposed revisions to Sedimentation and Erosion Control Ordinance

11. New Business

A. Discussion regarding method of electing commissioners - Commissioner Higdon
B. Friends of the Library request to place a "Little Library" at the Parker Meadows Recreational Complex - Gene Young
C. Vocational Building heating project at Franklin High School - Macon County Schools Superintendent Dr. Chris Baldwin

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 January 9, 2018 regular meeting
B. Budget Amendments #110-113
C. Tax Releases for January 2018 in the amount of $2,149.04
D. Order Tax Office, per statute, to collect 2017 delinquent county taxes owed as of February 1, 2018
E. Macon County Public Health Fee Additions/Changes
F. Monthly ad valorem tax collection report (no action necessary)

13. Appointments

A. Board of Equalization and Review (five seats)
B. Library Board (one seat)
C. Planning Board (two seats)

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

15. Adjourn/Recess





The supporting documents are posted below for your convenience and to promote transparency in local government and local reporting on government.


Agenda Packet

Feb 2018 Commissioner Agenda Packet by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

Draft Animal Control Ordninance

DRAFT Animal Control Ordinance by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

FAQ - Advancing NC Whole Health

FAQ - Advancing NC Whole Health by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

]



Medicaid Transformation

Medicaid Transformation by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

News Release NC Managed Care Organizations Announce Coalition

News Release NC Managed Care Organizations Announce Coalition by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

Vaya Total Care- Incedo Overview

Vaya Total Care- Incedo Overview by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

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County Commissioners and Dangerous Dog Board Hear Complaint About Dog Attack

This is video of the public comment period and the Review of Animal Control Policies and Procedures from the May 12th, 2015 meeting of the Macon County Commissioners. The Macon County Commissioners recessed so the Dangerous Dog Board could meet to determine if the dogs involved in an attack on two dogs and a display of threatening behavior toward a person that was captured in photographs and video. A few of the photos are included in this post.

The Dangerous Dog Board consists of Sheriff Robbie Holland, Macon County Health Department Director Jim Bruckner and Macon County Commissioner Gary Shields. The board met and classified the dogs as dangerous and the dogs were ordered to be picked up. The dogs were picked up by the end of the county commissioner meeting.

The discussion that took place was very informative. I was not aware that a Dangerous Dog Board even existed in the county.



*note* I have accidentally included more of the meeting than I intended. After the public comment section finishes, fast forward to the 26 minutes and 30 second mark. I apologize for the mistake, and will correct it in a couple of days.

**1:18 pm** It has been corrected. I apologize for the mistake in the original editing.  ~Bobby.

The complete meeting, including all supporting documents that were made available to the press, of the Board of County Commissioners can be seen at this link.

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