Attention Prayer Warriors
There will be a "Prayers Against Drugs" rally on Friday at 6 pm at the Courthouse Square in downtown Franklin for those who are interested in participating in the spiritual warfare against the epidemic of drug abuse in our community. More information from the organizers has been added below.
You are invited to attend the “Prayers Against Drugs" rally on 2/03/17 at the Courthouse square at 6pm. We ate asking for our community to come together in a spiritual welfare against Drug abuse. We look forward to seeing you there.
Psalms 103: 2-4 “Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all his benefits;
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;“
Here is the agenda for tomorrow night's meeting of the Macon County Commissioners. I will not be live-blogging the meeting, so don't look for a post on the meeting until sometime the day after the meeting. When, if all goes well, I'll be able to post HD Video of the meeting from my new video camera.
Not really, but the sentiment is the same. I'll be behind the scenes, trying to catch up on editing video from meetings I've been unable to post the video for in the past few weeks without having to worry about adding posts here simultaneously.
Regular posting will resume on late Sunday or early Monday.
Don't forget to make plans to attend the Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday morning at the Veterans Memorial Park on US441 next to the Community Facilities Building at the Veterans Memorial. The ceremony begins at 11am followed by a BBQ held by the American Legion Post 108. Bring a chair.
11th Congressional District Republican Party
District Convention
April 14, 2012
Tuscola High School
564 Tuscola School Road,
Waynesville, NC 28786
Registration for the Convention will begin at 10 a.m.
Convention scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Luncheon after the Convention - beginning between 12:30 and 1:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact David Sawyer, Chairman, 11th District Republican Party
828 488 2842 or dasawyer13@msn.com
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Commentary
I am glad the convention will be held in the geographic center of the new district to make it easier for people who live on both edges of the district. As it is, people on either end can expect to drive for more than an hour to reach the convention location. The location the convention was previously scheduled to be held at was in the 10th Congressional District.
There is no word if there will be a debate at the convention or not. The 11th District website does not even list the convention on the calendar and has not been updated in some years. Of course, the website is owned by a person, not the party, so they're effectively held hostage to his whims on these things.
I will be there and will be recording video of the proceedings and various candidates. I am registered as a delegate to this convention and may participate in the voting.
Here is some of the coverage I've posted of previous conventions:
There was no district convention in 2011 due to confusion over redistricting.
There has been a special meeting called wherein the Macon County Commissioners will meet with the Macon County Board of Education in Fat Buddies Restaurant at 6pm on April 9th. I have embedded a notice of the meeting below.
The Macon County Commissioners will be meeting tomorrow night at 6pm and here is a look at the agenda for the meeting. I will be there to cover the meeting and will post a separate entry for the coverage of the meeting a few hours beforehand.
MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MARCH 13, 2012
AGENDA
Call to order and welcome by Chairman Corbin
Announcements
Girl Scout Promise
Pledge of Allegiance (led by Girl Scouts)
Public Hearing(s) – None scheduled
Public Comment Period
Adjustments to and approval of the agenda
Reports/Presentations
Tobacco Reality Unfiltered (TRU) Club presentation – Dawn Wilde Burgess, Macon County Public Health
Girl Scouts Centennial Proclamation
Plan of Work for 2012 – Alan Durden, Macon County Cooperative Extension Director
USDA Summer Food Service program – Crystal Nix, Macon Program for Progress
Old Business
Consideration of bids for 911 Call Center and Budget Amendment Number 147
New Business
Resolution concerning legislation requiring VOC testing for private drinking water wells – County Attorney
QZAB and QSCB Applications – County Manager
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 February 14 and February 28 meetings
PRESS RELEASE
Macon County Economic Development Commission
Franklin, NC
Contact Tommy Jenkins 828-369-2306
Tuesday, April 10 - 7PM - Entrepreneur Networking Night - Meet and hear Pam Lewis, Director of Entrepreneurship, Asheville Chamber of Commerce PLUS the winner of the SiteDart “Awesome Business Idea” $1000 competition will be announced! The
Wednesday, April 11 - 9AM - Tim Dannelly Seminarpresented by Southwestern Community College. Mr. Dannelly is a seasoned professional in management, sales, public relations, and broadcasting. A unique opportunity to step up your entrepreneurial and leadership skills. SCC - Macon Campus.
Banquet featuring North Carolina Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco. Appointed in 2009, Secretary Crisco brings 40 years of domestic and international business experience to the position. Holly Springs Baptist Church Fellowship Hall - Register Here
Thunder Pig's computer has quit working and it will be a few days until he can get things sorted out, so a few of us from Conservative Thunder will be filling in for him until then.
This is a sample ballot of the controversal AB Tech Tax. Notice it doesn't say AB Tech anywhere on it. That's because Senator Martin Nesbitt made it that way. The BC Commissioners want it to go to the counties general fund so the can do with the money as they please. Remember, this is a county wide vote. You vote at the old health department building beside the Radison Hotel. And please vote "against" it. ~Chad Nesbitt, on Facebook
(a) Pursuant to Article V, Sec. 2(5) of the Constitution of North Carolina, the General Assembly confers upon each county in this State the power to levy, within the limitations set out in this section, taxes on property having a situs within the county under the rules and according to the procedures prescribed in the Machinery Act (Chapter 105, Subchapter II).
(b) Each county may levy property taxes without restriction as to rate or amount for the following purposes:
(1) Courts. To provide adequate facilities for and the county's share of the cost of operating the General Court of Justice in the county.
(2) Debt Service. To pay the principal of and interest on all general obligation bonds and notes of the county.
(3) Deficits. To supply an unforeseen deficiency in the revenue (other than revenues of public enterprises), when revenues actually collected or received fall below revenue estimates made in good faith and in accordance with the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act.
(4) Elections. To provide for all federal, State, district and county elections.
(5) Jails. To provide for the operation of a jail and other local confinement facilities.
(6) Joint Undertakings. To cooperate with any other county, city, or political subdivision in providing any of the functions, services, or activities listed in this subsection.
(7) Schools. To provide for the county's share of the cost of kindergarten, elementary, secondary, and post‑secondary public education.
(8) Social Services. To provide for public assistance required by Chapters 108A and 111 of the General Statutes.
(c) Each county may levy property taxes for one or more of the purposes listed in this subsection up to a combined rate of one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) on the one hundred dollars ($100.00) appraised value of property subject to taxation. Authorized purposes subject to the rate limitation are:
(1) To provide for the general administration of the county through the board of county commissioners, the office of the county manager, the office of the county budget officer, the office of the county finance officer, the office of the county assessor, the office of the county tax collector, the county purchasing agent, and the county attorney, and for all other general administrative costs not allocated to a particular board, commission, office, agency, or activity of the county.
(2) Agricultural Extension. To provide for the county's share of the cost of maintaining and administering programs and services offered to agriculture by or through the Agricultural Extension Service or other agencies.
(3) Air Pollution. To maintain and administer air pollution control programs.
(4) Airports. To establish and maintain airports and related aeronautical facilities.
(5) Ambulance Service. To provide ambulance services, rescue squads, and other emergency medical services.
(6) Animal Protection and Control. To provide animal protection and control programs.
(6a) Arts Programs and Museums. To provide for arts programs and museums as authorized in G.S. 160A‑488.
(6b) Auditoriums, coliseums, and convention and civic centers. To provide public auditoriums, coliseums, and convention and civic centers.
(7) Beach Erosion and Natural Disasters. To provide for shoreline protection, beach erosion control, and flood and hurricane protection.
(8) Cemeteries. To provide for cemeteries.
(9) Civil Preparedness. To provide for civil preparedness programs.
(10) Debts and Judgments. To pay and discharge any valid debt of the county or any judgment lodged against it, other than debts and judgments evidenced by or based on bonds and notes.
(10a) Defense of Employees and Officers. To provide for the defense of, and payment of civil judgments against, employees and officers or former employees and officers, as authorized by this Chapter.
(10b) Economic Development. To provide for economic development as authorized by G.S. 158‑7.1 and G.S. 158‑12.
(11) Fire Protection. To provide fire protection services and fire prevention programs.
(12) Forest Protection. To provide forest management and protection programs.
(13) Health. To provide for the county's share of maintaining and administering services offered by or through the local health department.
(14) Historic Preservation. To undertake historic preservation programs and projects.
(15) Hospitals. To establish, support and maintain public hospitals and clinics, and other related health programs and facilities, or to aid any private, nonprofit hospital, clinic, related facility, or other health program or facility.
(15a) Housing Rehabilitation. To provide for housing rehabilitation programs authorized by G.S. 153A‑376, including personnel costs related to the planning and administration of these programs. This subdivision applies only to counties with a population of 400,000 or more, according to the most recent decennial federal census.
(15b) Housing. To undertake housing programs for low‑ and moderate‑income persons as provided in G.S. 153A‑378.
(16) Human Relations. To undertake human relations programs.
(16a) Industrial Development. To provide for industrial development as authorized by G.S. 158‑7.1.
(17) Joint Undertakings. To cooperate with any other county, city, or political subdivision in providing any of the functions, services, or activities listed in this subsection.
(18) Law Enforcement. To provide for the operation of the office of the sheriff of the county and for any other county law‑enforcement agency not under the sheriff's jurisdiction.
(19) Libraries. To establish and maintain public libraries.
(20) Mapping. To provide for mapping the lands of the county.
(21) Medical Examiner. To provide for the county medical examiner or coroner.
(22) Mental Health. To provide for the county's share of the cost of maintaining and administering services offered by or through the area mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse authority.
(23) Open Space. To acquire open space land and easements in accordance with Article 19, Part 4, Chapter 160A of the General Statutes.
(24) Parking. To provide off‑street lots and garages for the parking and storage of motor vehicles.
(25) Parks and Recreation. To establish, support and maintain public parks and programs of supervised recreation.
(26) Planning. To provide for a program of planning and regulation of development in accordance with Article 18 of this Chapter and Article 19, Parts 3A and 6, of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes.
(26a) Ports and Harbors. To participate in programs with the North Carolina Ports Authority and provide for harbor masters.
(27) Public Transportation. To provide public transportation by rail, motor vehicle, or another means of conveyance other than a ferry, including any facility or equipment needed to provide the public transportation. This subdivision does not authorize a county to provide public roads in the county in violation of G.S. 136‑51.
(27a) Railway Corridor Preservation. To acquire property for railroad corridor preservation as authorized by G.S. 160A‑498.
(28) Register of Deeds. To provide for the operation of the office of the register of deeds of the county.
(28a) Roads. To provide for the maintenance of county roads as authorized by G.S. 153A‑301(d).
(29) Sewage. To provide sewage collection and treatment services as defined in G.S. 153A‑274(2).
(30) Social Services. To provide for the public welfare through the maintenance and administration of public assistance programs not required by Chapters 108A and 111 of the General Statutes, and by establishing and maintaining a county home.
(31) Solid Waste. To provide solid waste collection and disposal services, and to acquire and operate landfills.
(31a) Stormwater. To provide structural and natural stormwater and drainage systems of all types.
(32) Surveyor. To provide for a county surveyor.
(33) Veterans' Service Officer. To provide for the county's share of the cost of services offered by or through the county veterans' service officer.
(34) Water. To provide water supply and distribution systems.
(35) Watershed Improvement. To undertake watershed improvement projects.
(36) Water Resources. To participate in federal water resources development projects.
(37) Armories. To supplement available State or federal funds to be used for the construction (including the acquisition of land), enlargement or repair of armory facilities for the North Carolina National Guard.
(d) With an approving vote of the people, any county may levy property taxes for any purpose for which the county is authorized by law to appropriate money. Any property tax levy approved by a vote of the people shall not be counted for purposes of the rate limitation imposed in subsection (c).
The county commissioners may call a referendum on approval of a property tax levy. The referendum may be held at the same time as any other referendum or election, but may not be otherwise held within the period of time beginning 30 days before and ending 10 days after any other referendum or election to be held in the county and already validly called or scheduled by law at the time the tax referendum is called. The referendum shall be conducted by the county board of elections. The clerk to the board of commissioners shall publish a notice of the referendum at least twice. The first publication shall be not less than 14 days and the second publication not less than seven days before the last day on which voters may register for the referendum. The notice shall state the date of the referendum, the purpose for which it is being held, and a statement as to the last day for registration for the referendum under the election laws then in effect.
The proposition submitted to the voters shall be substantially in one of the following forms:
(1) Shall ____ County be authorized to levy annually a property tax at a rate not in excess of ____ cents on the one hundred dollars ($100.00) value of property subject to taxation for the purpose of ____?
(2) Shall ____ County be authorized to levy annually a property tax at a rate not in excess of that which will produce $____ for the purpose of ____?
(3) Shall ____ County be authorized to levy annually a property tax without restriction as to rate or amount for the purpose of ____?
If a majority of those participating in the referendum approve the proposition, the board of commissioners may proceed to levy annually a property tax within the limitations (if any) described in the proposition.
The board of elections shall canvass the referendum and certify the results to the board of commissioners. The board of commissioners shall then certify and declare the result of the referendum and shall publish a statement of the result once, with the following statement appended: "Any action or proceeding challenging the regularity or validity of this tax referendum must be begun within 30 days after (date of publication)." The statement of results shall be filed in the clerk's office and inserted in the minutes of the board.
Any action or proceeding in any court challenging the regularity or validity of a tax referendum must be begun within 30 days after the publication of the results of the referendum. After the expiration of this period of limitation, no right of action or defense based upon the invalidity of or any irregularity in the referendum shall be asserted, nor shall the validity of the referendum be open to question in any court upon any ground whatever, except in an action or proceeding begun within the period of limitation prescribed herein.
Except for supplemental school taxes and except for tax referendums on functions not included in subsection (c) of this section, any referendum held before July 1, 1973, on the levy of property taxes is not valid for the purposes of this subsection. Counties in which such referendums have been held may support programs formerly supported by voted property taxes within the general rate limitation set out in subsection (c) at any appropriate level and are not subject to the former voted rate limitation.
(e) With an approving vote of the people, any county may increase the property tax rate limitation imposed in subsection (c) and may call a referendum for that purpose. The referendum may be held at the same time as any other referendum or election, but may not be otherwise held within the period of time beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after any other referendum or election. The referendum shall be conducted by the county board of elections.
The proposition submitted to the voters shall be substantially in the following form: "Shall the property tax rate limitation applicable to ____ County be increased from ____ on the one hundred dollars ($100.00) value of property subject to taxation to ____ on the one hundred dollars ($100.00) value of property subject to taxation? "
If a majority of those participating in the referendum approve the proposition, the rate limitation imposed in subsection (c) shall be increased for the county.
(f) With respect to any of the categories listed in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the county may provide the necessary personnel, land, buildings, equipment, supplies, and financial support from property tax revenues for the program, function, or service.
(g) This section does not authorize any county to undertake any program, function, joint undertaking, or service not otherwise authorized by law. It is intended only to authorize the levy of property taxes within the limitations set out herein to finance programs, functions, or services authorized by other portions of the General Statutes or by local acts. (1973, c. 803, s. 1; c. 822, s. 2; c. 963; c. 1446, s. 25; 1975, c. 734, s. 17; 1977, c. 148, s. 5; c. 834, s. 3; 1979, c. 619, s. 4; 1981, c. 66, s. 2; c. 562, s. 11; c. 692, s. 1; 1983, c. 511, ss. 1, 2; 1985, c. 589, s. 57; 1987, c. 45, s. 2; c. 697, s. 2; 1989, c. 600, s. 5; c. 625, s. 25; c. 643, s. 1; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1005, ss. 3‑5; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 764, s. 1; c. 896, s. 1; 1993, c. 378, s. 2; 1997‑502, s. 6; 1999‑366, s. 3; 2002‑159, s. 50(a); 2002‑172, s. 2.4(a); 2003‑416, s. 2; 2009‑281, s. 1.)
I've been kinda busy lately, so please forgive the sparse posting. I've been slammed with work outside what I normally do online and I'm still trying to edit the videos of the latest Aldermen and County Commissioner meetings.
I hope to have things under control again by sometime next week.
I have been fighting a bug since last Saturday, and have decided to come to a full stop this weekend in an effort to get plenty of rest and keep hydrated so I can kick its butt once and for all. I hope to be back to full speed by Monday.
Thunder Pig has asked me to fill in for him for a couple of days while he is busy with other projects for a few days. (I am working on the Legislative Calendar post for the day, but it is taking far longer than I thought it would, so please bear with me).
My name is Scarlet and I am the co-founder, along with Thunder Pig and Mohican, of the Counter Progressive Unit tasked with building a force of conservative cyberwarriors and political organizers to contribute to a strengthening of the conservative movement within the Republican Party of western North Carolina at the local level. We are mainly low-profile types, preferring to spread the Promethean fire to empower conservatives rather than lead. Our goal is to teach conservatives how to use the tools available to them in order that they might take back their party, win elections, and preserve American Exceptionalism for the next generation.
I graduated from the Intermediate Level in Thunder Pig's social media college, and will be putting those skills to use in an attempt to fill in for him. Mohican will be contributing posts also as he can find the time to do so.
I am married to a wonderful man named Jack and have twin girls I am homeschooling in order to instill them with the values my husband and I share, and to give them an education that is far superior to the drivel being taught in public schools. I know, because I went to public schools and had to put up with their socialist indoctrination.
The Board of Commissioners will hold one regular meeting a month effective January 1, 2011. They will meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.
Following is the schedule of the 2011 board meetings and the due date for agenda items. Remember any agenda item that is not received by the due date will require an oral request made to the Board at the beginning of the meeting requesting addition to the agenda included with an explanation as to why the item was not on time. Items may be submitted electronically towanderson@maconnc.org. Be advised that the Board may review and revise this schedule at any time.
Your cooperation is appreciated and if you have questions please let me know.
The Macon County Commissioners will be meeting tomorrow, and the agenda for that meeting is below. After the meeting, there will be a presentation and reception for outgoing commissioner Bob Simpson in appreciation for his years of service to Macon County.
MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
NOVEMBER 22, 2010 – 2 P.M.
AGENDA
1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Beale
2. Announcements
3. Invocation
4. Pledge of Allegiance
5. Public Hearing - None
6. Public Comment Period
7. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda
8. Reports/Presentations:
A. Presentation of GFOA award to Finance Officer and Staff
B. FY 09/10 Audit presentation– Erica Brown from Martin & Starnes
C. Angel Medical Center CEO Tim Hubbs
9. Old Business:
A. Viper Tower……………………………………………Attachment #9A
10. New Business:
A. Iotla Elementary School (Terry Bell)….……………..Attachment #10A
B. Northland Cable………………………………………Attachment #10B
C. Right of way and Release on Greenway/Duke Power (Attorney Jones)
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 memorial Service for John Armor, of Highlands, NC, will be held this Saturday at 2pm at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation on Main Street in Highlands, NC. [Google Map] [Website]
According to a phone call from his wife, there will be a brief religious service that will be followed by some patriotic readings from the Declaration of Independence and the Federalist Papers after the service at the Harris Lake Rec Park within walking distance of the church. [Google Map] John Armor, Defender of the US Constitution passed away in August due to complications that arose from Colon Cancer.
I will miss him very much, and will miss his columns. His wife Michelle has my deepest condolences.
Pardon the interruption in regular blogging and all things Internet from me until perhaps Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Until then, here are my recommendations for places to go and keep up with what is going on in the world...
This is one of my favorite fan music videos made from footage of the Babylon 5 TV Series. It features the song 2000 Years by Billy Joel.
Posting will be at a minimum today, as I am processing video from last night's Macon County Commissioners meeting, where they approved the budget for the FY 2010-11 by a vote of 4-1. Jim Davis was the lone no vote.
BOONE—A full-scale emergency exercise will be conducted May 19 at Appalachian State University. The exercise will run from approximately 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the west side of campus in and around the stadium parking lot. One or more buildings on the main campus also might be included in the exercise.
Traffic along Stadium Drive may be limited at times during the exercise.
More than 100 participants, including local and state law enforcement personnel from six agencies, will participate. Other participants will include Watauga Emergency Medical Services and Boone Fire Department.
The university’s emergency Web site (www.emergency.appstate.edu) will include information about the exercise and a link to a mock up of the site that will include information from the exercise to aid in future training scenarios.
The drill is designed to test emergency response and communication capabilities during an emergency. Officials with EnviroSafe are directing the drill in consultation with officials from Appalachian and the University of North Carolina General Administration.
Area residents and motorists should not be alarmed by increased traffic from law enforcement and emergency response vehicles along Rivers Street and Stadium Drive during the day of the drill.
Law enforcement officers participating in the drill will not carry armed weapons. Participants and observers will be identified by specially colored vests and identification badges. Simulated explosions might be heard during the exercise.
This is the second full-scale emergency exercise conducted at Appalachian. The first, in 2009, simulated an active shooter/hostage situation.
The May 19 drill follows a directive from UNC system President Erskine Bowles that all UNC institutions conduct an emergency exercise this school year.
###
I participated in a similar drill last year on the campus of WCU, playing the part of a reporter. Here are some videos I made in March 2009 during the exercise:
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