Macon County Board of Commissioners April 2019 Regular Meeting

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6 pm in the Commissioners Boardroom on the third floor of the courthouse. Public access is through the rear entrance from the upper parking lot. A copy of the public agenda and agenda packet has been embedded below and a video of the meeting will be added later after the meeting.

Gavel to Gavel Video

Recorded Version (should be finished processing by noon today 4-10-2019)



Live Version



Roll Call
(a roll call of media outlets and elected critters present at the meeting)

Macon Media

Macon County News and Shopping Guide

WNCC-FM/WFSC-AM

The Franklin Press

Public Agenda


MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
APRIL 9, 2019
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 p.m. - Proposed names for new roads, to assign a range of road numbers in connection with the same, to consider requests for road name changes and to consider a change of range of numbers for certain roads

NOTE: Following the close of the public hearing, the board may take immediate action to amend the county's ordinance concerning road names.

6. Public Comment Period

7. Additions to agenda

8. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

9. Reports/Presentations
A. School-based Health Center Grant Award - Carmine Rocco, Interim Health Director

10. 0ld Business

A. Courthouse security project update - Sheriff Robert Holland

B. Dog park project update - Seth Adams, Parks and Recreation Director


11.New Business

A. County approval to partner on Interact communications venue - Highlands Police Chief Bill Harrell and Simon Hyatt

B. Consideration of resolutions and interlocal agreement regarding Satulah Radio Communications Site - Warren Cabe, Emergency Services Director, and County Attorney

C. Occupancy tax penalty waiver request from Michael and Kristin Koepenick - Courtly Attorney

D. A resolution exempting engineering services for landfill leachate system improvements from general statute provisions - Chris Stahl, Solid Waste Director, and County Attorney

E. Evaluation of convenience center attendant pay - Mr. Stahl

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 Comirnonera.

A. Minutes of the March 12, 2019 regular meeting and the March 19, 2019 special called meeting

B. Budget Amendments 1/174-180

C. Tax Releases for March

D. North Carolina Health Insurance Pool (NCHIP) resolution and interlocal agreement

E. Monthly ad valorem tax report

13.Appointments

A. Library Board (one seat)

14.Closed session (if necessary)

15.Adjourn / Recess



Agenda Packet

April 2019 Regular Meeting ... by on Scribd

Published at 11:00am on Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Updated at 9:07am on 04-10-2019 with video embeds

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County Commissioners Budget Kickoff Meeting for 2019-2020

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting Thursday at noon in the Commissioner's Boardroom on the third floor (accessible via the back parking lot) of the county courthouse at 5 East Main Street. A copy of the public agenda has been posted below for your convenience. A gavel-to-gavel video will be added to this article sometime Friday. Patreon supporters will have access to the video late Thursday night or early Friday morning at Patreon. [LINK]

Previous year's Budget Kickoff Meetings [LINK]

GAVEL-TO-GAVEL VIDEO

placeholder for video

Media Roll Call
(media outlets that have representatives present at the meeting)

to be filled in after the meeting

Elected Critters
(Elected officials not members of this board who were present for the meeting)

to be filled in after the meeting


Macon County Board of Commissioners
February 7, 2019 – 12:00 P.M.
Work Session Agenda
• Welcome
(Jim Tate, Chairman)

• Mid – Year Financial Review
(Lori Hall, Director of Finance)

• 2018 Year in Review and moving forward
(Derek Roland, County Manager)

• Amended Capital Improvement Plan
(Mitch Brigulio, Senior Vice President, Davenport and Company)

• 2019 Revaluation Updates
(Richard Lightner, Tax Administrator)

• Courthouse Security Updates
(Sheriff Robert Holland, Chief Superior Court Judge William Coward)

• FY 18-19’ School System topics for discussion
(Dr. Chris Baldwin, Superintendent, Macon County Schools)

• Fire Safety Training Facility Updates
(Dr. Don Tomas, President, Southwestern
Community College)

• Presentation of Budget Calendar
(Derek Roland, County Manager)

• Goals and Expectations for FY 19-20'
(Board of Commissioners)


Agenda Packet

None as of publication

Scanned or digital copies of documents presented during the meeting will be added later.


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.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present




Become a Patron!
If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.

Published at 1:35 am on February 3, 2019

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Franklin Town Council Regular Meeting for February 2019

The Franklin Town Council will be meeting tonight at 6 pm in the lower level of the town hall at 95 East Main Street. A copy of the public agenda and the agenda packet have been posted below for your convenience. A gavel-to-gavel video will be added to this article sometime Tuesday afternoon. Patreon supporters will have access to the video early Tuesday morning at Patreon. [LINK]

DAY SPONSOR

Carrion Tree Service is underwriting Macon Media for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.

Their phone number is 371-4718.

They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.


GAVEL-TO-GAVEL VIDEO


Media Roll Call
(media outlets that have representatives present at the meeting)

Macon Media
WNCC-FM/WFSC-AM
The Smoky Mountain News
The Franklin Press
Macon County News and Shopping Guide


Town of Franklin Council Meeting
Agenda
February 4, 2019 | 6:00 p.m.


1. Call to Order - Mayor Bob Scott
2. Pledge of Allegiance - Vice Mayor Barbara McRae
3. Approval of the January 7, 2019 Town Council Minutes
4. Adoption of the February 4, 2019 Town Council Agenda
5. Public Hearing 6:05 p.m. for Tasting Room
6. Public Session

7. New Business
A.) Board Action on Tasting Room - Town Council
B.) Proclamation for Hunger Awareness - First United Methodist Church Youth Group
C.) Proclamation for Rotary International - Mayor Bob Scott
D.) Budget Amendments - Finance Officer Kyra Doster
E.) Tax Refunds - Town Manager Summer Woodard
F.) Set Public Hearing for Multi-Tenant Sign Ordinance - Land Use Administrator Justin Setser
G.) Forward Unified Development Ordinance Amendment Regarding Construction of Driveways to the Town Planning Board - Land Use Administrator Justin Setser will present this item.
H.) Street Closing Request for 2019 - Town Manager Summer Woodard
I.) Set Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Town of Franklin Budget Schedule - Town Manager Summer Woodard
J.) Discussion on Chapter 75 Parking Schedules - Land Use Administrator Justin Setser
K.) Update on Greenway Connection Project - Town Manager Summer Woodard
L.) Re-Appointment of Janet Greene to the Town Planning Board - Land Use Administrator Justin Setser
M.) Re-Appointment of Denton Higdon to the Town Planning Board - Land Use Administrator Justin Setser
N.) Re-Appointment of Susie Ledford to the Town Planning Board - Land Use Administrator Justin Setser
O.) Franklin Fire Department Grant for Volunteer Fire Assistance Program - Fire Chief Matt Breedlove and Town Manager Summer Woodard
P.) Amendment to the Town of Franklin Personnel Policy Regarding General Leave and Holiday Pay - Human Resource Director Travis Tallent
Q.) Discussion on Town of Franklin Employee Evaluation Policy - Town Manager Summer Woodard and Human Resource Director Travis Tallent
R.) Discussion on Town Liaisons - Council Member David Culpepper
S.) Discussion on Town of Franklin Consent Agenda - Town Manager Summer Woodard
8. Adjourn

Agenda Packet

FTC 20190204 Agenda Packet by 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.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present



Become a Patron!
If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.

Published at 12:56 am on February 4, 2019

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Meeting Excerpt: Franklin Town Council Blue Zone Presentation by Sallie Taylor

Sallie Taylor presented information about the Blue Zones Project to the Franklin Town Council at their regular meeting for January 2019. The above video is the entire presentation and exchange with the board. The goal of the presentation was to get the members of the Franklin Town Council to attend a presentation currently scheduled for the end of June.

Presentation on Blue Zones by Sallie Taylor
Recorded by Macon Media on Jan 7, 2019
Runtime: 25 minutes 19 seconds

The Franklin Town Council held their regular meeting for the month of January 2019 on January 7th in the town hall. This is an excerpt from that meeting, featuring a presentation on Blue Zones by Sallie Taylor.

Here is the text, translated by Optical Character Recognition software that converted the scanned image provided in the meeting agenda into a searchable document.

THE BLUE ZONES®

Blue Zones® are places where people live measurably longer, happier lives with lower rates of chronic diseases and a higher quality of life. Scientists found five Blue Zones in different parts of the world, and Dan Buettner documented these findings in his New York Times best-selling book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest. Physically, socially, and emotionally these people are living their lives longer and better.

This research, coupled with an eight-year worldwide longevity study, has been used to develop tools and programs that help people live longer, healthier, and happier lives by optimizing their surroundings to best replicate the nine principles the Power 9® observed in the original Blue Zones areas. This public-private collaboration around a common approach makes the Blue Zones Project® initiative unique. Blue Zones Project deploys a unifying campaign that drives permanent changes by engaging the business community (employers, grocery stores, restaurants), government entities, non-profits, schools, the faith-based community, the media, and individual citizens.

The Blue Zones Project approach to improved well-being is to enhance the environment within critical sectors of the community by implementing evidence-based best practices. Coupled with an extensive community engagement and marketing program and active support from civic and faith-based leaders, Blue Zones Project drives heightened awareness, support, tools, and programs for individuals and community organizations to improve well-being.

To date, forty-two communities in nine states (including Ft. Worth, Texas, and Naples. Florida) have undertaken this process with varying time frames for implementation. The longest-tenured community is in its seventh year of involvement in the Project and implementation of the model. Blue Zones Project is a long-term initiative designed to drive value over a 3-7 year period, depending on the size of the community.

TIE BLUE ZONES PROJECT DIFFERENCE

Blue Zones Project takes a unique, systematic approach to improving well-being focusing on our "life radius." By optimizing the settings where we routinely spend our time, we make healthy choices easier and naturally adopt healthier behaviors together as a community.

PEOPLE

We engage people to optimize their homes and social environments with the Personal Pledge; provide opportunities to discover their purpose; facilitate volunteer experiences to connect with community, and offer programs that deliver support through healthy social networks.

PLACES

We orchestrate a critical mass of worksites, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, and faith-based organizations across the community to optimize environments toward healthy living. By working together to make permanent or semi-permanent changes, healthy choices become the easy choices to make in all the places people live, work, learn, and play.

POLICY

We work with city leaders to suggest evidence-based best practices to impact food policy, tobacco policy, and the built environment. By improving community infrastructure and public policies, we maximize residents' abilities to move naturally, connect socially, access healthy food, and improve quality of life.

A PARTNERSHIP THAT PAYS OFF

1. Measurably increase well-being as quantified by Gallup: The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index® is the gold standard of population health. This project aims to measure and statistically improve well-being, annually reporting that well-being to stakeholders and media.

2. Lower healthcare costs: Blue Zones Project measurably lowers smoking rates and average BMI, while increasing physical activity and healthy eating, which results in lower healthcare and claims costs. 

3. Improve productivity: People with higher well-being cost less and perform better. Blue Zones Project works with employers, organizations, and worksites to make tangible and measurable changes to their environment, thus supporting and improving well-being.

4. Position your company as an innovator and leader in preventive health: Blue Zones Project has a strong reputation for generating local and national press for marshaling innovation, creating healthier environments, and attracting visitors and businesses to communities.

5. Attract grants: Blue Zones Project work meets criteria for dozens of national, state, and local grants. Our demonstration communities have been extremely successful in attracting grants for healthier schools, built environments, food policy, active living, and other community development opportunities.

6. Improve the living environment for the long run: With a focus on sustainable environmental and social change, our programs draw from more than two hundred evidence-based interventions designed to break down silos, maximize collective impact, and yield benefits long after our tenure in the community.

7. Boost economic vitality: Blue Zones Project has been shown to attract new businesses to the area, increase the tax base, drive economic development, increase property values, generate new housing starts, and attract grants, gifts, and funding.

THE POWER 9®: Nine healthy lifestyle habits shared by people who've lived the longest

1. Move naturally

The world's longest-lived people don't pump iron, run marathons or join gyms. Instead, they live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it. They grow gardens and don't have mechanical conveniences for house and yard work.

2. Purpose

The Okinawans call it "Ikigai" and the Nicoyans call it "plan de vida;" for both it translates to "why I wake up in the morning." Knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to seven years of extra life expectancy.

3. Down Shift

Even people in the Blue Zones experience stress. Stress leads to chronic inflammation, associated with every major age-related disease. What the world's longest-lived people have that we don't are routines to shed that stress. Okinawans take a few moments each day to remember their ancestors, Adventists pray, Ikarians take a nap and Sardinians do happy hour.

4. 80% Rule

"Ham hachi bu" the Okinawan, 2500-year old Confucian mantra said before meals reminds them to stop eating when their stomachs are 80 percent full. The 20% gap between not being hungry and feeling full could be the difference between losing weight or gaining it. People in the Blue Zones eat their smallest meal in the late afternoon or early evening and then they don't eat any more the rest of the day.

5. Plant Slant

Beans, including Cava, black, soy and lentils, are the cornerstone of most centenarian diets. Meat mostly pork is eaten on average only five times per month. Serving sizes are 3-4 oz., about the size of deck or cards.

6. Wine @ 5

People in all Blue Zones (except Adventists) drink alcohol moderately and regularly. Moderate drinkers outlive non-drinkers. The trick is to drink 1.2 glasses per day (preferably Sardinian Cannonau wine), with friends and/or with food. And no, you can't save up all weekend and have 14 drinks on Saturday.

7. Belong

All but five of the 263 centenarians we interviewed belonged to some faith-based community. Denomination doesn't seem to matter. Research shows that attending faith-based services four times per month will add 4-14 years of life expectancy.

8. Loved Ones First

Successful centenarians in the Blue Zones put their families first. This means keeping aging parents and grandparents nearby or in the home (It lowers disease and mortality rates of children in the home too.). They commit to a life partner (which can add up to 3 years of life expectancy) and invest in their children with time and love (They'll be more likely to care for you when the time comes).

9. Right Tribe

The world's longest-lived people chose—or were born into—social circles that supported healthy behaviors, Okinawans created "moais"—groups of five friends that committed to each other for life. Research from the Framingham Studies shows that smoking, obesity, happiness, and even loneliness are contagious. So the social networks of long-lived people have favorably shaped their health behaviors.

INITIAL EFFORTS

Initial efforts are underway to measure community interest in pursuing the Blue Zones initiative as set out by their comprehensive development plan. Phase I in this initiative is a Community Leadership Presentation for which key stakeholders and community leaders are being identified and contacted within Highlands, Cashiers, Sylva and Franklin. The purpose of the presentation is to educate, inform and inspire these stakeholders with Blue Zones Project (BZP) research and value, gauge leadership commitment and support to pursue BZP in the community. This presentation has been funded by a private individual. If community leaders are in mutual agreement, then Phase 2, the Community Development Process, would start



Meeting coverage Ends

---

Additional Information about Blue Zones

Below is a video from TED-Ed of Dan Buettner [Wikipedia] giving a presentation in 2013 about his Blue Zones [Wikipedia]. [Blue Zone Website]

Video TED-Ed "How to live to be 100+ featuring Dan Buettner

Description: To find the path to long life and health, Dan Buettner and team study the world's "Blue Zones," communities whose elders live with vim and vigor to record-setting age. In his talk, he shares the 9 common diet and lifestyle habits that keep them spry past age 100. (Filmed at TEDxTC.)

Talk by Dan Buettner.




Below is a recent video from the Blue Zones Project highlighting Fort Worth Texas.

Video Blue Zones Project - Fort Worth
Published on Dec 3, 2018

Fort Worth, Texas, is now a certified BLUE ZONES Community®, the biggest in the country. But the bigger news is we’re also BETTER. Since 2014, Fort Worth has undergone a neighborhood by neighborhood transformation, improving well-being through permanent changes to our built environment, policy, and social networks. More than 400 organizations and 88,000 people joined the movement to make it happen.



Below is a video from The Aspen Institute

Video Blue Zones: Secrets of a Long Life
Published by The Aspen Institute on Mar 1, 2016

Presented by the Murdock Mind, Body, Spirit Series. Featuring Tony Buettner, national spokesperson and senior vice president of business development at Blue Zones, an organization that puts the learnings of the world's longest-lived people to work in cities and communities across the country. As the lead on all Blue Zones Community projects, Tony helps build partnerships between state agencies, community leaders, and employers to bring health and longevity initiatives to each community’s citizens.


And one more presentation by Dan Buettner at another location in 2016

Video Dan Buettner: Blue Zones: The Secrets of a Long Life
Published by St. Luke's Wood River Foundation on Aug 6, 2015


What People are Saying or Reporting About the Blue Zones

Slide Share "Secrets from the Blue Zones" [LINK]

Macleans "How ‘blue zones’ offer secrets for long lives and shorter ones, too" [LINK]

Mission.org on Medium "What’s the Truth About the Blue Zones?" [LINK]

Post and Courier "An expensive wellness project is moving forward in Charleston. But cost and funding are a secret." [LINK]

Scientific American "Blue Zones: What the Longest-Lived People Eat (Hint: It’s Not Steak Dinners)" [LINK]

News-Press "Blue Zones' Buettner explores longevity" [LINK]

STATIN NATION "Did Dan Buettner make a Mistake with his Blue Zones?" [LINK]

The New American "U.S. Communities Targeted for "Blue Zone" Social Engineering" [LINK]

New York Times "My Dinner With Longevity Expert Dan Beuttner (No Kale Required)" [LINK]

The Guardian "Ethical questions raised in search for Sardinian centenarians' secrets" [LINK]

Food Science Institute "What is the Blue Zones Project?" [LINK]

The Atlantic "The Next Gluten: Plant proteins called lectins are an emerging source of confusion and fear" [LINK] 

NPR "Can 'Blue Zones' Help Turn Back the Biological Clock?" [LINK]



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.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present

Become a Patron!
If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.


Published at 12:01 am on January 9, 2019

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Live Blog of Weather Event on December 28, 2018

This is a copy of information shared during the flooding event of December 28, 2018.




OPEN THREAD
FLOODING EVENT
7:45 am on Friday, 12-28-2018

This is an open thread for members of the community to receive and share information in one spot about hazardous conditions in the community.

Feel free to ask questions and answer questions if you know the answer. If you take photos or video during this event, please do so in a safe manner. Feel free to post those here as well.

For those with scanners, you can hear the Macon County Fire Departments on 453.350 Mhz (Dispatch), 453.025 Mhz (called TAC) and the Sheriff Office on 453.3125 Mhz.

The NC Highway Patrol can be heard online at oadcastify.com/listen/feed/28692/web NCSHP Cars that are in Jackson County are typically run under the callsign G-630 thru G-636

Listening to public safety traffic can give you an idea of what locations to avoid if you must get out and about today.

Please drive safe, turn on your headlights so other motorists can see you and don't follow other motorists so close you can't react if they start hydroplaning or get in an accident.

Please be safe, be kind, and help each other out if someone asks for information that you know.

Thanks to Old Castle, our sponsor, without whom this coverage would not be possible.

WEATHER SPONSOR

Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing and public safety updates for the month. They have all your masonry products (block, mortars, tools), plus feature Belgrade Pavers and Sakrete Products. Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC.

Visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

Their phone number is 828.524.8545, all are welcome, let them help you with your next project.

**********************************
LIVE BLOG will be posted in reverse chronological order below this point.
**********************************

**2:38pm** Command has requested an update on the arrival of NCDOT Crew with sand for the road. They're about to remove the second vehicle from the roadway.

**1:47pm** WLOS has posted about the accident at https://wlos.com/news/local/crews-on-scene-of-a-fatal-collision-in-macon-county



**1:38pm** The trooper has requested two wreckers respond to this accident on Sanderstown Road.

**1:30pm**

Flood Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1245 PM EST FRI DEC 28 2018

NCC113-290545-
/O.EXT.KGSP.FA.W.0073.000000T0000Z-181229T0545Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Macon NC-
1245 PM EST FRI DEC 28 2018

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has extended the

* Flood Warning for...
Macon County in western North Carolina...

* Until 1245 AM EST Saturday.

* At 1239 PM EST, automated gages indicated the Little Tennessee River continuing to rise at Otto and Franklin, nearing flood stage. Though the heaviest rain has ended, with soils having become saturated across the Little Tennessee watershed, excessive runoff will continue. Thus, the river and its smaller tributaries including Cartoogechaye Creek will continue to rise. Flooding eventually is expected to develop.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Franklin, Highlands, Nantahala Lake, Ellijay, Burningtown, Kyle, Otto, Rainbow Springs, Wayah Bald and Cowee.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring. All interested parties should take necessary precautions immediately.

Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Do not attempt to cross water-covered roadways, bridges, or low-level crossings. Only a few inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away your vehicle. It is not worth the risk. Please TURN AROUND, DON`T DROWN.
**1:04pm** Map added to aid motorists in avoiding the traffic congestion. Please find an alternate way to your destination.

**12:34pm** This is a very serious accident. The road is blocked and will be closed for some time. Detour around this location. The Sheriff Office will be blocking the road.

**12:31pm** Macon County EMS and Franklin Fire Department are responding to a two car accident with injury near Sanderstown Road near Thompson Road. One car may be about to catch on fire.


**11:08am** NC-106 (Dillard Rd.), Both Directions
Near SR-1620 (Turtle Pond Rd)
Road Closed with Detour due to flooding.


**10:55am* Otto Firefighters have successfully removed two residents from a home on KT or KD Lane. All firefighters are out of the water.

**10:20am** The heavier rains will be clearing out in the next hour or two. Rivers will still rise for a few hours after that, so please continue to exercise cation on the roadways and monitor waterways near your homes.


**9:28am** Burningtown Firefighters report Needmore Road has flooded.

**9:07am** Here is a look at the water gauge at Riverside Road as of 9:07am



**9:05am** Otto Firefighters have been dispatched to prepare for evacuations. Keep them and those they'll be evacuating in your thoughts and prayers.

**8:57am** The Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland has issued a Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion concerning the potential for havy rain over our region today. Map and text follows:

Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion 1075
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
854 AM EST Fri Dec 28 2018

Areas affected...Northern GA...Western NC...Southwest VA...Eastern KY

Concerning...Heavy rainfall...Flash flooding possible

Valid 281354Z - 281854Z

Summary...Widespread moderate to locally heavy rainfall over saturated soils could lead to flooding across the area through this afternoon, especially over sensitive locations in low lying areas.

Discussion...Broad southwest flow aloft has continued to surge a plume of highly anomalous moisture into the southern and central Appalachians, evident by the blended GPS product showing PWATs 1.2-1.3" as far north as southwest VA. This should continue to advect northward into the afternoon hours. A mesoanalysis showed MUCAPE of 500 J/kg extending as far north toward the NC/VA border. 850 mb flow remains strong (40-50 kts) with some upslope component that should favor rainfall across the terrains areas. With these ingredients in place, widespread moderate to locally heavy rainfall is likely to continue into the afternoon.

Soils are extremely saturated given 24-hr rainfall totals as high as 2-4" across portions of the southern/central Appalachians. 14-day departures from normal are running 200-400 percent of normal.

Radar imagery shows pockets of hourly rates exceeding 0.5", which is likely to initiate problems for sensitive and low-lying areas. Hi-res models show the potential for additional amounts of 1-2" with some local amounts as high as 3" possible in some of the favored upslope areas.

As a result, flooding is possible across much of the southern and central Appalachians into the afternoon hours.



**8:33am** From a reader: "please inform followers that the Sylva side of Cowee Mtn. on the curve at the hotel to please be careful! A lot of moving water on the road and is dangerous! Please drive slowly to avoid hydroplaning"


**8:30am** Here is a look at the Cartoiogechaye Creek water gauge at the Belden Circle Bridge behind the Super Ingles.



Latitude 35°09'32", Longitude 83°23'39" NAD83
Macon County, North Carolina, Hydrologic Unit 06010202
Drainage area: 57.1 square miles
Datum of gage: 2,017.18 feet above NGVD29.


**8:24am** Cullasaja Firefighters have blocked off River Road near their fire station due to flooding.

**8:12am** A reader has reported flooding in the fields along the Georgia Road (US-441).



**8:05am** Since I posted the water gauge at Iotla Bridge, the gauge at Riverside Road in Otto has now reached action stage. If you live nearby, you should check to see if your property or home is in danger of flooding. If so, please move to higher ground.



Here are some historic crests at that location:


(1) 12.42 ft on 01/17/2013
(2) 11.78 ft on 03/06/2011
(3) 11.72 ft on 10/15/2014
(4) 11.68 ft on 01/30/2013
(5) 11.18 ft on 12/01/2010
(6) 9.60 ft on 05/05/2013
(7) 7.08 ft on 10/27/2010
(8) 6.14 ft on 09/18/2012









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.

Patreon Subscriber History May 2014 to Present

Become a Patron!
If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media. Early price deals end December 31st. All new sponsors beginning Jan 1st or later, are subject to increasing prices in the future while that sponsored before December 31st, 2018, get lifetime low rates and other rewards for early sponsorship when new Macon Media platforms are launched.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.


Published at 3:55 am on December 28, 2018

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Daily Weather Briefing for Tuesday, December 11, 2018

SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR DECEMBER 11th

Macon County

Franklin and Nantahala Districts will be on a two-hour delay today with an optional teacher workday. A final decision will be made at 7 am.

Highlands School will be closed. This will be an optional workday for faculty & staff.

Jackson County

All districts are closed today with an optional teacher workday.

DAY SPONSOR

Carrion Tree Service is underwriting Macon Media for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal,
view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.

Their phone number is 371-4718.

They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.


Christmas Eve Caroling at the Christmas Tree



Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MaconIssues/permalink/2168889639838218/

Winter Storm of December 8th-10th

A winter storm hit Macon County from December 8th to December 10th. While the now totals in most of the county were nothing to write home about, there was significant freezing rain and icing that brought down thousands of trees on area roadways and power lines. At the peak outage time on December 9th, there were just over 8,000 Maconians without electrical service. Power restoration to all residents is expected by sometime Thursday, December 13th.



Click the above image to see a larger version of the snowfall totals from the Winter Storm of December 8th through December 10th.

Macon Media maintained a live blog and open threads on Facebook during the storm for the 8th, 9th, and 10th.

8th
LIVE-BLOG [LINK]
Facebook [LINK]

9th
LIVE-BLOG [LINK]
Facebook [LINK]

10th
LIVE-BLOG [LINK]
Facebook  [LINK]



Outlook

High pressure spreads back over our region from the west and then moves off the coast on Thursday. Another significant low-pressure system will develop to our west and bring more widespread precipitation to the region by the end of the work week and into the weekend.


THREE DAY GFS FORECAST
This animated image shows a forecast of precipitation, air pressure and thickness level (cold-air damming) for three days in six-hour increments.
Green, Yellow, and Red indicate rain. Orange and Purple Indicate Freezing Rain or other freezing precipitation. Blue indicates snow.

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WEATHER SPONSOR



Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your with your next project.

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Weather Hazards

Black Ice is expected to form on area roadways this morning. Please use extreme caution if you need to venture out before temperatures rise above freezing. Be careful when driving on secondary and tertiary roads as there are still trees on some roads.

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WEATHER FORECAST MAPS

Forecast maps for 7 am, 1 pm, and 7 pm.
[click on any image in this article to enlarge]

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FRANKLIN AREA FORECAST

Today

Sunny, with a high in the upper 40s. Calm winds rising to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around the lower 20s. Winds out of the north 3 to 5 mph.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near the upper 40s. Calm winds.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Calm winds.

Thursday

A 20 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near the mid-to-upper 40s.

Thursday Night

Rain likely, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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OTTO AREA FORECAST

Today

Sunny, with a high in the upper 40s. Winds out of the north around 5 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 25. Winds out of the north around 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high in the upper 40s. Light and variable winds.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around freezing. Calm winds.

Thursday

A 20 percent chance of rain after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45.

Thursday Night

Rain, mainly after 8pm. Low in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

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HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST

Today

Sunny, with a high near the lower 40s. Winds out of the northwest wind around 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 25. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high in the lower 40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Winds out of the southwest around 5 mph.

Thursday

A 20 percent chance of rain after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high in the lower 40s.

Thursday Night

Rain before 5am, then rain and snow. The rain and snow could be heavy at times. Low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

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NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST

Today

Sunny, with a high in the low-to-mid 40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 25. Winds out of the west wind around 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph shifting to come out of the southwest in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around freezing. Winds out of the southwest wind around 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday

A 20 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45.

Thursday Night

Rain, mainly after 8pm. Low in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

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Macon County Almanac for December 11, 2018

Highest Temperature 73°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2007
Lowest Temperature 2°F in Highlands in 1917
Greatest Rainfall 2.90 inches in Highlands in 1983
Greatest Snowfall 7.2 inches in Franklin in 1876

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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!
If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.

Published at 3:07 am on December 11, 2018

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Winter Storm Live Blog for December 8, 2018

This thread is mainly provided to serve as a backup in case Facedbook goes down and to archive a record of events that take place during this storm.

Up to date information will be posted primarily on Facebook [LINK] and this article will be updated as time allows.



Carolina Crusher
OPEN THREAD #1
December 8, 2018
10:00 am

Roads may become hazardous today and tonight, so please choose where you want to be for this thing and get there before around noonish or so. Roads may be okay for most of the day, but you should err on the side of caution.

Feel free to share your observations in the comments below and ask about conditions, someone may know.

Please be kind to one another.

For those who missed the daily briefing for today, you can check it out at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2018/12/wx20181208.html for more details.

SAFETY TIPS AND HELPFUL NON-EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Remember to NEVER touch downed power lines.

Here is a Reminder of Helpful Phone Numbers:

Non-emergency reports: 369-9116
Highway Patrol Dispatch: 1-800-445-1772
Franklin Police: 524-2864
Highlands Police: 526-9431
Animal Control: 349-2106
Sheriff's Office: 349-2104

HOW TO REPORT AN ELECTRICAL OUTAGE

Duke Energy

Call 800.769.3766 or in Spanish 866.4.Apagón (866.427.2466).

If you see a fallen power line or safety hazard, call Duke Energy at 800.Power.On (800.769.3766) or in Spanish 866.4.Apagón (866.427.2466) or contact your local emergency services immediately. Do not touch a power line or anything in contact with it and keep others away until help arrives.

Haywood EMC

To report or inquire about power outages, call 1-800-951-6088

Here is a weather radar widget to help you monitor conditions and forecasts. Click on the map to get information about specific locations.



#FranklinNC #WNCscan #MaconWx #MaconTraffic

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Coverage like this would not be possible without sponsors. Please support them.

WEATHER SPONSOR

Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing and public safety updates for the month. They have all your masonry products (block, mortars, tools), plus feature Belgrade Pavers and Sakrete Products. Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC.

Visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

Their phone number is 828.524.8545, all are welcome, let them help you with your next project.

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STORM COVERAGE BEGINS HERE IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER (NEWEST ON TOP)
.
.
.
**5:30pm** A look at the Town of Highlands webcam. [LINK]




**5:25pm** Macon County EMS and Highlands Fire Department are responding to a report of an accident with injuries at 636 Franklin Road near August Produce. 

**5:22pm** Local Storm Report

Time: 2018-12-08T21:45:00Z UTC
Event: 1.0 SNOW
Source: TRAINED SPOTTER
LOcation: Lakemont, GA

Remark: 2200 FEET ELEVATION

**5:18pm** Scaly Mountain has been dispatched to a report of an accident on Dillard Road .just south of the Osage Overlook.

**5:13pm** Scaly Mountain Fire Department is responding to a report of a stranded motorist, possibly stuck near Dillard Road Road and King Gap Road. Firefighters advised to use caution, the road is very slick.

**4:16pm** Cowee Firefighters are clearing a tree that has fallen onto Mason Branch Road.

**3:33pm** NCDOT is enroute to Horse Cove Rod to apply material to the road surface at the request of Highlands truck #1256

**2:53pm** The Highlands Fire chief has requested members to start putting chains on the trucks.

**1:43pm** Engine 11 has arrived at the fire, reports the fire is out. One patient is on the ground with burns. Response of fire units has been cut to routine traffic

**1:40pm** Macon EOC advises the closest water (Mtn Springs Road Fire) point is a hydrant in front of Watauga Creek at US-441 and Setser Branch Road. Command has assigned Otto the water point.


Please be on the lookout for firefighters on the side of the road in that area.

**1:36pm** There is a report of a working structure fire (motorhome), including an explosion and injury on Mountain Springs Road.

Clarks Chapel Fire Department and Macon County EMS are responding with Squad 4, Franklin and Otto Fire Departments providing mutual aid assistance.

**1:30pm** This is a blog-only feature for those of you following the live blog.

Webcam Crawl

Here are some area webcams to monitor the progress of the snow during the next couple of days.

Macon County

Franklin

--DNET and SiteDart Hosting Webcams [LINK]
(Macon County Courthouse, Franklin Plaza looking east, Clarks Chapel looking northwest, and Flowers Gap looking southwest)

Highlands

--Town of Highlands [LINK]
(Main Street and Big Bear Pen Mountain looking toward Whiteside Mountain)

Jackson County

Sylva

--The Sylva Heral [LINK]
(Main Street looking toward the Old Courthouse)

Webster

--Southwestern Community College [LINK]
(Campus Quad and Myers Auditorium. The Campus Drive Camera is down)

Cullowhee

--Western Carolina University [LINK]
(Universirty Center Lawn looking toward the tower)

Balsam Gap

--Blue Ridge Parkway [LINK]
(looking toward US-74. This camera has a cool timelapse feature)

Swain County

--Bryson City [LINK]
(two cameras that move on their own. Great resolution)

--Nantahala Outdoor Center [LINK]
(a view of the Nantahala River)

Haywood County

--Pisgah Inn [LINK]
(a scenic view from the Pisgah Inn)




**1:00pm** Traffic Apps are starting to show traffic is slowing on the Highlands Road in the Cullasaja Gorge. It is possible that it is now snowing and may be impacting traffic along that stretch of road. If you're planning on traveling that road in the next few hours, please exercise extreme caution. (Red, Orange and Yellow indicate slower than normal traffic)



**12:48[pm** Scaly Mountain Fire chief has requested firefighters to come put chains on their fire trucks.

**12:16pm** Macon County EMS (Highlands Base) and Scaly Mountain Fire Department arer esponding to a fall injury on Westside Duck Mountain Road. An ambulance from the Franklin EMS Base is being shifted to cover calls in the Highlands District.

**12:06pm** Governor Roy Cooper speaks about the coming storm.



**11:43am** Franklin Fire Department and Macon County EMS are responding to a medical call off Harrison Avenue.

**11:08am** RADAR showing the progress of the storm.



**10:38am** The response of Otto Firefighters not already on the scene (Structure Fire off Carolina Street in Dillard) has been canceled.

**10:36am** Radar Loop from Weather Underground of the last several hours.



**10:23am** Mutual aid and EMS for this incident (Cotton Road Fire) has been canceled.

**10:17am** Response of mutual aid departments (Cotton Road Fire) has been cut to routine traffic

**10:10am** Franklin FIre Department is responding to a possible electrical fire in a resident on Cotton Road (off Lyle Knob Road).
Mountain Valley and Cowee Fire Departments are providing mutual aid response.



**10:04am** Otto Fire Department has been dispatched to provide mutual aid assistance to Station #5 in Rabun County to a working structure fire off Carolina Street in Dillard, Georgia.

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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!
If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.

Published at 10:00 am on December 8, 2018

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Agenda Packet for the November 5, 2018 Meeting of the Franklin Town Council

**UPDATE** 2:06 am on November 6, 2018. Here is the gavel to gavel video of the meeting.







The Franklin Town Council will be having their regular monthly meeting Monday, November 5, 2018, in the lower level of the town hall at 6 pm. The public agenda and agenda packet are posted below in order to promote transparency in local government.


DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by the Giles for Sheriff Campaign.

A Chili & Soup Dinner with Eric Giles will be taking place at the Nantahala Community Center on Thursday, November 1, 2018, at 5 PM – 7 PM. [LINK]

For more information on the campaign, please visit the following:

Facebook: [LINK]

Website: [LINK]



Public Agenda


Franklin Town Council
Agenda
November 5, 2018
6:00 pm

I. Call to Order- Mayor Bob Scott

2. Pledge of Allegiance- Vice Mayor Barbara McRae

3. Approval of the October 1, 2018 Town Council Minutes

4. Adoption of the November 5, 2018 Town Council Agenda

5. Public Hearing 6:05 p.m. for the Proposed Economic Development Agreement for Project Wayah

6. Public Session

7. New Business
A.) Board Action on Proposed Economic Development Agreement for Project Wayah- Town Attorney John Henning Jr.
B.) Street Closing Request for Franklin Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade- Linda Harbuck
C.) Street Closing Request for Ruby Drop- Tim Crabtree
D.) Set Public Hearing for Re-Zoning Petition for Hendon Properties- Land Use Administrator Justin Setser
E.) Re-Appointment of Andrew Raby to the Town Planning Board- Land Use Administrator Justin Setser
F.) Re-Appointment of Tom Harris to the Town Planning Board- Land Use Administrator Justin Setser
G.) Discussion on Town of Franklin Travel Policy- Town Manager Summer Woodard and Human Resource Director Travis Tallent
H.) Discussion on Letter of Support for the Town of Highlands US 64 Truck Route Restrictions- Mayor Bob Scott
I.) Discussion on Blue Zones Project- Mayor Bob Scott
J.) Discussion on Alcohol Beverage Control Board- Council Member David Culpepper

8. Legal
A.) Discussion on Lazy Hiker Lease Agreement- Town Attorney John Henning Jr. and Town Manager Summer Woodard
B.) Closed Session for Discussion on Economic Development Incentives, N.C.G.S. 143-318 (a) (4)

9. Announcements
A.) Veterans Day and Ceremony will be Monday November 12, 2018 at 10:30 a.m.
B.) Town Hall Offices will be closed Monday November 12, 2018 in observance of Veterans Day
C.) Town Hall Offices will be closed Thursday November 22, 2018 and Friday November 23, 2018 for Thanksgiving
D.) Winter Wonderland will be Saturday November 24th and Saturday December 1st, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

10. Adjournment


Agenda Packet

FTC Agenda Packet 11-05-2018 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.



Become a Patron!
If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.

Published at 3:00 pm on November 1, 2018

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