Franklin Aldermen Regular June 2016 Meeting

The Franklin Town Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 7 pm for their regular June meeting. Macon Media will be there and will be testing a live stream on Youtube. The video will be embedded below during the meeting.

Included in the agenda are:

A public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 budget will begin at 7: 05 pm and then the board will vote on the proposed budget after the public hearing is closed. A copy of the Town Manager's Budget Message and the proposed budget is included in the agenda packet embedded at the end of this article.

Aldermen will also be hearing a request to close Stewart Street on Saturday, August 6th from 6 pm to 11 pm for the 80's Flashback 8K that will be raising money for the Shriner's Hospital in Greenville, SC.

Another street closing request will be heard to close Main Street for the Folkmoot Parade that is scheduled for July 28th at 4 pm.

The board will also be requested to set a public hearing at 7:05 pm on July 5th (the July meeting of the board) for a Special Use permit Application for an Indoor Gun Range on Carolina Mountain Drive.

The board will also consider appointing Sissy Patillio to the unexpired term of her late husband on the Alcohol Beverage Control Board. 

The last item of business will be a discussion of the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse. A gentleman appeared before the board last month urging the town to market the local area for the upcoming eclipse.

Macon Media notes that all hotel/motel rooms priced below $1,000 a night in the Franklin area have already been booked for that weekend. [Expedia Search]


More details about the eclipse:

The eclipse will take place on Monday, August 21, 2017 and the total solar eclipse will last for 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

The partial phase begins at 1:00 pm.
Totality will begin at 2:35:26
Totality will end at 2:37:56
The partial phase ends at 4:00 pm

Image showing the areas in western North Carolina that will see the total eclipse. The shaded area between the two red lines sow all the places from which the total eclipse will be visible, barring clouds.

A table showing the timing of the eclipse for Main Street and Phillips Street. The times are in Universal Coordinated Time, a system of time used by astronomers, to get the local time for the events, just subtract 4 hours.

A graphic showing in more detail the center line of the eclipse that passes through Macon County.

Here is a video from NASA showing the path of the eclipse. It will be the most viewed eclipse in American history.




The last total solar eclipse to occur in Franklin was on July 20, 1506 and the next one will be on October 17, 2153.

Here is a video of the 2006 total solar eclipse in Libya that is about the same duration as the one we'll be seeing in 2017:




Here are the public agenda and the agenda packet for tonight's meeting:


Town of Franklin Board of Aldermen
Regular Scheduled Meeting
Agenda Monday June 6, 2016 7:00 p.m.


1. Call to Order- Mayor Bob Scott

2. Pledge of Allegiance- Vice Mayor Patti Abel

3. Adoption of the June 6, 2016 Town Board Agenda

4. Approval of the May 2 and May 16, 2016 Town Board minutes

5. Public Hearing 7:05 p.m. for Proposed Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Town of Franklin Budget

6. Public Session

7. New Business

A.) Board Action on Proposed Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Town of Franklin Budget

B.) Street Closing Request for 80's Flashback 8K Race- Town Manager Summer Woodard

C.) Street Closing Request for Folkmoot- Town Manager Summer Woodard

D.) Set Public Hearing for Special Use Permit Application for Indoor Gun Range- Town Manager Summer Woodard

E.) Set Public Hearing for ETJ Boundary Addition- Town Manager Summer Woodard

F.) Budget Amendment- Finance Officer Kyra Doster

G.) Proposed Improvements to Memorial Park- Town Manager Summer Woodard

H.) NCDOT Bridge Project B-5125 Aesthetic Design- Town Manager Summer Woodard

I.) Appointment to the Alcohol Beverage Control Board- Town Manager Summer Woodard

J.) Update on Great American Solar Eclipse- Town Manager Summer Woodard

8. Announcements

A.) Town of Franklin Employee Luncheon will be Friday July 1, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. at Fat Buddies.

B.) Town Hall Offices will be closed Monday July 4, 2016 in observance of Independence Day.

C.) Town of Franklin will be hosting a July 4th celebration downtown Monday July 4th 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.



9. Adjourn

Franklin Aldermen June 2016 Agenda Packet

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Members of the Franklin Garden Club Spend a Saturday Afternoon Beautifying Franklin

Members of the Franklin Garden Club were spotted spending a sunny Saturday afternoon working to beautify the Clock Tower Square, Rankin Square and the Courthouse Square Gazebo with hanging flower pots.

If you see them while you're out and about please thank them for their service to the community!

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Early Voting in Congressional Primary Begins Today Ends Saturday, June 4th at Noon

Early voting in the 2016 Congressional Primary begins today at 8 am and will end at noon on June 4th. Primary election day will be June 7th, and polls will be open from 6:60 am to 7:30 pm.

Voters will need to have Photo ID in order to vote. Learn about the acceptable forms of identification at the North Carolina Voter ID website.

There are two ballots for this election, one for Democrats and one for Libertarians, Republicans and Unaffiliated voters.

On the Democratic ballot, there is a little-reported or acknowledged primary race between Tom Hill and Rick Bryson for Congress. The winner will face Congressman Mark Meadows this fall.

On both the Democratic and Nonpartisan ballots, four candidates are running for Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Here they are presented in the order in which the candidates appear on the ballots: Michael R. (Mike) Morgan, Daniel Robertson, Robert H. (Bob) Edmunds and Sabra Jean Faires.

Here is an election calendar for this primary, courtesy of the Macon County Board of Elections.

2016 ELECTION CALENDAR
CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY JUNE 7, 2016 SCHEDULE 

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*One-stop Voting Begins	Thursday, May 26, 2016 Hours 8-5
One-stop Voting Ends	Saturday, June 4, 2016 Hours 9-1
Last Day to Request an Absentee Ballot by Mail	Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at 5:00 pm
*Last Day to Return an Absentee Ballot by Mail In-Person	Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Congressional Primary Day	Tuesday, June7, 2016 (6:30 am - 7:30 pm)
County Canvass	Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 11:00 am

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*One-Stop Voting is held at the Macon County Courthouse only for this election; hours are May 26-27 (8-5), May 31-June 3 (8-5) & Saturday, June 4 (9-1) All Macon County Polling locations will be open for this election from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.  * If mailed, your ballot will be timely only if the envelope is postmarked on or before June 7, 2016 and received by June 10, 2016.  If you are mailing your ballot on or near the deadline, you should ensure that your container-return envelope is postmarked by a postal official.

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The City Restaurant Seized for Nonpayment of Taxes

Earlier today, the North Carolina Department of Revenue seized the City Restaurant for nonpayment of taxes. More information will be added here as it becomes available.

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NC Wildlife Commission Seeks Public Comment for Periodic Review of 10F and 10H Rules

PRESS RELEASE
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
1701 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1701

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking public comment on classifications of its existing rules for the periodic review process, as required by the General Assembly (150B-21.3A). On April 21, 2016, the Commission approved initial determinations classifying each of its Motorboats and Water Safety rules (15A NCAC 10F) and Regulated Activities rules (15A NCAC 10H) into one of three classifications: (1) unnecessary; (2) necessary with substantive public interest; or (3) necessary without substantive public interest. The initial determination reports for 10F and 10H rules are posted on the agency’s Periodic Rules Review page.   Public comments on these classifications may be submitted from May 16, 2016-August 1, 2016.  Public comments may be submitted online or in writing via the US Postal Service to the following address: Erica Garner NCWRC Periodic Review 1701 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1701   For more information on the periodic review process for the Wildlife Commission or to comment on a rule, visit the agency’s Periodic Rules Review page. A “public comment” is defined by G.S. 150B-21.3A(a)(5) as a written objection to all or part of a rule. Additionally, pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A(c)(2), in order for the Rules Review Commission to determine whether the public comment has merit, the public comment must address the specific content of the rule.

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2016 Law Enforcement Memorial Day Observed in Franklin

Bobby Coggins
Publisher and Editor
MaconMedia.com
May 16, 2016

FRANKLIN - This past Friday, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #81 of Macon and Jackson Counties hosted a ceremony observing Law Enforcement Memorial Day to remember those law enforcement officers who fell in the line of duty in 2015.

Mike Anderson, Deputy Director North Carolina Center for Safer Schools, was the guest speaker.

The officers remembered by the ceremony were:

Fallen North Carolina Police Officers 2015


February 19, 2015
K-9 Mako
Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office

May 21, 2015
Inspector Robert J. Bowling
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles & Theft Bureau



FOP Lodge #81 also remembers the following officers from Western North Carolina


October 3, 2001
Master Trooper Calvin E. Taylor
North Carolina Highway Patrol


May 31, 2003
Senior Trooper Anthony G. Cogdill
North Carolina Highway Patrol


June 17, 2008
Trooper David Shawn Blanton Jr.
North Carolina Highway Patrol


June 28, 2008
Deputy Sheriff Robert “Bob” Killian
Macon County Sheriff’s Office


October 29, 2013
Senior Police Officer Robert A. Bingaman
Asheville Police Department



Video and a photo essay of the ceremony follow.
Click on the images to see them at a larger size, then you may navigate through them using the right and left arrow on your keyboard.

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Over 2,000 Duke energy Customers Out of Service in Clarks Chapel and Cullasaja Communities Restoration Estimated by 8:30 Tonight

Duke Energy reports that 2, 030 of their customers are currently without service in the Clarks Chapel and Cullasaja area indicated on the map included with this post. Restoration is tentative estimated at 8:30 pm this evening.
As always click on the image to embiggen to a larger size.


Franklin Police have just reported a power line down on Fox Ridge Road.
time 5:42 pm on May 14, 2016

Radio Traffic www.MaconScan.com


**6:00 pm** Franklin Police have not been able to locate a downed power line on Fox Ridge Circle.  If any of you know the cause of the outage, let us know in the comments.

**6:20 pm** Duke Energy reports a tree or tree limbs have fallen, taking out the electrical service. Power restoration has been moved up to 7:30 pm. Several readers in the Belleview Road area report their power is back on.

**6:25 pm** This is the tree that was in the road on Fox Ridge Road that sparked the report this was where the outage was originated. Someone has cut and removed the bulk of the tree from the roadway.

**6:30 pm** Duke Energy has restored service to all by 12 customers in the Holly Springs Estate Road area. 12 customers remain without service. Duke estimates the power will be restored by 9:30 pm this evening.

**7:15 pm** Duke Energy has restored service to all customers in Macon County.

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For continuous updates please refer to the facebook post embedded below.

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Regular May 2016 Meeting of the Macon County Commissioners

The Macon County Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6 pm in the Commissioners Boardroom on the third floor of the Macon County Courthouse. This meeting is open to the public.




Supporting documents, including the public agenda and the full agenda packet are posted below for your convenience. 

Macon Media will be streaming video of the meeting live. Follow Macon Media News, Weather and Information on Facebook to check it out. After the meeting is over, video of the meeting will be embedded here.

**update** The meeting lasted over three hours, so it has been divided into three parts to facilitate viewing. The annual budget message from the county manager is in the second video, and will be uploaded as soon as possible.



PART ONE OF THREE



PART TWO OF THREE (BUDGET PRESENTATION)


PART THREE OF THREE



Here are downloadable copies of the Budget Message that was delivered by the County Manager and the proposed budget for the 2016-2017 Fiscal Year.

The 2016-2017 County Managers Budget Message by Bobby Coggins

2016-2017 Proposed Budget by Bobby Coggins

MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

May 10, 2016

AGENDA

1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Corbin
2. Announcements
--A. NCACC Update Video
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. Presentation of the recommended Fiscal Year 2016-17 budget –
County Manager
----(1) Schedule public hearing on the recommended FY 2016-17
budget for Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 6 p.m.
----(2) Schedule time(s) for budget work session(s)
--B. Upcoming total solar eclipse – David Hubbs
--C. Update on Smoky Mountain LME/MCO – Shelly Foreman
10.Old Business
--A. Capital Project Ordinance Amendment/Union Academy and
Highlands School – Finance Director
--B. Cancellation of contract with Shade America – County Manager
11.New Business
--A. Addition of Mountain Breeze Road to the state maintained road
system – County Manager
--B. Lease agreement between Macon County and Bonita Hamstra
for Highlands Road Convenience Center site – County Attorney
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 April 12, 2016 regular meeting and the April 18,
2016 called meeting
--B. Budget Amendments #196-204
--C. Tax Releases
13.Appointments
--A. Social Services Board (1 seat)
--B. Southwestern Community College Board of Trustees (1 seat)
14.Closed session (if necessary)
15.Adjourn/Recess

May 2016 Press Packet for Commissioners Regular Meeting by Bobby Coggins

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Controlled Burn Taking Place Today at County Landfill

Bobby Coggins
Pusher and Editor
MaconMedia.com
May 9, 2016


FRANKLIN, NC -- A controlled burn is taking place today at the Macon County Landfill. The construction company that is building the new new cell of the landfill is burning away debris from their land clearing operation at the location where the new cell of the county landfill will be built. Construction on that cell is expected to be complete by March 2017 and is expected to last several decades.

Macon Media took video and photos of the burn and they are posted below.






Some photos taken of the controlled burn from various locations have been posted below. Click on the images to view them at a larger size. You may also navigate through them be using the right and left arrow key on your keyboard or by swiping the images right and left if you are on a mobile device that uses a touch screen.

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Where to Watch the Transit of Mercury Today

Bobby Coggins
Publisher & Editor
MaconMedia.com
May 9, 2016

FRANKLIN, NC -- A relatively rare transit of Mercury will occur today and the entire event is visible from Franklin, provided you have a telescope and the proper solar filters to watch. The last transit happened on November 8, 2006 and the next one will happen on November 11, 2019.

WARNING: Never look directly at the sun without special equipment.

If you do not have the proper equipment to observe the transit, don't despair. Several amateur astronomer and astronomy-oriented organizations will be streaming the event live online, and links to each event has been included below for your convenience. You will probably have to sign up for a free account in order to observe the event on Livestream unless you watch on a Roku, Apple TV or Fire TV over the set top box.

Sky and Telescope


SLOOH Community Observatory

Sky for All

Griffith Observatory

SC State Museum


2017 Solar Eclipse Information

And, of course the event of several lifetimes will be happening next August as the path of a total solar eclipse will cross Macon County, with the center line passing just south of Nantahala Lake and exiting Macon County near US-441 South at the Georgia line. There are several online resources to assist you in preparing for the event at the links below:

Sky and Telescope 

2017 Solar Eclipse Website (the best one stop resource on the internet)

NASA Eclipse Website (the best place for geeks because it has the data)

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Fire Claims RV on Rose Creek Road

Bobby Coggins
Publisher & Editor
MaconMedia.com
May 3, 2016

FRANKLIN-- Burningtown Fire Department was called out to report of an RV (Recreational Vehicle) that was reported to be fully involved in fire. The caller reported that the RV was within five feet of another trailer. Franklin and Cowee Fire departments were mutual aid on this incident.

The fire took place just north of the intersection of Rose Creek Road and Saldeer Mountain Road. The road was briefly closed to through traffic during the firefighting operation and was quickly reopened. No injuries were reported.

At the time of this post, determination of the cause had not been made by firefighters. Other photos taken at the scene are posted below, beginning with a Google Map image showing the location of the fire.

All these images may be clicked on to view at a larger size. Once the images are full screen, you may navigate back and forth through them using the right and left arrow on your keyboard. If you are on a mobile device, you may navigate through the images by swiping them from side to side.

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