By Mac Isaacs 
Contributing Writer

To make it easier to affect administrative changes in the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund, the Town Board instructed Town attorney, Bill Coward to seek repeal of the North Carolina legislation (Senate Bill 626 {1975}) authorizing the Fund. The instructions further included amending the Town’s charter to include this fund, making it easier to affect any changes.

The Town established the Scholarship Fund in 1975 to assist graduates of Highlands School in their post high school education. At the request of the Town, the General Assembly enacted a local bill to sanction the program and to provide the basic guidelines for the administration of the program.

The proposal, presented by Coward, included the repeal of the Bill, amendment of the Town Charter and some revisions to the guidelines for the Program. Considerable discussion ensued concerning criteria used by the Scholarship Fund Committee to determine the amount of each scholarship awarded.

Patrick Taylor, resident, retired college professor and father of a former recipient of the scholarship objected to the use of college major and rigors of proposed curriculum in determining the amount of the scholarship. Commissioner John Dotson suggested making each scholarship a flat fee equal amount instead of an amount based on academic achievement (grades, test scores, extra-curricula activities), need, major and curriculum. Mayor David Wilkes said it must be determined whether the scholarship would be a reward for success or an equal reward for everyone who graduated.

Eventually the Board voted unanimously to instruct the Town attorney to seek to have the Bill repealed and to amend the Town Charter. Decisions about determining scholarship amount and make-up of the committee would be continued to a later date.

Other actions at the Jan. 20 Town Board meeting included:

- The Police Dept. Activity Report included 56 alarm activations, many of which were false. Commissioner John Dotson expressed concern and stated that many injuries occurred when police responded to false alarms. Currently residents are billed $25 for the second false alarm. Bill Harrell, chief of police, said he would research to determine if that amount was sufficient.

- The mayor reported meeting with the Macon County Economic Development Committee, the Macon County Commission, the Macon County Sheriff’s Dept. and the Chamber of Commerce during the previous two weeks. “A warm spirit of cooperation was evident in all cases,” he said.

- Commissioner Dennis DeWolf reported that the Town did not appear to have a suitable location for the Bobby Jones sculpture currently installed at the Highlands Country Club. This sculpture was recently installed there, and the Highlands Country Club decided it does not want the statue. The Club then offered it to the Town of Highlands.

- Commissioner DeWolf also reported that the Cullasaja Club, which had been holding the golf tournament to raise money for the Scholarship Fund, would not be hosting the fund raiser this year. The Wildcat Cliffs Country Club has agreed to hold it and is moving the date from August to June 21.

- A voluntary petition to annex property filed by Nancy Hester was approved.

- A resolution in support of the Upper Cullasaja River restoration project was approved.

- Appointment of Steve Abranyi, Highlands resident and owner of Green Mountain Builders, to the Sustainability Committee was approved.

- Appointments of Harry Bears, Highlands resident and owner of Xtreme Threads, and Kim Lewicki, Highlands resident and publisher of the Highlands Newspaper, to the Business Advisory Committee were approved. Mayor David Wilkes welcomed any additional applications to this committee. Applications may be obtained in the Town Office or on the Town’s Web site.

- The Board approved a new policy of electing Mayor Pro Tempore from the Commissioners at large on an annual basis. The election will be held at the last meeting of each year for the following year.