Public comment hearing on the budget set for Tuesday.

The Macon County Board of Education (BOE) met with county commissioners Tuesday night for a work session to continue to try to work through budget constraints. The BOE is facing a budget shortfall this year and made its final attempt to secure funds Tuesday night, requesting $440,000 from the county in addition to funds that have already been granted. The schools originally approached the county with a request of $9.6 million for the 2013- 2014 school year, but were only granted $7.1 million.

At the county commissioner's budget work session that took place last Thursday, Sheriff Robert Holland presented his department's budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

The Sheriff's Department had 13,337 emergency calls last year which translates to 37 calls each day, along with 13,740 walk-ins and 16,391 non-emergency calls for a total of 43,000 or 119 incidents a day.

One of the budget items Holland brought to the attention of the commissioners was a request for funding of updated SRT (Special Response Team) or SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) equipment to replace bullet proof vests and helmets for the officer's safety in conducting SWAT operations.

“Our equipment is like most things, it has a shelf-life,” he said. “The shelf-life on our equipment has been expired for several years now.”

On Saturday, June, 8, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Southwestern Community College’s Public Safety Training Center in conjunction with the Franklin Fire Department will be conducting a training exercise at 35 Wayah Street. This exercise will allow local fire departments an opportunity to train in realistic firefighting scenarios. This exercise will culminate in the demolition of a structure by fire.

During this training evolution flames and smoke will be visible and at times prevalent in the area of Franklin High School and Wayah Street. Apparatus and other emergency service vehicles will be utilizing Maple Street and Wayah Street in this area so minor traffic delays are possible. During the demolition of the structure between the hours of 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., traffic delays can be expected.

When tragedy takes place in Macon County and a fire threatens homes, land, vehicles and lives, the people who are found on the scene putting their lives and well-being at risk to put the blaze out are more often than not volunteer firefighters from one of the local stations. These volunteers go beyond their duty of fighting fire in order to assist in situations such as accidents involving vehicles and other emergency situations, all while receiving no income in return.

Eleven fire departments operate in Macon County, each serving a different community while providing assistance to the others if needed. The fire departments use tax dollars to operate and hold fundraisers throughout the year to supplement those funds. In order to function, they must have proper equipment such as fire trucks, tools and proper protection equipment for the volunteers. Members also participate in on-going training.

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The Board of Aldermen met Monday night for its monthly meeting to discuss the budget that was presented last month by Town Manager Warren Cabe. Though the public was invited to comment on the proposed budget, none did so. Alderman Bob Scott moved to approve the budget with no amendments and Alderman Verlin Curtis seconded. The motion passed unanimously with no discussion.

Under the new business portion of the meeting, Town Planner Derek Roland presented to the board a potential plan to rezone two areas in the Franklin city limits. The first proposed area is the corridor that includes East Main Street, Gaston Street, Green Street, and West Palmer Street. The petition by the Town of Franklin would rezone the R-1 (residential) properties of those areas to R-2, allowing for manufactured homes to be placed on the properties.

The Section 8 housing program in Macon County could start feeling ill effects from the recent federally imposed sequester. Across the board cuts that were enacted by Congress have begun to put a strain on a variety of public programs. Some local citizens are beginning to feel the burn as Macon Program for Progress (MPP) encounters financial shortfalls in its Section 8 funding.

According to MPP Executive Director Chuck Sutton, MPP provides rental assistance to property owners on behalf of its clients— those who are considered to be low income, many of whom are elderly or are disabled and unable to support their housing needs.

The American Legion Post 108 of Franklin hosted its annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 27. Hundreds of people came to honor the nation’s veterans at the Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Scottie Thomas, Commander of American Legion Post 108, opened the ceremony and introduced Tom Fisher, director of Men Macon Music, to say a few words before the presentation of the colors. Men Macon Music sang “You’re a Grand Old Flag” during the presentation, followed by a prayer led by Rev. Steve Reeves.

Mayor Joe Collins has decided that he will not seek reelection this fall.

“I've spent 16 years on the board and I think it's just time to take a step back,” said Collins. “I've enjoyed my service over the years, both as an alderman and as mayor of Franklin.”

Collins, a Franklin native is a lawyer by trade who graduated from Franklin High School in 1973 and UNC at Chapel Hill in 1977. Ten years later, he received his law degree from Campbell University's School of Law. In 1997, he was elected to the Town Board of Aldermen and served in that capacity until 2003 when he was elected as mayor.

“I've been doing this for a while now and I think I'm just going to take some time off to spend with my family,” he said. “At the moment, I'm the youngest person on the board and if there comes a time when I want to try it again then I'll still have that option.”

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Fate of teachers positions still uncertain.

At the school board meeting Tuesday night in Nantahala, citizens from Macon County filled the room to hear first hand what the future of 31 teacher positions would be for the 2013-2014 school year.

Macon County Schools had initially requested about $9.6 million from county commissioners for the upcoming year, but commissioners were only able to grant $7.1 million.

Proposed land swap would create area in town park.

The Town of Highlands may soon be getting some recreational soccer fields if County Commissioner Jimmy Tate sees his plan come to fruition.

At the county commissioner's board meeting held in Highlands on May 20, citizens of Highlands joined Tate to convey the need for new soccer fields.

“We have a lot of youth soccer players here. They start at the age of three and play through high school,” said Jeff Weller who coaches the Highands High School girls varsity soccer team.

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