by Chuck Connors
Current events in Jackson County have caused people to ask me, “what can I do about this assault on our values and our way of life? What can I do about the developers buying up the county? What can I do about the politicians constantly spending us into debt, shrugging their shoulders and smiling over the outright disappearance of public monies that has been going on for years? What can I do about loose cannon not-for-profits spending our money as if it where theirs? What can I do?”
Jacksongate has been building for some time. Years of neglect and apathy by folks who should have been keeping watch; double-dealing and outright chicanery by a few key rascals; finally caused us, the many, to wake up to the determined, greedy attack on our way of life in Jackson County. But what can you and I do?
It’s about the water. It’s about politics. It’s about changing business as usual. If you’re tired of mega-developers buying thousands of acres of our mountains for the benefit of the few; if you’re tired of the same old excuses and outright stories from our so-called leaders; then join with others just like you and fight these destroyers of our land and our way of life.
It makes no difference whether you were born here, raised here or moved here a short time ago. What matters is whether you want the land to survive and prosper, whether you want to raise your children here, whether you want what is right. Friday September 19 at 6:30 pm at the Family Resource Center in Webster is when you get your chance to say “No more. This must stop now. We, the people, want what is right!”
Monday, September 8, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Chump Change
by
Chuck Connors
It’s a shameful thing when honest citizens who are attempting to uncover corruption in our county are threatened and attempts are made to intimidate them. Certain officials sworn to uphold the law and responsible for the public’s money should know better. This is another aspect of the on-going wrong-doing called Jacksongate that I’ve been talking about for the last few months.
Related to the effects of insane growth are the hundreds of thousands of dollars that seem to have gone missing in the Jackson Development Corporation. I’ll admit that this almost seems like chump change compared to the current shady dealings in various developments here in Jackson County, yet in my opinion that doesn’t forgive the scoundrels who are responsible for the missing public funds in this very public scandal from their standing before the bar of justice.
There are approximately $700,000 in public monies unaccounted for. It’s gone folks—maybe for good. The Drexel property seems to have been purchased with public funds twice! To our knowledge the EDC hasn’t been audited or bonded. Because of what we see in these financial records we believe it’s in the best interest of the citizens of Jackson County for the Economic Development Commission to be dissolved immediately. Mrs. Leatherwood has been able to document in large part the wheeling and dealing going on and believes that the shoddy and haphazard forms of documentation thoroughly justify immediate action by you, the county commissioners. We want clarification and an accounting dollar-for-dollar of the money that the JDC has accessed and spent. This indebtedness of the public treasury has raised many questions about the lack of oversight into these affairs. Somebody’s responsible. Who is going to face the music?
Gentlemen, there is an easier, softer, right way though. Shut down the EDC, order a full audit of the records involving the JDC/EDC financial mess, and return what money that can be salvaged to the public treasury now. The fallout from Jacksongate can be lessened, but only if you Gentlemen take action tonight and begin to restore public confidence in our county government.
Chuck Connors
It’s a shameful thing when honest citizens who are attempting to uncover corruption in our county are threatened and attempts are made to intimidate them. Certain officials sworn to uphold the law and responsible for the public’s money should know better. This is another aspect of the on-going wrong-doing called Jacksongate that I’ve been talking about for the last few months.
Related to the effects of insane growth are the hundreds of thousands of dollars that seem to have gone missing in the Jackson Development Corporation. I’ll admit that this almost seems like chump change compared to the current shady dealings in various developments here in Jackson County, yet in my opinion that doesn’t forgive the scoundrels who are responsible for the missing public funds in this very public scandal from their standing before the bar of justice.
There are approximately $700,000 in public monies unaccounted for. It’s gone folks—maybe for good. The Drexel property seems to have been purchased with public funds twice! To our knowledge the EDC hasn’t been audited or bonded. Because of what we see in these financial records we believe it’s in the best interest of the citizens of Jackson County for the Economic Development Commission to be dissolved immediately. Mrs. Leatherwood has been able to document in large part the wheeling and dealing going on and believes that the shoddy and haphazard forms of documentation thoroughly justify immediate action by you, the county commissioners. We want clarification and an accounting dollar-for-dollar of the money that the JDC has accessed and spent. This indebtedness of the public treasury has raised many questions about the lack of oversight into these affairs. Somebody’s responsible. Who is going to face the music?
Gentlemen, there is an easier, softer, right way though. Shut down the EDC, order a full audit of the records involving the JDC/EDC financial mess, and return what money that can be salvaged to the public treasury now. The fallout from Jacksongate can be lessened, but only if you Gentlemen take action tonight and begin to restore public confidence in our county government.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Its All About the Water
Water is second only to oxygen as a fundamental that we humans must have. Seemingly here in the mountains of Western North Carolina we have a lot of water. At least we used to. As the Southeast continues in the second year of an extreme drought springs have either already run dry or are running dry and our rivers, such as the Tuckaseigee, aren’t doing very well either. The fact that there are diminishing water supplies available for the people’s needs who live here already drives home the indisputable fact: to you who want to move here from somewhere else, sorry we don’t have the resources to support you. You’ll have to build your third, fourth, or fifth homes elsewhere.
Unfortunately, last year the plans for 200 plus developments snuck in under the wire before the Jackson County subdivision and steep slope moratorium came into effect. I have seen some of the vesting documents involved and questions have been raised in my mind over the legality of some. Those questions are rapidly becoming moot (overall) as, legal or not, Jackson County just does not have the water resources to support these developments.
According to Golf Magazine, the “typical golf course uses 300,000 gallons a day.” That’s 300,000 gallons of water a day to keep green an unnatural carpet so that the too-much-money-not-enough-brains folks can hit little white balls around and then drive little carts to the “19th Hole” to celebrate their handicap. That’ll be three Scotches and water and a Bourbon and branch bartender. Yeah right.
What are you going to do when a four-wheel drive truck can drive across the Tuckaseigee just about anywhere along its length in Jackson County? What are you going to do when your one and only water source, your spring or well dries up? What are you going to do when the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewerage Authority begins mandatory water rationing?
Developers. Its time to face the facts. You’ve sunk all your investor’s money into a dry hole. People. Oppose these developments that will steal our water. It’s all about the water.
Unfortunately, last year the plans for 200 plus developments snuck in under the wire before the Jackson County subdivision and steep slope moratorium came into effect. I have seen some of the vesting documents involved and questions have been raised in my mind over the legality of some. Those questions are rapidly becoming moot (overall) as, legal or not, Jackson County just does not have the water resources to support these developments.
According to Golf Magazine, the “typical golf course uses 300,000 gallons a day.” That’s 300,000 gallons of water a day to keep green an unnatural carpet so that the too-much-money-not-enough-brains folks can hit little white balls around and then drive little carts to the “19th Hole” to celebrate their handicap. That’ll be three Scotches and water and a Bourbon and branch bartender. Yeah right.
What are you going to do when a four-wheel drive truck can drive across the Tuckaseigee just about anywhere along its length in Jackson County? What are you going to do when your one and only water source, your spring or well dries up? What are you going to do when the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewerage Authority begins mandatory water rationing?
Developers. Its time to face the facts. You’ve sunk all your investor’s money into a dry hole. People. Oppose these developments that will steal our water. It’s all about the water.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Table Scraps
Why are the county commissioners allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny due process to the citizens of Jackson County in the coming environmental disasters of the elitist, artificial compounds of “Webster Ridge” and “Riverrock” (Legasus Corporation)? The North Carolina Division of Water Quality has already declared the Tuckaseigee “impaired”, which means its polluted.(1.) If the government won’t act, citizens can take the developers to court for the harm that they cause our county. (2.) Developers hate a bad public image and hate to lose money too.
Speaking of public relations and losing money; despite the $300,000.00 fine (3.) [negotiated down to $150,000.00. (4.)] imposed on the Balsam Mountain ‘Preserve’ for causing the Scotts Creek disaster of 2007, a has-been golf professional officially opened the trout-killing course on the anniversary (June 7) of the Scotts Creek disaster. (5.) Why did the BMP “re-engineer” the course and consequently construct an illegal (so says the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) dam which caused malicious civil harm against the citizens of Jackson County. (6.) Is it possible BMP could care less about harming Jackson County’s (ours) trout waters? Does this have anything to do with a county commissioner who has a full-time job (‘table scraps’) at the BMP? (7.)
This whole sad state of affairs has become a “Jacksongate” where the taxpayers get their pockets picked and their land stolen and raped one more time by free-booting buccaneers. If the citizens of Jackson County aren’t getting the shaft from a herd of greedy developers, they’re getting it from our elected and appointed officials! (8.) Why won’t you, the Jackson County Commissioners, take a strong stand against re-building the dam on the BMP golf course and take immediate legal action to force the Army Corps of Engineers to hold a public hearing/public comment on the “Webster Ridge” debacle? These and other offenses have been “white elephants” on the taxpayers for too long. All we’re getting is a huge mess costing us hundreds of thousands of dollars (perhaps millions) and destroying our county with no end in sight. Is anyone else demanding positive leadership on these issues? Call the chairman now and ask him why he won’t stop his political posturing and act for all the citizens of Jackson County.
Bibliography
1. “Creeks, section of river, termed ‘impaired’”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 02/07/08
2. “Citizens have powerful tools to stop sedimentation pollution”, The Smoky Mountain News, 5/21/08.
3. “Lawyers delay appeal of fines triggered by June 7 dam failure”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 07/26/07
4. “Golf course community agrees to pay county $150,000”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 04/24/08
5. “Palmer officially opens course”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 06/12/08
6. “Agencies oppose new golf course dam at BMP”, The Smoky Mountain News, 05/21/08
7. “Golf course community agrees to pay county $150,000”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 04/24/08
8. “Residents object to vested rights given to Legasus’ developments”, The Sylva Herald, 04/10/08
Speaking of public relations and losing money; despite the $300,000.00 fine (3.) [negotiated down to $150,000.00. (4.)] imposed on the Balsam Mountain ‘Preserve’ for causing the Scotts Creek disaster of 2007, a has-been golf professional officially opened the trout-killing course on the anniversary (June 7) of the Scotts Creek disaster. (5.) Why did the BMP “re-engineer” the course and consequently construct an illegal (so says the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) dam which caused malicious civil harm against the citizens of Jackson County. (6.) Is it possible BMP could care less about harming Jackson County’s (ours) trout waters? Does this have anything to do with a county commissioner who has a full-time job (‘table scraps’) at the BMP? (7.)
This whole sad state of affairs has become a “Jacksongate” where the taxpayers get their pockets picked and their land stolen and raped one more time by free-booting buccaneers. If the citizens of Jackson County aren’t getting the shaft from a herd of greedy developers, they’re getting it from our elected and appointed officials! (8.) Why won’t you, the Jackson County Commissioners, take a strong stand against re-building the dam on the BMP golf course and take immediate legal action to force the Army Corps of Engineers to hold a public hearing/public comment on the “Webster Ridge” debacle? These and other offenses have been “white elephants” on the taxpayers for too long. All we’re getting is a huge mess costing us hundreds of thousands of dollars (perhaps millions) and destroying our county with no end in sight. Is anyone else demanding positive leadership on these issues? Call the chairman now and ask him why he won’t stop his political posturing and act for all the citizens of Jackson County.
Bibliography
1. “Creeks, section of river, termed ‘impaired’”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 02/07/08
2. “Citizens have powerful tools to stop sedimentation pollution”, The Smoky Mountain News, 5/21/08.
3. “Lawyers delay appeal of fines triggered by June 7 dam failure”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 07/26/07
4. “Golf course community agrees to pay county $150,000”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 04/24/08
5. “Palmer officially opens course”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 06/12/08
6. “Agencies oppose new golf course dam at BMP”, The Smoky Mountain News, 05/21/08
7. “Golf course community agrees to pay county $150,000”, The Sylva Herald and Ruralite, 04/24/08
8. “Residents object to vested rights given to Legasus’ developments”, The Sylva Herald, 04/10/08
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