A slim agenda will nonetheless see the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in the middle of an issue that attracted no small amount of contention at its last meeting — whether or not to contribute $250,000 to a nine-acre park linking Haw Creek to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
On Jan. 22, the board voted 4-1 to delay consideration of the move until the Parks and Recreation Advisory board had time to consider it. That board will present its overall report on the county’s parks — including its recommendation on the Haw Creek project — tomorrow. Vice Chair David Gantt had voted against the delay. Haw Creek residents, mostly supporting the park, packed the room at that meeting.
A notice sent out by Chris Pelly, President of the Haw Creek Community Association, said that the group will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. tonight, Monday, Feb. 4, at St. John’s Episcopal Church (290 Old Haw Creek Road) to discuss whether or not they should push for a vote tomorrow. The notice also asserted that County Manager Wanda Green had convinced the current owners of the potential park site to take it off the market for 90 days while the commissioners make their decision.
Other than that, the board is considering requesting a delegation from the state Division of Water Quality to enforce the county’s water-quality standards. They will also consider an appointment to the Board of Health.
The commissioner’s meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5 in Room 204 of the Buncombe County Courthouse. A pre-meeting, including public comment, begins at 4 p.m.
— David Forbes, staff writer
Overheard at the Democratic Party Chili Cook Off:
Carol Peterson: “I’m not against it.”
David Young (paraphrase) – We’ve secured it so the seller will wait 90 days and we’re having it appraised. We’re worried that too high a price will raise folks property values, thereby raising their taxes. Wouldn’t name a cost that would make the deal prohibitive.
David Gantt – still strongly in favor of the deal.
Gordon… no wonder we are so beholden to RE interests if that is what the Komizars chat about in public, imagine what they say in private.
I think very few can see the forest for the trees, which is probably a good thing, since these clowns will clear cut all that view-blocking stuff anyway.
Isn’t there an open meeting law in violation here? And what planet are these bozos from anyway? This city is surrounded with park land and they want to spend our tax money on more? I would rather see the $250,000 returned to the tax payers.