By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
The Hayesville Town Council Monday approved the hiring of former Nebraska forester Sandy Benson to replace veteran Hayesville Zoning Administrator George Schaaf, who is retiring Sept. 1 to take over more family responsibilities.
“I believe I would be a good fit for the job because of my diverse background that includes working in a technical capacity at all levels of government – municipal, county, state and federal,” Benson wrote in a letter to Hayesville Mayor Harry Baughn and Hayesville Town Clerk/Finance Officer Susan Morgan in applying for the position.
Benson, who is still employed part-time remotely by the Nebraska Forest Service/University of Nebraska, has retired to Hayesville and said she was looking for a way to become more involved in the local community.
In Benson’s letter she said she served as the first zoning administrator for Cherry County, Nebraska. Schaaf, who has held the Hayesville post for more than two decades, will stay on for training and consulting duties through Benson’s September start date.
“We’re very fortunate to get someone who has such a background,” Schaaf said of Benson. “I think Sandy is well qualified.”
Benson remains employed 32 hours each week by the Nebraska Forest Service/University of Nebraska. In her letter she said she is completing 14 community wildfire protection plans to cover that state and hopes to have most of those finished by the end of August.
Her letter indicated she will continue to cut back her schedule for the university until the wildfire protection plans are completed and she officially retires from the university.
Councilman Joe Slaton made the motion to approve Benson’s hiring. Councilwoman Lauren Tiger offered the second.
Also at Monday’s meeting the council adopted a resolution to accept about $70,000 from Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds established under the American Rescue Recovery Plan Act. An equal amount would be available for next year as well.
The resolution states the council will follow the plan’s guidelines to use the funds for economic recovery but no specific determination was made on how the funds might be used.
The council approved the town’s proposed budget for 2021-22 for $211,025.
Under old business, the council briefly discussed a possible truck braking ordinance that was suggested after local business leaders complained about loud noise from dump trucks traveling local streets and applying engine brakes while passing through downtown.
Since any such ordinance would not be legally enforceable, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol, Councilman Joe Slaton recommended the council take no further action. Councilman Austin Hedden seconded.
Council members also considered whether to support a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to enact HR 2307, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act whose purpose is aimed at reducing U.S. carbon pollution by half by 2030 and working toward a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
At the previous council meeting, members had listened to a video presentation by David Miller of the non-partisan N.C. Chatuge Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Local environmental activist Dr. Vernon Dixon also spoke in support of the resolution.
Councilwoman Tiger made a motion to support the resolution, adding, “We have to start somewhere.”
“To me it’s very convoluted and will never happen,” Councilman Slaton observed. “It seems impossible to implement.”
The motion in favor of the resolution died for lack of a second. Although the council failed to approve it, Mayor Baughn still could consider and support it.
During public comment, the council welcomed new Clay County Chamber of Commerce Director Laura Kleiss Hoeft who told them, “It’s nice to be on the square. I’m learning a lot.”
Historic Hayesville Inc.’s Sandy Zimmerman reminded the council the annual Trash to Treasure sale closes this weekend and CCCRA’s concerts on the square begin Friday.
She said the past weekend’s Festival on the Square was a huge success and may have featured the largest number of vendors ever to participate.