Letters to the editor: 03/01/01

Problems will arise from ever-increasing demand for electricity

To the Editor:

Back in the 1970s I joined the group opposing the pump storage facility on Caney Fork because it seemed to be such a waste of resources for what is essentially a battery. We suggested at that time that such an engineering project as a better battery should be sought by the utility companies. As far as I know, nothing along this line has been developed in the 20 to 30 years since.

The N.C. Utilities Commission also held hearings some years ago on "least cost power generation." At that time I suggested that the utility might seriously look into in-home electric generation, providing electricity for a fee and eliminating the power line distribution system.

In support of this idea, I suggested that it was really difficult for the utility, whether small or large, to restore electricity of storm-damaged power lines. Duke Power attorneys there were more concerned with my claim that it took more than two weeks to repair lines after Hurricane Hugo than they were to address the suggestion.

We now find our region rapidly expanding in second-home development. The negative here is that each home needs to maintain enough heat to prevent frozen plumbing when owners are away and hence increases the winter peak demand consumption. This may result in brownouts or power failure at the very time we need it most, during our severe winter storms. Secondly, everyone's power bills will increase at these peak demand times when purchased power is most costly.

So, can we encourage end-use savings? Will we be willing to use passive solar power or underground homes? Will developers recommend that second homes include these power saving features? Or will utilities be willing to alter their course and provide in-home power generation? These are some directions we need to be going instead of ever increasing our demands for electricity and the consequences of that poor planning.

Sincerely,

J. Dan Pittillo

Recent TWSA developments concern reader

To the Editor:

It was reported that the TWSA board voted, over the objection of Chairman J.C. Alexander, to give Dr. Nagui El Bayadi $2,000 towards his sewer connection fees for a commercial development he proposes to build between Sylva and Dillsboro. This action sets bad precedent and violates a fundamental tenet of basic fairness: Those who reap the benefits ought to pay their fair share of the burdens.

Dr. El Bayadi is presumably an intelligent investor who knew when he purchased the property that sewer hookup was not presently available for the property. One would expect that the value of the property at the time of the purchase reflected this fact. One would also expect that as a prudent investor Dr. El Bayadi would have taken steps to ascertain what the cost of sewer hookup would be and if those costs were feasible within the context of his planned development.

Instead, the developer has gone to TWSA and asked that agency and its stakeholders, which include its customers, to share his development costs. The developer's attorney suggests that since this development will add $1.6 million to the tax base his client is due some special consideration.

By that same line of thinking one might argue that anyone who builds on or develops a property that adds to the tax base ought to be granted special consideration. If you build a big enough house perhaps you ought to get a break on permit fees. Or maybe if you add enough to the tax base DOT ought to come pave your road or your driveway.

In other words, the taxpayers ought to share in the burden of the developer because he will add to the tax base. Ultimately he will, like everyone else who owns property, have to pay property tax, and for this reason he should receive special consideration.

Another argument advanced in favor of providing this handout was that the $2,000 would be recovered in the impact fees that are charged for final hookup. The problem with this argument is that impact fees are just that - fees charged to cover the impact that additional hookups create in reducing the available capacity of the system. If we treat these fees as mere trade offs then when the system reaches full capacity, we will have mortgaged our ability to fund additional capacity.

Probably the most important point here is that this is a commercial development. Its very intent is to make money for its investors. By sanctioning this handout we are sending a message to developers that we are willing to subsidize their profits.

There are certainly circumstances when the use of incentives is warranted - when a business or an individual makes a contribution or provides a benefit that clearly enhances the public good certain incentives may be in order. But providing infrastructure at public expense simply to enhance profit is unjustifiable. Can anyone argue that a project that will generate $1.6 million in value for the owner needs a subsidy of $2,000 from the government?

The second article in The Herald dealt with what appears to be the increasing politicization of TWSA. TWSA was created to provide oversight to the water and sewer infrastructure of the county. They took several different systems that were in varying states of disrepair and made a cohesive and arguably well functioning unit of them. They have developed a 20-year plan, which balances development and fiscal responsibility.

There are those however in both the development community and government who are blinded by the desire to build more, faster. They have been seduced by the profits of growth without recognizing the costs to our culture, community and quality of life. They would now seek to revisit the TWSA relationship because the board has not succumbed to the pressure to provide access to unlimited growth.

This is particularly galling in light of their supposed commitment to the Smart Growth process. This process was designed to go out into the county and to solicit the opinions of all the residents. "What do you want Jackson County to be?" they ask while at the same time attacking the structure of one of the most important institutions in the county in terms of planning and growth - TWSA.

Folks, infrastructure is one of the keys. If you build more roads, if you extend water and sewer, growth will follow. How you go about planning infrastructure will have a tremendous impact on how Jackson County develops, whether its culture, traditions and people survive or whether they will be swallowed up in a quest for more.

TWSA is the one agency in this county that has a comprehensive 20-year plan. It is the entity that has engaged in a thoughtful planning process. It would be unwise to change its organizational structure at this time.

First, we ought to let the Smart Growth process work. We ought to hear what it is the residents of this county want and expect from their government and its institutions. Then and only then should we examine not only TWSA, but also all the institutions and policies that impact the lives of our residents.

Mark Jamison

Cullowhee

1961 Little Leaguers deserve to be honored

To the Editor:

I recently remembered a time of local pride that took place when I was about 8 years old. Back in August 1961, a group of our residents packed up and traveled to Williamsport, Penn., to play in the National Little League World Series. These people put Sylva on the map.

I can recall standing on the side of the road with my family and neighbors and friends. We cheered as the buses traveled up the Asheville Highway. From where we lived in Rhodes Cove you could see the roads lined with people and the school band. Upon their returning, people went to Balsam and welcomed the team back at the Jackson County line. This was a special thing these boys had done, and I hope they will always remember how proud everyone was of them. People ran along beside the buses for as far as possible. It was really exciting.

League leaders Tom L. Clayton, Clyde Rector and Archie Crawford, along with coaches Shelton Bradsher and Jim Cunningham, led these players with pride and joy. All of those young boys grew up to be fine men and several of them are distinguished members of Jackson County today. Sylva Mayor Roscoe Poteet presented plaques to each of them, proclaiming them "honorable members" of the county for their respective lives.

A few of those boys were Kenny Nicholson, Henry Bryson, Mike Deitz, Johnny Maney, Ben and Charles Henson and eight others. If the space is available, I hope these men can be recognized and be reminded of how proud we were of their contribution to Jackson County and the town of Sylva. Cordially,

Molly Leonard

Sylva

Editor's note: The Jackson County Athletic Hall of Fame plans to honor this team at its annual banquet May 20 at the Sylva Comfort Inn.

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