Youth group makes WYN-ing proposal to county board

By Mark Mitchell

mmitchell@highcountrymedia.net

It was a standing-room-only event on Tuesday night at the Watauga County Courthouse — at least for a little while. Speaking to a packed house at the county commissioners’ meeting, Ron Redmon, vice-chairman of the Western Youth Network’s board of directors, made an impassioned plea to the commissioners for the official formation of a public-private partnership among the county, WYN, and any other interested child-service organizations to make a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose center for the county’s youth a reality.

After acknowledging the efforts of the High Country Recreation Task Force and asking for a moment of silence in memory of noted youth activist Dr. Bill Horn, Redmon discussed the fundraising and research work WYN had performed over the past four-and-a-half months.

Redmon said the two ingredients needed for the project were land and money. While fundraising efforts have been underway, Redmon asked the commissioners to designate an adequate, appropriate parcel from the Brookshire tract for a youth center of approximately 22,000 square feet. The facility would accommodate the most desired indoor programs and recreational needs identified in surveys of Watauga County’s youth over the past six years.

While vice-chairman William R. Winkler voiced support for the endeavor, chairman Jim Deal not only voiced support for the project, but for the group’s efforts thus far.

“I’m committed to working with you to make this happen,” Deal said. “Since I’ve been commissioner, this is the largest turnout I’ve seen. Thank you.”

The item was then added to the agenda for the commissioners’ budget retreat, and with that, a standing-room-only crowd dwindled to around a dozen individuals.

While the youth center presentation brought in the masses, a couple of other issues also elicited extended discussion. A wind power presentation by Dr. Dennis Scanlin and continued discussion concerning the commissioners’ Resolution in Opposition to U.S. Senate Bill #1504 (Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act) were spoken of at length.

Scanlin requested that the commissioners develop and adopt an ordinance that would clarify a permitting process for small residential scale wind turbines. Citing that western North Carolina has some of the highest average annual wind speeds in the country, and that Watauga County has the second highest amount of windy acreage in the 24 western counties, Scanlin said that wind turbines could help produce some of the needed electricity cleanly and inexpensively.

Scanlin continued that the development of this potential would produce new jobs, help create sustainable industries and could be a new source of income for farm families in the county.

As for the cable legislation discussion, while the commissioners adopted a Resolution in Opposition to the Senate Bill at their Sept. 19, 2005 meeting, Lavoy Spooner, representing BellSouth, had previously requested an opportunity to speak to the commissioners.

After discussion that centered on franchise authority and state regulations, Deal requested both a phone company and cable company representative attend the commissioners’ Feb. 6 meeting to further discuss the issue.

“Tell them to bring their boxing gloves,”commissioner Keith Honeycutt joked.

Winkler presented a proclamation to honor and recognize the Watauga County National Guard 1451st Transportation Company that was unanimously adopted. The 1451st TC has been called to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a going away ceremony will be held on Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. at Watauga High School.

Commissioners also tentatively scheduled their annual pre-budget retreat for March 2-3. Final confirmation will take place at the Feb. 6 meeting. With ASU’s recent national championship still fresh in the community’s minds, the commissioners also approved four sites where signs would be installed honoring and alluding to the Mountaineers’ conquest.

The commissioners passed a resolution that White Dogwood Lane be added to the state-maintained secondary road system. The resolution will be forwarded to the Department of Transportation for consideration.

In other business:

• Mark Harrill was appointed to the economic development commission following the resignation of Phil Minor.

• The commissioners submitted a list of 12 candidates to consider for appointments to the Tourism Development Authority.

• The board announced the new Watauga County administration building had been completed and would open for business on Feb. 13.

• The new commissioners boardroom will also open for business on Feb. 21.