[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6617848,"mediaKeyId","2838967-773fbdc30e5272865f16f87e1de10d51","parentId",2838967,"title","Residents urge commissioners to back youth center, more patrols and a paid firefighters ballot question","audioSeconds",854,"startMs",3838000,"endMs",4692000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838967-773fbdc30e5272865f16f87e1de10d51&start=3838&end=4692","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838967-773fbdc30e5272865f16f87e1de10d51/thumbnail_3838000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6617848/Swain-County/North-Carolina/Residents-urge-commissioners-to-back-youth-center-more-patrols-and-a-paid-firefighters-ballot-question","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617848-c890662f5a13e17ca1f91a0848ece89b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775199999&Signature=EyX4NclRyxgcBSWthjFFXWeyYJ~sBvvtUp8XBCpMyNwejUOr~LSo~r~1nbdUjEdJ2iJgQjtCepUJS4HX5ogrpHWJLQpJeqcUl3MElNIDhRj0Mbz3KcfKTk~dXfjZGqNRYWshGqDJxjdUR1FOAfCG4KX5C7hZjVBvb98U6J-GoJBqcn0Ry45uyxnmOtT0-f8urvpF5KmX1KCsUqKbqZ8avHMZ-4ilshjop6IpJpE1n-knK7SN29Uj1G15heaKf~7C3iYgj5iGw7zRXf0hTtCQZtLe0iSa~0tHUI1SDKoPuDoAxMg0UbkFoi9WdhSJxQ4YjK3Kvh7yzPayqMCP0~wxEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Swain County","date","2025-04-01T22:57:22.58Z","article","Multiple residents used the public-comment period at the April 1 meeting to urge action on youth services, public safety and firefighter funding.

Ken Conk, speaking for a county youth-center committee formed 18 months earlier, asked the board to appoint a small adult board and a teen advisory board and to authorize committees to study building design, location, programs and funding. Conk cited survey results and local education metrics, saying the committee’s analysis identified drug abuse, teen pregnancy, child abuse, poverty and lack of safe places to spend time as primary negative factors affecting local youth. He told commissioners, as part of his address, that “75 percent of our students did not earn the reading scores necessary to prepare them for high school” and that the committee’s materials showed math readiness was similarly low. He also cited absenteeism figures the committee had collected.

Several speakers urged more visible law enforcement patrols in tourist areas, including Island Park, to address vandalism and discarded drug needles. One resident suggested assigning foot patrols during peak hours to deter petty crime and drug use in public spaces.

Multiple speakers also expressed support for placing a paid firefighters measure on a future ballot. Julia Richards told the board she supported paid firefighters and asked that the board allow public participation in drafting any ballot language so the question would be clear to voters. Commissioners and staff acknowledged the suggestion and said the timing and exact wording would be discussed if the board pursues that option.

Other public commenters raised permitting and inspection issues. Ronnie Morris, an electrical contractor, praised local inspectors, urged retention of experienced staff and suggested potential fee adjustments or small user charges (for example, on train riders) to help offset county personnel costs.

No formal action resulted directly from public comment; commissioners said they would consider the requests in the context of upcoming budget and public-safety discussions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Swain County Commissioners - April 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment, residents urged the board to create a youth center, increase patrols of Island Park and other tourist areas, and put a paid firefighter proposal on the 2026 ballot; presenters cited local school-performance data and recent wildfire response as supporting reasons.","taxTitle","Swain County, North Carolina","taxId",73855,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6617853,"Personnel committee recommends $15 minimum wage, pay-study implementation and 16 hours inclement-weather leave",426,1306000,1732000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838967-773fbdc30e5272865f16f87e1de10d51&start=1306&end=1732","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838967-773fbdc30e5272865f16f87e1de10d51/thumbnail_1306000.jpg","/articles/6617853/Swain-County/North-Carolina/Personnel-committee-recommends-15-minimum-wage-pay-study-implementation-and-16-hours-inclement-weather-leave","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617853-8c1bcf44b7444c2232a5b6cdf4a1de77/orig.mp4?Expires=1775199999&Signature=ff~m5FQJkkVUfddCUsRrDMPcCHK5gYkShNjyTp5dvc67UQNvNnkYJzyya9MRSHPz62aP53fb1RlRWHPnkWndKqBKITKyvs-T2CFWw7cVQ5pbmt3C0ITozlZmwgF4vyacCngbl0oAhykm3tXd-yI676nBld~fD6vfmyW9sd~mnfaD9WWjQYDgLSU65lNA~P1zppDTTNOYb1d5eQC1FwdCd1gxXCNscsOXCPiEOB38qR4~ZTdmlThHsHTl9CITXpCxXWfqXXzQmg9JsAFxTHkdKjYC9U0ih74lZQ8qvtgJZQpY0IGfR1VCeT4iX7omaW0Ekb1Jv8Z2Hfma1YvK~Us1UQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On April 1 the county’s personnel committee presented a package of recommendations for commissioners to consider, including raising the countywide minimum start rate to $15 per hour and implementing a previously presented full pay study.

The personnel committee said 10 county employees currently earn less than $15 per hour and proposed moving the start rate to $15 an hour. The committee also recommended the board implement the full pay study presented last year. Other proposals included exploring a service fee on property parcels to fund emergency services (911, fire rescue and law enforcement) and adding 16 hours of paid leave each year for inclement weather or emergency closings; unused time would roll into employees’ sick-vacation accruals.

Commissioners and committee members discussed trade-offs, noting that adding 16 hours of paid leave is roughly equivalent to two additional days of paid time off for employees and that some commissioners preferred directing funds toward raising base pay for the lowest-paid employees instead. Committee members gave estimates of those affected, saying many employees paid under $15 per hour earn between $12 and $13.50. No formal action was taken at the meeting; commissioners said they would continue to review the proposals during upcoming budget work sessions.","The county personnel committee presented recommendations including raising the minimum county start rate to $15 an hour, implementing a full pay study, considering a parcel service fee for emergency services, and adding 16 hours of paid inclement-weather leave per year.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6617856,"Marianna Lack Library project still short of funds; commissioners asked to meet with contractor and architect",409,1751000,2160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838967-773fbdc30e5272865f16f87e1de10d51&start=1751&end=2160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838967-773fbdc30e5272865f16f87e1de10d51/thumbnail_1751000.jpg","/articles/6617856/Swain-County/North-Carolina/Marianna-Lack-Library-project-still-short-of-funds-commissioners-asked-to-meet-with-contractor-and-architect","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617856-58cf6856eec3db9e51eb9d53ae2cc675/orig.mp4?Expires=1775199999&Signature=KOdoOAjDXjY9gNAA-UeKhExbOjtazeuZJGzLLEuQKtjdnjGFltQ-xx1NacK7iwoy9UNi9zJm6oxZHAMsxeIttcQkswttjWHK40xO20ZiBXM~ZVOOQB-9QzGSpbD-doIx8o0WbXiUbaBQyMq4KAJtxKJBotADK9pazV1FULPqQ16AgUK8zuF14re-kaSCAm0yDQQan6jzx0TCXKo1KeqlipHH2mV6h5K45Bl~uEBlWB9NqItJgE3zqH5SMm6TaDOCpeNQwmmZOtc1rpe5DCJhr5q~PVttsLqEi3G7KhlltMRpaoh38aRJalTPvXcWNFXA0yL1Boizts4szSFW02ETpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives for the Marianna Lack Library project told the Swain County Board of Commissioners on April 1 that construction bids remain higher than expected and the project still needs additional fundraising and cost reductions to proceed.

Ellen Snodgrass, speaking for the library team, said contractors’ schedules and bid prices — many tied to firms based in Asheville — have constrained progress. She said the construction bid had fallen from $5.6 million to $5.4 million after some design changes and that further reductions might be possible with additional plan adjustments; the project team estimated a total project budget near $7.0 million. Snodgrass told the board the library has raised $6.2 million so far and asked for a meeting with county staff, the contractor and the architect to review options and value-engineer the design.

Project leaders also described site work already in progress, including protecting and moving a historically significant tree to a local farm. They reported ongoing logistical needs for the project: a storage and moving quote for packing and storing library materials and furniture of about $90,000 and a security-system quote of about $95,000. Library staff said those costs could be covered with federal FF&E reimbursement funds secured for the project but that additional community contributions and grants remain necessary. Snodgrass asked the board to meet with project staff to speed decision-making on value engineering and schedule coordination.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about grant timing and whether programmatic grants would be appropriate later in construction; library staff said some time-sensitive program grants must wait until the facility is open. No formal county funding decision was made at the meeting; library leaders requested follow-up discussions.","Library representatives told commissioners bids remain above target, raised $6.2 million so far and asked for a follow-up meeting with the contractor and architect to explore cost reductions and schedule issues.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6617861,"Swain County tax office outlines revaluation plans; boathouse checks added to assessment work",2205,193000,2398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838967-773fbdc30e5272865f16f87e1de10d51&start=193&end=2398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838967-773fbdc30e5272865f16f87e1de10d51/thumbnail_193000.jpg","/articles/6617861/Swain-County/North-Carolina/Swain-County-tax-office-outlines-revaluation-plans-boathouse-checks-added-to-assessment-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617861-b3f093ddc430bf405df4833fd909f4ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1775199999&Signature=Bv-qu6jBOMkoUpHX48RHLuttG4gt8g-Pq1rbqp6LOSgbQfQDYOFCDhSVw~Es8~i1ewPYpgGXxtb0k-VOU~WIlFYQF145-4Z8Bp87l11xuAfsMDOuL2CPElpKy6Qw6ZsRWwUKqalemMmF-AyO~iOzDf5sLxBvJfXIeSv3c6-YKlFjVUuIVBlpbpxcvOC-ouOoeh4WkBsDSVF9zTtjQC9wL4UAOTcMg9vgUTlLNABxT1XZH0ezA0S6uXXhN4ut0hQMs6aJZwDYnjP484FTd67U~O5Coh4-tO-4PILGTy-VaUzFLiVmrbrsb3QELeH8LAyKqQC6txtMlzTInVSdSjLDTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Swain County tax office staff told commissioners on April 1 that the office is preparing for a countywide property revaluation and reported on a recent boathouse reevaluation that increased tax values.

The tax office said staff began a focused review of boathouses in 2024 and detected more than $7 million in additional assessed value, which the presenter said translated to about $28,000 in additional taxes. The presenter said the boathouse inspection involved about 60 boathouses and generated relatively few complaints because staff photographed and documented each structure.

Officials also described staffing changes in mapping and the assessor’s office after a retirement. The tax presenter said the county does not have the staff capacity to carry out a full field revaluation in-house and has solicited third-party providers. In the meeting packet, staff included a draft contract for a full list-and-measure revaluation; the packet quoted a per-parcel rate of $43 and an estimated parcel count of 12,628, giving a full-contract price shown as $543,000. The presenter told the board the contractor would need to begin planning this summer (July–August) to meet the schedule so the revaluation would be ready for the next mandated cycle.

Commissioners and staff debated timing and community notice. One commissioner asked that residents be prepared for field staff going door-to-door so homeowners would not mistake revaluation work for a scam. The presenter said staff planned outreach and that the contractor would perform most field work with limited county-staff involvement.

No formal vote on the revaluation contract occurred at the meeting; commissioners were briefed and asked questions about schedule, outreach and budget timing.","County tax and mapping staff reviewed staffing changes, a recent boathouse reevaluation and plans to commission a full revaluation; officials said an external contractor is the only vendor able to meet the schedule for the next mandatory revaluation cycle.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6617865,"Swain County commissioners approve $20,000 budget amendment to finish foster-care house",154,26000,180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838967-773fbdc30e5272865f16f87e1de10d51&start=26&end=180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838967-773fbdc30e5272865f16f87e1de10d51/thumbnail_26000.jpg","/articles/6617865/Swain-County/North-Carolina/Swain-County-commissioners-approve-20000-budget-amendment-to-finish-foster-care-house","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617865-cabb56e1a03f5774f4e9adae5a839f03/orig.mp4?Expires=1775199999&Signature=CC22M1AaKyZEStwuKVjCJmk9fdzj2ScmNga0D1vqiqrQ8D5yc3mBGBhBagGK-IvOKIcztBZxU6AzXYX8Nho-5ywLW4gMNUWnXkNhXec5D0u9eG0-iqhGn2J1JZus0ddxUWHNte0KgMDMimwXYdKLFDpqSyo~i26O1rYiq4CabUnfb3EQhhv6Wb8xkZS9lHfIt98Uia9TEdYd-hxYJ4LyGIzAaq8XwHLTwdjz9QNIL-Kg-gD0YovwXLWsZE4HO8stGzoA-nHi5GWZxeKRbk68-KnD63WHKBK8a9QiKOes3wHQ9pc7vSq0nsQt3TK1lgJCGedH9OOLd-~SAY5HcjRT2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Swain County commissioners on April 1 approved a budget amendment to provide up to $20,000 to finish work on a county foster-care house that county staff said exceeded an earlier grant award.

County officials said the project originally received a $125,000 grant from the Dogwood Foundation but staff expect a remaining shortfall related to finishing work. At the meeting, a county staff member described the outstanding items as “the doors, some of the plumbing fixtures…some of the furniture, the cabinets,” and exterior accessibility work including a ramp, a small deck and sidewalks. The staff member said the county probably will not need the full $20,000 and that any unspent amount would return to the general fund.

Lottie, identified at the meeting as a county staff member involved in the project, said the grant “was nearing the end” and requested the amendment to ensure the house could be completed and put into service. After brief discussion about the remaining items and costs, a motion to approve the budget amendment was made and the board voted to approve the request so work could proceed.

The amendment approval means county staff can contract for the remaining materials and labor needed to complete the house and open it for its intended use. Meeting remarks did not specify an exact completion date, a funding source beyond the general-fund fallback, or a formal tally of the vote; the action was taken during the commissioners’ regular meeting business.

The commissioners moved on to department reports after approving the amendment.","The Swain County Board of Commissioners approved a budget amendment to cover up to $20,000 in additional costs to complete a foster-care home partially funded by a Dogwood grant.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge commissioners to back youth center, more patrols and a paid firefighters ballot question

Personnel committee recommends $15 minimum wage, pay-study implementation and 16 hours inclement-weather leave

Marianna Lack Library project still short of funds; commissioners asked to meet with contractor and architect

Swain County tax office outlines revaluation plans; boathouse checks added to assessment work

Swain County commissioners approve $20,000 budget amendment to finish foster-care house