Commission approves MOU for privately funded Fred Chapel memorial at Canton library

The Haywood County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 16 to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowing a privately funded memorial to the late poet Fred Chapel at the Canton branch of the Haywood County Public Library.

Becky Chapel Anderson, a relative and member of the memorial committee, told commissioners the project is privately financed by family, friends and colleagues and will be managed by the library foundation as a 501(c)(3). "It is a privately funded project. It is not being paid with tax dollars or governmental funds," Chapel Anderson said. The committee has secured local contractors and selected a sculpture concept (a stack of books) and asked the board to finalize the MOU.

Designer Clara Curtis presented the courtyard design and named collaborators — sculptor Grace Kathy, stone donated from Tim Burrows in Bethel, landscape architect Ryan Ballard and main contractor Lewis Boyer with BH Granning — noting an intention to use local contractors and materials whenever possible. Julie Weaver, chair of the library foundation board, will oversee project management and funds.

A commissioner read a poem by Fred Chapel before the motion to approve; the MOU was approved by voice vote. Board members stressed the project would not use tax dollars and thanked the family, library and partners for the proposal.

Why it matters: The memorial recognizes a locally significant literary figure and uses private funds managed through the library foundation, reducing direct fiscal impact on county taxpayers. The site and design were presented as fully accessible and sited to engage the children's library.

Next steps: The parties will complete the county MOU and move to construction planning; the foundation will manage donor funds and contractor payments.