County puts seniors, EMS at top of priority list

pressreporter@thefranklinpress

The potential renovation of the old Macon County Public Library to a Senior Services Center and the proposed move of emergency services out of the Barrett Building featured prominently in the Macon County commissioners' discussion items at their Jan. 10 work session.

As they examined potential budget cuts for making up a revenue shortfall, commissioners also addressed priorities, concerns and construction projects as they prepare for Fiscal Year 2009-2010.

One potential project in the works is the renovation of the old library building on Wayah Street to house a Senior Services Center. The current Senior Services building is located on Hyatt Road across from Wal-Mart.

At the same time, and contingent upon this move, Macon County Emergency Services is proposing an expansion/renovation plan that would relocate the EMS operation in the building presently occupied by the Senior Services building. (The 9-1-1 Center would remain in the Barrett Building).

The county had initially discussed adding on to the present Senior Services building and had appropriated $350,000 (the same cost as old library renovations). This would have bought them five years of extra time to accommodate for growth. However, renovating the old library will give them more than five years of time.

The latter approach would also free up the Senior Services building to house all EMS services, giving them access to the four-lane Highway 441.

Emergency services is presently located in the Barrett Building on 104 E. Main Street. It includes the EMS, 9-1-1 dispatch, 9-1-1 addressing, fire marshal's office and emergency management divisions.

Warren Cabe, Macon County's director of emergency services attended the commissioners' work session and presented his case for the EMS unit move to the current Senior Services building, his preferred option after reviewing fiscal and logistical aspects of the various alternatives.

This option would also entail renovating the Barrett Building and moving the 9-1-1 Center to the second floor area. A 60 X 60-foot double-stack bay design garage will be added at the Senior Services site to accommodate six ambulances, with room for expansion in the future, he said.

According to Cabe, only minor remodeling will be required inside the Senior Services building, along with the addition of a residential sprinkler system in a portion of the night time crew quarters.

Describing the condition of the Barrett Building, Cabe said it is a two-story building with an occupied basement area and no functioning elevator. 9-1-1 dispatch and EMS occupy the basement area. EM Administration and staff, and the 9-1-1 addressing staff share the first floor with Veteran's Affairs.

On the second floor, the lead telecommunicator has an office inside a conference room/emergency operations room, the sheriff's department has several offices for investigators, two bedrooms are available for EMS or other staff members, and the State Bureau of Investigation has an office.

Cabe said some of the important issues with the cramped Barrett Building that need to be addressed include: 9-1-1 equipment has outgrown the space allotted for it due to changes in technology that require more devices such as computer services, etc., the EMS staff has outgrown their space and often overflow into the 9-1-1 Dispatch areas, 9-1-1 Communications Technicians are housed in an overflow work area for the 9-1-1 telecommunicators and there are not enough enclosed bays available to house the five ambulances in the Franklin District.

He explained that another problem with the Main Street location is during a major downtown event such as Window Wonderland, access to Main Street is sometimes difficult due to heavy traffic and limited alternate routes for downtown traffic.

Cabe noted that likewise concerns have been expressed about the traffic volume in and out of the busy Hyatt Road/Highway 441 intersection.

He said they allocated money for a Hyatt Road traffic light control device in their estimated costs for the EMS transition/expansion and they do not anticipate this being a problem.

Cabe added that the project is long overdue (has been in the planning process to some degree for more than 10 years), and he felt it was time for him to stand up for his employees and get them the facilities they deserve "to perform their duties that they do so well."

However, he emphasized that until the board moved forward with the Senior Services Center, they cannot proceed with relocating and expanding EMS.

"To us this is the time to do this," Cabe said. "We have saved our money. We'll work with whatever we get. We feel like this is the best opportunity."

The board of commissioners agreed that they will go ahead and set the budget for architectural and engineering costs by their March meeting to determine more detailed figures for both renovation and relocation projects and make decisions on how to move forward at that time.

Other board priorities/areas of concern

Commissioner Bob Simpson said his main concern for the upcoming budget year is to keep the tax burden low while not losing any services. "Times are tough," Simpson said. "I've never seen it this bad and I've been working since 1976."

Newest commissioner member Bobby Kuppers recommended that the county work to improve their website and use it as a more effective tool, further suggesting the website provide a question forum for the public. He also recommended posting video of the meetings on the web so people could watch them from home.

County manager Jack Horton said a committee had been appointed to update and revamp the county's webpage.

Kuppers also requested that they publish an updated calendar of the county committee meeting schedule online for the members of the public who wish to attend meetings and need to know details.

Additionally, he proposed that commissioners develop a schedule to go and meet with constituents in each precinct once a month, in order to listen to their concerns. He said the opportunity for citizens to speak before one commissioner as opposed to five at a packed board meeting lowers the intimidation factor and would help increase communication to the public.

"We need to make an overture," Kuppers said. "Places like Nantahala need to see us."

Beale, who said he has gone into communities to address current hot topics before, agreed with Kupper's concept, but said they might need a different approach than once a month, since attendance at community meetings would decline during winter.

He emphasized that the board needed to improve communication with the public and explore ways to better facilitate relationships with communities and how to better assist them.

"It's a good idea, you really get a notion of what's important," Beale said of these community meetings.

Simpson recommended that they do the meetings by community organization and plan to advertise the meetings.

Beale asked board members whether they should appoint commissioners to serve as community liaisons with the county's community organizations. They decided they would appoint Bobby Kuppers and Brian McClellan as community liaisons. The two volunteered their services and were officially appointed at the board's Jan. 12 meeting.

Commissioner Jim Davis also cited the budget as his top priority. "There are a lot of people hurting and we want them to know we are not insensitive to the economic situation," Davis said.

In light of examining future needs, Beale asked board members to consider the prospect of offering more affordable child day care options in Macon County.

He requested the board's permission to appoint a committee on day care (with commissioner representation) to explore the possibility of developing a private/public partnership in daycare.

Beale said child care is a problem, whether it is due to both parents working or single moms working and raising a kid(s) on their own.

Turning to other potential topics of interest, Beale told commissioners that at a recent planning board meeting they had informally discussed the possibility of establishing a community garden, an idea he would like to pursue further.

Beale qualified that such a plan would be executed as a test pilot and not in competition with other farmers.

Kuppers approved of the concept and said if they proceed, they should link it with FFA (Future Farmers of America) at Franklin High School.

Davis added that if they link it with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the FFA it would gel very well. He suggested adding a cannery to it as well. It was noted that Highlands and Sylva currently have a community garden.

The commissioners next regularly scheduled meeting will be held 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 26 in the third floor of the Macon County Courthouse.