The first phase of the Nantahala broadband project could be completed in the next three months, and new broadband lines are slated for construction between Otto and Highlands within the year.
This news was part of a presentation made at the Jan. 9 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting by Matt Saenger, director of sales and marketing with BalsamWest.
Saenger started with the Nantahala broadband project. The first phase is extending the cable into Macon County-owned Nantahala spaces – from the Nantahala Recreation Center and nearby Junaluska Recycling Center to Nantahala EMS, Nantahala Volunteer Fire and Rescue, the new Nantahala Library and Community Center and the volunteer fire and rescue substation. Saenger said BalsamWest started staging its equipment last week.
“Next week, they should begin construction and we expect a three-month build-out, dependent on permits and weather,” Saenger said.
The second phase of the Nantahala Broadband project would be working with the Board of Education and the county to establish a point of presence (location to put the data equipment) to offer Gig to multi-Gig services to residents and businesses. Nantahala School will likely be the location.
Another part of that second phase will be expanding the network to the Lakes End area, with Sanger saying that “high priority” is under development.
Commissioner Paul Higdon said he and others have looked at various options in the area and continue to do so.
Saenger then pivoted to the GREAT grant they got in October to serve households and businesses in the Tessentee, Middle Creek, Stillhouse Road, Scaly Mountain and Highlands areas.
“We were given a two-year performance period but we expect to complete the project within a year,” Saenger said. “We’re currently in the process of interviewing engineering firms and expect to have that completed before the end of January.”
Saenger said BalsamWest will submit pole permits in March and has construction slated to start in August. The project includes 233 households and 30 businesses initially, but Saenger said it’ll enable others not included under the GREAT grant.
The completed South Macon broadband project (Georgia Road/Otto/Scaly Mountain) is a “huge success,” Saenger said, noting BalsamWest is still building out infrastructure from its main line. From those broadband lines, there are 277 new connections installed or in progress, 101 new connections pending and 218 prospects, Saenger said.
County Manager Derek Roland said the broadband committee started in 2016 and laid the foundation for the ongoing work.
“It’s nice that all these efforts are finally coming to fruition,” Roland said.
Saenger noted almost half of BalsamWest’s employees are Macon County residents, leading to an annual economic impact of over a million dollars.
Additional business
• The Environmental Health Fee Schedule for 2024 got unanimous approval. The only changes, noted by Health Director Kathy McGaha, were state-mandated. All of these were new fees for Macon County Public Health - $400 for an on-site wastewater improvement permit/construction authorizations and operations permit for a one-bedroom equivalency, a $150 on-site wastewater system compliance, and a $35 on-site wastewater system relocation affidavit. Higdon said he wants to discuss lowering certain fees at the next Board of Health meeting, of which he is a liaison.
• Marshal Moxley was unanimously confirmed as the new Macon County Public Library Board of Trustees member. Moxley, Hudson Library Board chair, replaces Bill Trotter, who resigned last fall. Moxley’s appointment comes after Antoine requested additional options after Moxley was the only recommendation. The selection is required to come from the Hudson Library board, per Fontana Regional Library bylaws. The other applications presented to the commissioners were Debra Dyal, Jennifer Cambrook and Phillip Curcuru.
• Meghan Cribbs was unanimously appointed the new Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council alternate. Cribbs replaces Charam Miller, who resigned from her position at Macon Program for Progress, and Cribbs replaced Miller in that job.
• Commissioner Danny Antoine updated the board on the FRL bylaw changes. Antoine said that Jackson and Swain counties would meet this month regarding their recommendations and that Swain already had one change from Macon’s proposed changes. Once all three counties approve the same bylaw changes, they will present those to the FRL Board of Trustees.
• The board went into a closed session at 7:56 p.m. to discuss real estate. They returned at 8:20 p.m. and adjourned with no further action.
Public comments
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Jennifer Smith talked about an issue with a bear getting into their condo owners’ association trash dumpster. Smith said the dumpster of the county-contracted company, J&B Disposal, didn’t keep out a local bear that foraged in the dumpster. Smith said after J&B said they couldn’t help, the association got a third party to provide a bear-proof dumpster.
However, Smith said J&B demanded the third-party dumpster removed, thus the bear issue with the regular dumpster has gotten worse. She said this foraging creates an environmental hazard with picking up wine bottles, meat packages and dirty diapers strewn about.
Roland said he had spoken with Smith before the holidays and that he also spoke with J&B and promised to follow up.
Betsy Baste spoke about the Town of Franklin’s decision to implement a social district. Baste said research and facts support the social district and believes they can attract young people. Baste said she doesn’t want the town to “slowly age itself to death.” Scott Baste, Betsy’s husband, implored the commissioners to get some of the school projects done.
February meetings
The next Board of Commissioners meeting is the budget kickoff on Thursday, Feb. 8, starting at 1 p.m. in the board room on the third floor of the courthouse. The next regular meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13.