Workshop Session – March 19, 2012
The Graham County Board of County Commissioners met Monday, March 19, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. for their regular workshop session in the Graham County Community Building located at 12 North Main Street Robbinsville NC 28771. All board was present. Commissioner Edwards called the meeting to order and welcomed the public.
Commissioner Edwards stated that he wanted to discuss an article that he read concerning Corridor K. Commissioner Edwards stated that this project will not have any ties to the Comprehensive Plan for the county. Attorney Cody stated that the state was trying to find a possible solution for a new road to Graham County that everyone can be happy with. Commissioner Edwards stated that the county did not need to tie their comprehensive plan to the Corridor K project due to the time limitations involved with this project. The board all agreed that the Corridor K project will be ongoing for years and did not need to be tied to the Comprehensive Plan.
The board discussed the floodplain ordinance and learned that there are 8500 cross marks and only 120 of those was studied by the state before giving the county the floodplain maps. The board all agreed that this study was incomplete and Graham County should not be held hostage to these marks. The board would like a detailed study to be done and discussed the possibility of asking the state if they could fund one portion of our county to be done to show the errors in the maps. The board stated that FEMA suspended our county from the flood insurance program due to non-compliance in the floodplain ordinance which was adopted by FEMA and now our county residents are unable to obtain insurance or loans. The board stated that the county residents did not deserve this fall out and they needed to try and solve this issue. David Hyatt, Building Inspector stated that the estimated cost for doing a study on one section of the county is $7500.00. The board wanted the state to be asked if they would fund this cost. The board all agreed that the county needed to make good faith efforts to get the county reinstated. The board gave a directive to the Attorney Cody to draft a letter to the state showing what happened in Graham County and request that the state pay for the $7500.00 fee to have one section of our county studied. The board stated that the entire county needed to be studied and hoped that the state would help us out.
Commissioner Edwards asks Harold Phillips to speak. Harold Phillips, State Forest Service Ranger introduced the new Assistant Ranger Frank Kline to the board. The board welcomed Mr. Kline to the meeting and congratulated him on his appointment.
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Robert M. (Mike) Edwards, Chairman, Graham County Commissioner
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Billy Holder, Vice-Chairman, Graham County Commissioner
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Connie Orr, Member, Graham County Commissioner
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Sandra Smith, Member, Graham County Commissioner
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Raymond Williams. Member, Graham County Commissioner
ATTEST:
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Kim Crisp, Clerk to the Board