Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / Dec. 5, 1985, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE NEWS RECORD SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY SINCE 1901 . 4. ' ' ? ? Vol. 85 No. 49 Thursday, December 5, 1985 25c ..A' !X?'. Community Calendar Hoi Springs VFD Toy Drive The Hot Springs VFD is sponsoring a toy drive for Christmas. Anyone wishing to donate new or good used toys should contact Angela Wills at 622-7171. Christmas Decoration Contest The Walnut Creek Community Development Club will hold a Christmas decorating contest in the community. For more in formation, contact Helen Hunter, Joe Penland or Mrs. Charles Neighbors. Laurel VFD Turkey Shoot The Laurel VFD will sponsor a turkey and ham shoot on Dec. 7 at the fire hall beginning at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend and participate; Christmas Tree Sale The Madison County 4-H Club will be selling Christmas trees on Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Ingles Shoping Center on the Marshall By-pass. Locally grown live and cut Fraser fir and white pine will be available. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the 4-H Exchange program. Pageant Seeks Donations The Marshall Christmas Pageant is still asking for dona tions to offset the costs of this year's production, scheduled for Dec. 13-15. Pageant organizors are asking for $20 donations. Those making $20 donations will have a light on the star lit on either Christmas Eve or Christmas night in memory of a loved one. For more information or to make a donation, Contact Ed Fender at 649-3003 or 649-2828. American Legion To Meet The American Legion Post No. -317 in Marshall and the Ladies Auxiliary will meet on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Legion Hall on Back St. All members are asked to attend. Optimists Meet Tonight The Madison Central Optimists Club will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at Mary's Restaurant on the Marshall By-pass. All members are asked to attend. Patriots Host Black Hawks Friday The Madison Patriot basketball teams will meet North Bun combe H.S. in basketball action Friday night in Weaverville. Young Dems Host Christmas Party The Madison County Young Democrats Club will host a Christmas Party on Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. in the Greek Community Center in Asheville. Entertainment and refreshments will be provided. Tickets are available from club members or at the door. For more information, contact Vernie Lunsford at 649-3080 after 5 p.m.. Marshall Board Meets Monday Night The Marshall Board of Aldermen will meet on Dec. 9 at 7 : 30 p.m. Mayor-elect Anita Ward and the town's aldermen will be installed during the meeting. . Two Lawsuits Filed Against Mars Hill, Cooper Construction n dwellin The County Nov (I Miller, who also represents Maggie Howard The suit filed by the Ponder* seeks in damage* from the defer ?rlU. The suit filed by the Howard* also seefci in d to the Sun fUnl n Mars H?! Howard's sail allege hat Auditor Criticizes County Purchasing Practices Annual Report Cites Conflict Of Interest By ROBERT KOENIG The county's auditor has criticised several Madison County purchasing practises in the annual report on the audit of the county's budget released Monday. In the report dated Nov. 15, the accounting firm of Greene, Skidmore and Smith cited the county for purchasing $6,016.82 in goods and services from a member of the Madison County Board of Commissioners. The auditor's report did not specifically name the county of ficial from whom the goods and services were purchased. The board's chairman, James Ledford, operates three ser vice stations in the Mars Hill area. The three Ledford-owned stations have provided fuel and repairs to vehicles operated by the Madison County Transportation Authority and the Emergency Medical Service in the past. Virginia Anderson operates a motel and restuarant in Hot Springs and board member Ervin Adams is retired. In their report, the auditors note that the legal limit on such approved transactions is $5,000 per year. The accounting firm issued a similar warning to the county commissioners in 1984 when goods and services purchased at Ledford's Exxon ser vice stations totalled $5,247.35. The auditors issued several other warnings in their Nov. 15 report, citing the county's failure to comply with state statutes regarding the purchase of capital equipment. The auditor report states, "Certain capital outlay Hems totalling $71,834 were purchased during the year without adherence to North Carolina General Statute 143-129 regarding requirements for bidding." The auditors also criticised the commissioners for approv ing a $200,260 contract for tax mapping without providing funds in their budget. The state law on purchasing procedures which the audit report tefers t6 requires that equipment purchases of more than $10,000 or construction or repair projects costing more than $30,000 must be publicly advertised and let for bid. The same statute requires that all contracts for equipment or con struction be in writing and that bids on contracts be opened publicly. The auditor's report did not state the nature of the expenses cited in the report as having been made without adherence to the statute. Attempts to contact James Skidmore, the certified public accountant who prepared the report, were unsuc cessful. County finance officer David Caldwell was also unavailable on Tuesday. The dome of the Madison County Court House may have to be removed because of damage caused to the building's roof. Court House Reopening May Face Delays H.v KOHKKT KOKNU1 The extent of dama|{f to Ihf ceiling and roof or the Madison County Court House should be determined later this week. The architect supervising the repair project is unsure if the work can be completed in time for the January sessions of court. Mars Hill architect Wayne Roberts reported to the county commissioners on progress being made on the pro ject during the monthly meeting held Monday in Marshall. The commis sioners' meeting was held in the judges chambers of the courthouse because of repairs currently being made in the courtroom. Huberts said that crews have removed most of the three ceilings which were directly above the cour troom The ceilings must be removed in order to inspect the three suport trusses for signs of decay and fatigue. The architect told the commis sioners that several of the steel bolts which hold the composite trusses together have been sheared off and that the trusses themselves have deflected or bowed. When the remaining portions of ceiling are removed later this week, a structural engineer will inspect the trusses for damage. l-'ollowing the in spection. a determination can be made regarding the extent of repair which will be necessary. The cupola above (he courthouse dome is now leaning at three degrees and will probably have to be removed in the near future. Roberts said. The present cupola is too heavy lor the building's roof to support. The cupola could be replaced with a lightweight duplicate. Koberts warned that the courtroom could be unavailable for a long period if the inspection discovered that the building is unsafe, lie told the com missioners. "If the report determines that the trusses canot be repaired, it would be unsafe to hold court. Preparations should be ande to hold court elsewhere." December's sessions of District Court are being conducted in the theatre at Madison U.K. A planned session of Superior Court was cancell ed because of the repair project. In other business, the commis sioners approved a change in the manner Madison County residents receiving food stamps will receive their monthly allotment. Beginning In Kehniarv. food stamp recipients will receive their stamp allocation by direct maH. Yt present, recipients must pick up their stamps at local hanks. The Dept. of Social Services will contract WUIrCoHt Containment. Inc. for the direct-mailing of the stamps to local residents. I)SS director Anita Davie told the commissioners that the change would save the county several thousand dollars annually. The commissioners also approved a number of lax waivers and met with Joe and Anita l>avis concerning an eror in their tax hiil. KMS director Mildred West told the commissioners that she is having dif ficulty staffing the Marshall am bulance at times because several KMTs are currently undergoing training and recertification. She said there is a shortage of substitute atten dants in the Marshall area. She also reported that the KMS made SI runs in October. The commissioners approved a resolution declaring Dec. I through T as Home Health Care Week. In another health care-related resolu tion. the commissioners approved a resolution supporting the issuance of f I million in industrial revenue bonds for construction of additional narsing care facilities at the Madison Manor Nursing Home. The bonds, which would be issued through the Madison Convalescent Center. Inc.. a non-profit county agency, would finance construction of the additional facility. The resolution estimates that some l?l new Jobs would br created by the addition. The resolution was sent ou to the North Carolina llepl. of Commerce. The commissioners re-elected James l.edford to serve as chairman ?f the county hoard for another year at the start of Monday's meeting. l.edford suggested that the county investigate the possibility of obtain ing free use of computer facilities through a program being operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The TV A is offering the use of computers to selected countiest. In exchange for the use of the com puters. the TV A reserves a portion of the computer's data storage capacity for recording local rainfall informa tion. The commissioners appointed a committee to study the feasibility of transferring county records to com puter tapes. Helen l.ampkin of Mars llill was named to serve on the Council oq Ag ing. The commissioners also heard a report from l.arrv Thompson of the Blue Kidgc Mental Health Center concerning plans to construct a group home for retarded adults and were presented copies of the annual audit of the coanty's finances -See related stories. ?? ' i. i arolina miemplov mt-nl in hiring October ac released this week ' AN* Security | showed nlhsof a month to 4 6 per M Mad County unemployment also mere month remained below ra ? at 4.5 percent L3? ly *. win I Greene Counties all reported unemployment rates below tl cent. Graham and Robes* .'ported the state';! I he moi llv. Buncoml reported four percent un tfoyi and Haywood Count unet [ incr ised illghtlj to 5. percent Yancey Count 19 p-w ; in Mttbet lowr eon Id . porti ih. :t? i ? " ' ^ i IH "rCowC I IA (It i District Court Held In SchfllS Judge Phillip Ginn presided ov an unusual session of the Madison mty District Court on The session was held tn Madis UfrMtre due to construction indei w; y at lite courttjf ( tttea (schedule to be wen ?0?im??'t until .lanuar wmmm wh.-n it is hoped ; ihe mm tnx? ??ril ! once ai in be i The court lso ret- elicit ultd a (>r? (Mbit ?t? hearing for Oarnrit
The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.)
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Dec. 5, 1985, edition 1
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