Serving Thursday, December 14. 1978, Vol. 25, No. 7 * Black Mountain * Swannanoa * Montreat * Ridgecrest Second ctass postage paid at Btach Mountain. NC 28711 OM M?a^er by Dan Ward The Black Mountain Town Board rejected a counter proposal from the McMahans, heard that the town's collision assurance had been cancelled, and held some political sparring on water negotiations at its regular meeting December 11. The board rejected a counter proposal of $25,000 from the attorney of Mr. and Mrs. J. E McMahan for damage done to their home by a Black Mountain fire truck August 1. On the recommendation of Aid. Mike Begley, the board rejected the proposal and set a 10-day time limit for the McMahans to accept an earlier offer of $22,500 by the board. The McMahans had earlier asked $29,611 for replacement of the home, valued at $16,870. (See related story). Insurance Town Manager Mack Kirk patrick also told the board that alternatives may be worked out to obtain collision coverage for Black Mountain vehicles since it had been cancelled by Maryland casualty. (See related article) * He Said that *'he town* s police cars can be covered, but with MOO - $1000 deduc tabie, by the end of the week. Aiso, equipment such as walky-talkies and radios can aiso be insured, he said. On the recommendation of insurance agents, ait town emptoyees wiH attend a driving improvement school on defensive driving. Kirk patrick added. Water negotiations A partisan fog rested on debate over whether ad ditional members should be appointed to participate in negotiations on Chestnut Cove water rights with the City of Asheviiie. Aid. Ruth Brandon noted that at the last meeting, the board approved having for mer Mayor Richard Stone join Begiey and Aid. John Kiuttz in the negotiations because of his official and legal background. Mrs. Brandon suggested that Water Superintendent A1 White, Aid. A. F. Tyson, and former Mayor Margaret Slagle be appointed to the team, because of their in volvement in water negotiations with Asheville in the past. Begley and Mayor Tom fobo! said they felt that me committee would be too large to be able to work with five persons from Asheville. Aid. Brandon countered that White, Tyson and Mrs. Slagle were passed over as the most obvious persons to represent the town. The board agreed that Tyson and White would join the others as advisors, but that all would not meet with Asheville officials. Mrs. Slagle said she would decline working on the committee to remove political innuendo from the discussion. New well Kirkpatrick told the board that a second well drilled at the Black Mountain Golf Course may prove to be a failure. He said preliminary reports show the well will not produce as much water as hoped for However, he said geologists have told him that if it produces as little as 25 gallons per minute, it would be worthwhile installing a pump. Despite drilling delays, the town has moved from the acute water shortage it was in, Kirkpatrick said. The water level at the reservoir is down 9 feet 6 inches - up from 12 feet, hp said. Special meeting Sobol called a special meeting for December 28, at 7 p m. to approve any local bill legislation the board would like to see passed by the General Assembly. One of those items will be a bill to solve a controversy over whether property owned by the Dickenses and Lehmans is actually annexed to the town. Sobol suggested that other business may be placed on the agenda for that evening. Cemetery The board also approved, with Tyson opposed, to accept responsibility for removing brush and keeping g grass mowed at the Old Black Mountain Cemetery. Before proceeding with maintenance, the town will hold a public hearing. Tyson opposed the action, saying the town should clean the grounds wee, but require plot owners to maintain graoves. Cost to the town of maintaining the cemetery was estimated at $290 to $300 per year by Kirkpatrick. No provision for perpetual care was made when the town sold ' plots at tha turn oi the cen tury. However, a specia] committee appointed to study the problem with upkeep there found that many families of persons buried at the cemetery could not be found. Dispatcher grant The board voted to accept an alternative to decreased three-year funding for the LEAA grant for police dispatchers. A provision requiring the town to pay only $1524 for the second year was adopted. Should the town want the dispatchers a third year, it would have to pay the entire cost, estimated at $30,487. (Con't. on page 10) The time between /ait and winter iingers in expectation. ^Mountain Living Magazine) Town collision insurance cut by Dan Ward Bids from insurance companies across the state are expected within two weeks to repiace coiiision insurance denied Biack Mountain by its previous insurer. Maryland Casualty, according to Town Manager Mack Kirkpatrick Kirkpatrick was notified a month ago that Maryiand Casualty wouid continue to carry liability insurance for town vehicles, but would drop collision on December 11. Aithough the company gave no reason for the cancellation, ft was apparently mobvated by the current rash of ac cidents invoiving town vehicles, Kirkpatrick said Within the iast six months, four police cars, a street department pickup truck and two fire engines have been in accidents - some totai tosses Kirkpatrick said the c. n Cragwont water, drainage seen as grant priories by Dan Ward Seventeen persons toid a specia] committee holding hearings for a new Depart ment of Housing and Urbar Devetopment Community Development Grant ap plication that new water lines and fire hydrants were still a priority for the Cragmont Community on December 7. In addition, five of those Theodore Dougias teiis a speciai HUD grant committee that drainage persons said that better drainage is also needed in the area, where rainwater often creates streams in gravel roads and ponds in residents' yards. All but two who spoke said that an earlier application for up to $500,000 worth of 10-inch water lines and fire hydrants should be duplicated - with possibly an amendment to provide for more efficient drainage. A few persons also repeated an earlier complaint for the benefit of town officials present about a number of ponies kept at a residence on West College Street. One said that although Black Mountain Police had approached the owner, the ponies remain. Some complained that they no longer open windows or sit outside because of the smell. Other recommendations came from Corine Carson, who suggested some gravel streets be blacktopped; Margaret Slagle, who asked for water lines in the Kerlee Heights area and Robert Lee Stepp, who asked for street improvements. Creola Austin asked that citizens be given the op Survey response var:et% by Dan Ward Results of a survey by the Fews to get citizen response to Negotiations between the [own of Biack Mountain and J E. McMahans, whose ne was destroyed by a f'0