Sometimes local leaders forget that they work for taxpayers, that they are in office thanks to the votes of their neighbors. A couple of incidents our reporters are covering right now are proof that political agendas too often override common sense.
In Jackson County the costs and unforeseen problems associated with the decision to leave the Fontana Regional Library system continue to mount. Over in Swain County, bureaucrats are taking it upon themselves to alter the public record, an act that is very likely a misdemeanor. Geez.
Jackson commissioners are considering passing a revised policy for the use of the “community room” in the Jackson County Library that would, in effect, block the community from using the space. The new policy says the room would be available for “library and county government uses only.”
When the library was moved to the old courthouse in the late 2000s and the building renovated, public donations totaled $1.8 million. Part of the allure of that capital campaign was the potential for citizens to finally use what many of us consider the most scenic courthouse in North Carolina. The once-shuttered courthouse would become a beautifully refurbished meeting place for all kinds of groups, which is exactly what has happened.
Now, for the community to use and visit. Since then, that’s exactly what it has become, one of the most scenic public spaces in the state.
Former county commissioner William Shelton, who while in office championed the library move to the old courthouse, says what’s being proposed is a travesty.
“It should be there for the public, and whatever group or whatever people, if they book it and pay whatever they pay to use it, they should be allowed to do it,” said Shelton. “That is America. That’s the First Amendment. That’s freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and that’s a public space that’s there for public use, and that’s my feeling.”
But a majority of the current commissioners somehow think walling off that space is somehow an effective volley in their petty and embarrassing culture war against LGQBT+ books and gatherings. This is as bad as it gets.
Over in Bryson City, Former Swain County Manager Lottie Baker ordered a county employee in charge of IT to delete a portion of a YouTube video of a public county commissioners’ meeting. In other words, county employees — bureaucrats — altered a public record, which an attorney for the N.C. Press Association says may be illegal.
“I do not think a county manager’s request to delete something recorded by the county during a county meeting that was deleted before it ended meets any of the criteria for preservation and protection of public records under North Carolina’s public records law,” said Mike Tadych, the press association attorney.
What was deleted is not what’s important here. The issue is that the public’s business must remain public. Elected officials and those employed by public entities can’t choose what the public — the taxpayer — has access to. To the contrary, North Carolina has a public records law and a public meetings law where the responsibilities of those who create and hold public records are clearly laid out.
Baker has since been relieved of her duties, but anyone who takes time to attend a Swain meeting or watch then on YouTube can see that there are some serious trust issues going on between voters and their elected county leaders.
As I watched those videos and listened to citizen complaints about how commissioners are handling local issues, I couldn’t help but think about how important it is to have local journalists covering local events. Smoky Mountain News Staff Writer Lily Levin has been covering the shenanigans in Swain County closely, but often we are the only outlet reporting on those meetings. Over in Jackson County, SMN Staff Writer Alex Perri is reporting as that county board does its best to ignore all voters except those who share their same prejudices.
There’s really not a lot more to say except to stay tuned. We’ll keep up the reporting, but taxpayers might have to wait until the next election before much will change.
(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)