Madison County commissioners appoint 3 new Planning Board members

MARSHALL - In its first meeting of 2023, the Madison County Board of Commissioners appointed members to its county boards, including the Planning Board.

The commissioners appointed three new members to the Planning Board. The first member appointed to the board was Wesley Keith. Mars Hill resident Clayton Honeycutt was chosen to replace the position vacated by Commissioner Alan Wyatt. Typically, the Madison County Planning Board has aimed to have representation from all three townships included among its members.

"There's not a requirement (to have members from all towns/geographic locations throughout the county), but that's just something that we've always tried to do, is keep (a member) from each community," Wyatt said. "There will be an opportunity to put (a Hot Springs resident) at a later date."

As there was not a Hot Springs resident who vied for the position - which will carry a term that runs through December 2023 - the board appointed Lee Wild to fill the spot.

"That board, those nine members that serve on the board ... I served on that board for a long time," Wyatt said. "That's probably the most contentious board in this county. They do it, and they do not get paid. They're volunteers, and they spend countless hours going to these meetings and going to work sessions. It was a great honor and a great pleasure to serve on that board and serve the people of Madison County, and to work alongside all these great people.

"They have great continuity, and the three that, I think, we've picked tonight, will continue that same line and same continuity. I appreciate every one of them."

The board also unanimously voted to reappoint Jonathan Wallin to the Parks and Recreation Board. The board also voted to appoint Eric Allen to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

The commissioners also voted to replace Mack Boone with Tiffany Ferguson.

"Mack's served us faithfully over many years from the Beech Glen community," BOC Vice Chair Michael Garrison said. "But Tiffany is also a counselor of the school system, has been a coach for 10 years in the school system and has a direct influence and relationship with what's going on with the parks and recreation department."

Former Board of Commissioners Chair Mark Snelson will remain on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board as a representative from the Hot Springs community, after a motion from current BOC Chair Matt Wechtel.

According to Wechtel, Chris Mamey, the county Parks and Recreation Department head, recommended the county institute Mitch Hampton to serve on the board.

"It should be noted, too, that Mitch has served on other boards in the county," Garrison said. "He's been not only a faithful servant but a good leader in those boards, and he is involved in the recreational activities commercially of our county."

The commissioners unanimously voted to reappoint Jackie Ball and Bill Ricker to the county Tourism Development Authority board.

The BOC also unanimously approved Billy Anders and Clayton Willis to remain on the Watershed Advisory Board.

Public Safety radio system overhaul

In its December meeting, the Madison County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved entering an agreement to receive $224,148 from the state 911 Board.

The grant, the 2023 PSAP Grant from the North Carolina 911 Board will allow the county's emergency operations team to replace its current dispatch consoles with four Motorola MCC 7500E (IP) dispatch consoles, according to Caleb Dispenza, Madison County emergency operations director.

"The vendor agreement has been reviewed by local legal counsel, and has been deemed appropriate as to form," Dispenza said. "The vendor has approved and signed Madison County's contract addendum, and then also the state of North Carolina Department of Information Technology has reviewed this contract as part of the 725G statewide contract and has advised us that the purchase may be authorized at the current level of pricing with the current contract vendor."

In the county's January meeting, the board unanimously agreed to enter into an agreement to receive the new dispatch consoles.

More:Madison County one step closer to 911 radio overhaul after agreeing to receive state funds

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Madison County commissioners appoint 3 new Planning Board members