Leadership changes on WCU board

Waynesville budget passed over opposition

Citing their continuing support of a revenue-neutral budget, Waynesville Aldermen Chuck Dickson and Jon Feichter voted against the adoption of the proposed 202122 fiscal year budget during a June 22 board meeting.

Dickson and Feichter’s opposition echoed their votes cast during a special budget meeting on June 16, which was called after citizens complained about the rate during a June 8 regular meeting. At that meeting, town administrators had proposed an initial rate of 45.45 cents per $100 in assessed value, down from the previous 49.57 cent rate, but a countywide property revaluation earlier this year that saw values skyrocket for many property owners means the rate cut is still a tax increase for some.

During the June 16 special meeting, Dickson and Feichter voted against a new proposal, 43.92 cents. That new proposal passed 3-to-2, was introduced to the public on June 22 and passed by the same margin. The upcoming budget includes $900,000 in employee raises to bring pay rates closer to market average, and also eliminates the town’s $15 vehicle fee.

Downtown Waynesville director on leave, property likely to be removed from MSD

With a proposed contract renewal going nowhere fast, a slew of unfulfilled public records requests and the strong likelihood of a property defecting from the Municipal Service District, the Downtown Waynesville Association announced June 28 that longtime Executive Director Buffy Phillips would be placed on medical leave effective immediately.

The embattled Phillips was to retire on Aug. 6 anyway, but the DWA executive board appointed current assistant Beth Gilmore as interim director. Gilmore will have her hands full, presiding over the DWA’s bid to renew its management contract even as public records requests filed by The Smoky Mountain News more than three months ago remain unfulfilled. Questions sent by SMN to the DWA about Phillips’ pay while on leave, and the last day she actually appeared in the office, went unanswered as of press time.

Meanwhile, at its June 22 meeting, Waynesville’s board of aldermen voted unanimously to call a public hearing to consider the removal of 180 Legion Drive from the MSD. Owners of the parcel, currently home to Mad Anthony’s bar, had petitioned for removal from the district 2017, claiming they derived no benefit from it. Their request was denied, but appears to have backing from Mayor Gary Caldwell and Alderman Anthony Sutton, who put forth and seconded the motion, respectively.

Haywood courts back in full swing

Haywood County courts are back in full swing following safety-related case delays during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are holding jury trials and at a quick pace,” District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said. “With the restrictions lifted from the COVID-19 pandemic, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Bradley B. Letts was ready to catch up on the back log of cases. My office responded by prosecuting five weeks of court over a sixweek span in Haywood County Superior Court.”

Typically, Haywood County has 11 to 12 jury trial sessions a year, and so it was unusual to have trial sessions in back-to-back weeks, Welch said. Her office had requested additional court time, and Judge Letts was able to get permission from authorities to hold more court, she said.

On May 27, a jury found Brooke Stites Bushyhead, 39, of Waynesville, guilty of two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine. After being stopped for a tag-light violation, more than an ounce of methamphetamine was found on her person, along with cash, a set of digital scales and baggies. She was sentenced to 140 to 186 months in prison.

On June 4, a jury found Jon Jeffrey Hinde, 59, of Clyde, guilty of felonious breaking and entering, larceny and possession of stolen goods. Hinde and others broke into a cabin owned and stole various items of property. He was sentenced to six to 17 months in prison, followed by supervised probation upon his release. His codefendants, Natasha Hinde and Ethan Putnam, pleaded guilty afterward.

On June 8, after jury selection, Jose Ax Sub, 37, of Maggie Valley, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense and was sentenced to 120 to 264 months in prison.

That same week, Wendell James McCarty, 60, of Maggie Valley waived his right to a jury trial. Judge Steve Warren convicted McCarty of resisting a public officer and exceeding a safe speed.

On June 24, Arthur Willie Rathbone, 53, of Canton, was found guilty of four counts of assault on a governmental official for fighting with Haywood County Sheriff’s Deputies while being taken into custody on another matter. He received 18 months of supervised probation.

More than 25 cases handled were connected with drug and property crimes, Welch said.

“We want people to be safe in their homes and communities. Districtwide, my office will continue to push for as much court time as we can get in an effort to catch up from the closure of our courts over the past year,” she said.