I’ve mentioned before that the Public Hearing for the proposed concrete plant on Murphy Hill Road was rescheduled for Wednesday, May 14. It will be held at the North Buncombe Middle School at 5:30 p.m. The auditorium at the school can hold 400 people and opponents want to fill the auditorium.

The concrete plant proposal is the only item on the agenda. Proponents of the plant will go first, followed by expert witnesses for the opposition, then any citizens who wish to speak. Organizers are asking remarks be kept short (under three minutes unless you’re an expert witness), polite, factual, and non-repetitive.

North Buncombe Middle School is located at 51 North Buncombe School Road.

If you need more information about the proposal and the reason for the opposition, here’s some of the more recent articles about it, and the public hearing process that’s stretched out for months (it actually started before I began publishing this website):

MyWeaverville.com Posts

Mountain Xpress Articles
Round Two
Concrete Plant Halted on a Technicality
Concrete Plans Not Yet Firm

Weaverville Tribune
Hearing on Proposed Plant Not Concrete (PDF, story of page 9)
Court Schedules Public Hearings for Concrete Plant (PDF, story on page 6)
Shepherd Now Owns Murphy Hill Land (PDF, story on page 27)

Asheville Citizen-Times
Concrete Plant Hearing Stopped

There’s been a lot of debate about the issue of bringing loaded guns into National Parks, so here’s a chance to let the government know how you feel about it. The Department of the Interior has opened the public comment period on the proposed regulations which would allow carrying loaded concealed weapons in National Parks. Go to edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-9606.htm for the full proposed regulation and to www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648053d497 if you’d like to comment online. Comments will be accepted through June 30. More details:

SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service, proposes to amend regulations presently codified in 36 CFR part 2 and 50 CFR part 27, which provide guidance and controls for the possession and transportation of firearms in national park areas and national wildlife refuges. The proposed amendments would update the regulations to reflect current state laws authorizing the possession of concealed firearms, while maintaining the existing regulatory provisions that ensure visitor safety and resource protection such as the prohibitions on poaching and limitations on hunting and target practice.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted through June 30, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the number 1024-AD70 by any of the following methods:

• Federal rulemaking portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: 1024-AD70; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
• Hand-deliver: 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203.

Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment–including your personal identifying information–may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

The Planning and Zoning Board meets tonight (Wednesday, May 7) at 5:30 p.m. in Weaverville Town Hall.  On the agenda:

Meeting Items

1. Acknowledgement of Guests and/or Officials
2. Review & Approval of 1 April 2008 Board Meetings Minutes
   1. Comments or amendments; approval
3. Sub-division applications: None
4. Proposed Rezoning of 2.67 acres off Gill Branch Rd. from C-2 to R-3
   1. Refer to Zoning Administrator memo dated 30 April 2008
   2. Town Manager/Zoning Admin recap of proposal
   3. Board discussion and vote
5. Conditional Zoning District: Weaverville Partners, LLC, approx. 13 acres on Weaverville Blvd
   1. Town Manager update on developments subsequent to April meeting
   2. Board questions and discussion
6. Weaverville Zoning & Subdivision Codes Revisions
   1. Chair re-cap project
   2. Town Manager comments (incl Town website changes)
   3. Town Attorney comments
   4. Board discussion & suggested Phase 1 changes
   5. Interim report on Phase 2 research (Chair, Sullivan, Staton)
7. Upcoming events:
   1. Town Council Meeting & Public Hearing, Monday, 19 May 2008, 7.00 p.m.
   2. Next regular P&Z Meeting, Tuesday, 3 June 2008, 5.30 p.m.

MegaVote is provided by Congress.org as a means of tracking your elected officials most recent and upcoming votes. To subscribe and receive this weekly vote monitor in your own inbox, sign up at www.congress.org/congressorg/megavote/.

Recent House Votes

Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act Vote Passed (247-165, 19 Not Voting) The House voted to require the Department of Labor to issue interim and final occupational safety and health standards regarding worker exposure to combustible dust. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 Vote Passed (414-1, 16 Not Voting) The House agreed to this measure that would prohibit employers and health insurance issuers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of their genetic information. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act Vote Passed (388-21, 22 Not Voting) The House agreed with the Senate?s amendments to this bill intended to ensure the availability of low interest student loans. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

FAA Reauthorization Act - H.R.2881 The Senate is expected to vote on this bill to modernize the nation?s air traffic control system. Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008 - H.R.5818 The House is scheduled to vote on this bill that would require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants and loans for housing stimulus activities. American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - H.R.___ The House is also likely to work on this bill that aims to reduce foreclosures.

The May 6 Primary is finally here. If you didn’t take advantage of early voting, here’s the polling locations for Weaverville tomorrow (Tuesday, May 6). Hours are 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. for all locations:

• Precinct 40.1 (Flat Creek) votes at North Buncombe Elementary, 251 Flat Creek Church
• Precinct 51.1 (Ivy 2) votes at Stockton Farm County Store, 388 Barnardsville Highway
• Precinct 58.1 (North Buncombe) votes at North Buncombe Middle School, 51 North Buncombe School Road
• Precinct 59.1 (Reems Creek) votes at Reems Creek Fire Department, 730 Reems Creek Road
• Precinct 67.1 (Weaverville) votes at Weaverville Town Hall, 30 South Main Street

If you aren’t sure which precinct you’re in, you can find out online through the Voter Registration Search: www.sboe.state.nc.us/VoterLookup.aspx

To keep up with election results, the North Carolina State Board of Elections has set up a new online web page on which you can view up to the minute results. An Election Night Results Guide is also available at www.buncombecounty.org/common/boe/electionResultsGuide.pdf.

There’s a Weaverville Town Council and Asheville City Council workshop scheduled for 5 p.m. tonight (Tuesday, April 29) at the Asheville Public Works Facility at 5 p.m. The Town Calendar has this as the agenda:

Weaverville Town Council and Asheville City Council Workshop will meet at the Asheville Public Works Facility located on South College Street in Asheville to discuss issue of common concern.

Word is those issues of common concern include growth issues, water issues and annexation. The Public Works Facility is located at 161 South College Street in Asheville.

MegaVote is provided by Congress.org as a means of tracking your elected officials most recent and upcoming votes. To subscribe and receive this weekly vote monitor in your own inbox, sign up at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/megavote/.

Recent Senate Votes

Cloture Motion; Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 Vote Rejected (56-42, 2 Not Voting) The Senate fell short of the sixty votes necessary to proceed to debate on H.R. 2831, a bill that effectively overturns a recent Supreme Court decision concerning pay discrimination litigation. Sen. Richard Burr voted NO……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Elizabeth Dole voted NO……send e-mail or see bio Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 Vote Passed (96-1, 3 Not Voting) The Senate passed this comprehensive veterans? benefits bill, which includes a provision to provide a limited pension for Filipino World War II veterans. Sen. Richard Burr voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Elizabeth Dole voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 Vote Passed (95-0, 5 Not Voting) The Senate unanimously agreed to a measure that would prohibit employers and health insurance issuers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of their genetic information. Sen. Richard Burr voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Elizabeth Dole voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 Vote Passed (349-62, 20 Not Voting) The House voted to place a year-long moratorium on the implementation of several new Medicaid rules. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act Vote Passed (368-43, 20 Not Voting) The House voted to reauthorize through 2010 the Small Business and Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Coast Guard Authorization for 2008 Vote Passed (395-7, 29 Not Voting) The House approved this $8.4 billion bill authorizing Coast Guard programs and spending. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

FAA Reauthorization Act - H.R.2881 The Senate is expected to work on this bill to modernize the nation?s air traffic control system. Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Act of 2008 - H.R.5522 The House is scheduled to vote on this bill that would require occupational safety and health standards regarding worker exposure to combustible dust. Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act - H.R.493 The House is also likely to vote on this bill, which just passed the Senate last week.

A Weaverville Board of Adjustments meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, April 28 at Town Hall. On the agenda:

For the purpose of reviewing a unified business development application at the intersection of US 25/70 and Monticello Road. The project is known as Carolina Group Partners and consisting of a 13,000 sf facility to be used for retail space.

The story is Carolina Group Partners, the developer behind Northridge Commons (Wal-Mart/Lowes Development), wants to tear down the BP station on the corner of 25/70 and Monticello Road and put in a CVS. Making things a little interesting is that the developers behind Weaver Village (McPhail property, on the corner of Weaver Blvd. and Main Street) also want to put in a CVS. Where will the drug store move? Stay tuned….

In the meantime, and because I just installed the software to do online polls on the site, where do you think CVS should go?  If this poll doesn’t work for you, let me know.  I’m still playing around with the technical stuff for it.

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Someone asked if I would post sample ballots for the May 6 primary. Here are the links to view them on the Buncombe County Board of Elections website. They’re all in PDF format:

• Democratic Sample Ballot
• Non-Partisan Sample Ballot
• Republican Sample Ballot

If you want to vote before May 6, here’s information about One-Stop Voting at Weaverville Town Hall, which began April 17.

MegaVote is provided by Congress.org as a means of tracking your elected officials most recent and upcoming votes. To subscribe and receive this weekly vote monitor in your own inbox, sign up at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/megavote/.

Recent House Votes

Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act Vote Passed (238-179, 14 Not Voting) The House passed this bill intended to simplify the federal tax system. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act Vote Passed (383-27, 21 Not Voting) The House passed this bill that raises the amount college students can borrow by $2,000. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 - S.1315 The Senate will work on this bill to enhance life insurance benefits for disabled veterans. SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act - H.R.5819 The House is scheduled to vote on this bill that would improve the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 - H.R.2830 The House is also expected to vote on this bill to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2008.

Here’s the agenda for the next Town Council meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, April 21 at Town Hall:

TOWN OF WEAVERVILLE
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA

1. Call to Order.
2. Public Comment
3. Approval of Minutes of the March 17, 2008 Council Meeting.
4. Town of Weaverville Arbor Day Proclamation.
5. Appointments to the Weaverville Board of Adjustments.
6. Approval of a Subdivision of 4.227 Acres Located a 7 Indian Lane into Five Lots for C. Kent Cole Construction LLC and Tracy Shinn.
7. Request to Accept the Water System and Road System for Phase 9, Reems Creek Golf Community into the Town Systems.
8. Request for Rezoning of 9732.07-79-2292 Containing 1.87 Acres on Gill Branch Road from Commercial 2 to Residential 3.
9. Discussion of a Resolution to Establish Minimum General Fund Balance.
10. Manager’s Report
11. Department Reports
    1. Police
    2. Fire
    3. Public Works
    4. Zoning
    5. Tax

The Weaverville Town Council May Take Any Action on Any Agenda Item Including Items That Maybe Added To The Agenda.

MegaVote is provided by Congress.org as a means of tracking your elected officials most recent and upcoming votes. To subscribe and receive this weekly vote monitor in your own inbox, sign up at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/megavote/.

Recent Senate Votes

Ensign Amdt. to Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Vote Agreed to (88-8, 4 Not Voting) The Senate approved this amendment to the housing stimulus package, which would extend an estimated $6.6 billion in tax incentives to encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency. Sen. Richard Burr voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Elizabeth Dole voted Not Voting……send e-mail or see bio Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Vote Passed (84-12, 4 Not Voting) The Senate passed this stimulus bill that is intended to reduce home foreclosures. Sen. Richard Burr voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Elizabeth Dole voted Not Voting……send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

National Landscape Conservation System Act Vote Passed (278-140, 12 Not Voting) The House voted to give permanent statutory protection to the Department of Interior?s National Landscape Conservation System, a 26 million-acre network of monuments, scenic trails, and conservation and wildlife areas. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Relating to the consideration of the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Vote Passed (224-195, 1 Present, 12 Not Voting) This House resolution removes the 90-day provision requiring Congress to vote on the United States-Colombia Free Trade bill. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

To amend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - H.R.1195 The Senate is expected to work on this bill to make technical corrections to transportation law. Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007 - H.R.2634 The House is scheduled to vote on this bill that would provide debt cancellation to some low-income countries and establish a structure for creditor transparency and responsible lending. Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 - H.R.5719 The House is also scheduled to vote on this tax simplification bill. The Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 - H.R.5715 The House will likely work on this bill to assure that students and families have access to the federal student loan program.

Scrutiny Hooligans‘ Gordon Smith was at the Democratic Buncombe County Commissioner Candidate Forum held at the Ox Creek Community Center on April 12. You can read his rough transcript of the event here. Richard Bernier was also there recording the debate for URTV. I’ll post information about when it can be viewed as soon as it’s available.

Did you see this sign on Weaver Boulevard? Could you read it as you were driving by at 35 m.p.h.? Yeah, me neither, so here’s a close up. The parcel in question is known as the McPhail Property or Weaver Village. A public hearing will be held 6 p.m. on Monday, April 14 at the Weaverville Town Hall.