I have a wish list for Highlands going into the new year. Whether I get all that I believe we need as a town may or not become a reality, but I am always hopeful.
First on my list is that we find a public works director and town engineer to replace Lamar Nix who retired at the end of December. This vacancy may be harder to fill than replacing John Dotson on the town board. Qualifications for serving on the town board can defined broadly, but not so for a public works director and town engineer.
A public works director must have experience in understanding an array of utilities such as the electric grid, water, sewer, roads, sidewalks, and sanitation services. Seasoned professional engineers by virtue of their training have that knowledge. The town has advertised the position as public works director along with the requirement of being a professional engineer, a license that Lamar held and used in his work for the town.
The other items on my list are capital projects. First on the list is the completion of the new playground at the recreation department. I hope we have a ribbon cutting ceremony for this facility in early summer.
Second, I hope the town can move forward with the Plateau Boys and Girls Clubs to build a facility at the recreation department. Highlands needs such a program for our young people.
There are other items on my list. One of which is that the county will update its Room Occupancy Tax legislation that has still been the same as it was when passed by the legislature in 1985. All surrounding counties have made changes to their enabling legislation years ago.
I also look forward to a decision by community stakeholders and the board about how to repurpose the site of the former Highlands Playhouse. The new use of the property will have to be for a public use, not private or commercial development.
While I do not expect any immediate decision, it is time to re-landscape the downtown business district. Specifically, trees going down Main Street will have to be replaced in the future.
I look forward to several infrastructure projects beginning and some even completed. That fourth electric circuit that will serve the downtown area should be ready some time in the summer for early fall. The upgrade to the force main sewer line on the Franklin Road should done by early summer. The upgrade to the Dog Mountain waterline and tank could be operative by the first part of the year. Hopefully, the upgrades to the water plant will also get underway.
And I hope the Mirror Lake dredging stages can begin this year also. Engineers are optimistic that the sediment can be deposited at the Rich Gap Transfer Station on top of the old, retired landfill. If that plan gets final approval the 5-million-dollar project can start.
The town did get a gift early in the form of a recent 1.17 million dollar grant to replace the old generator that powers the water plant during an emergency like Hurricane Helene. The 30-year- old generator currently in operation will be replaced with a new ultramodern generator system.
The town has also applied for other grants totaling several million dollars to upgrade the water lines. Hopefully, we will get these grants at the beginning of the new year.
So, as we move toward the new year, to paraphrase a Dusty Springfield classic, “I’m Wishing and Hoping.” All the best to you and our community too in the new year.
