It’s a fitting coincidence that Sunshine Week 2024 happens to fall during the week that the three local elected bodies governing Highlands and Cashiers were scheduled to meet.
The Macon County and Jackson County boards of commissioners held their March meetings on Tuesday night. The Highlands Board of Commissioners will crack the gavel on their March meeting tonight.
All three boards had full agendas, and there is always plenty to talk about in the political realm. At the county level, the discussions surrounding the replacement of Franklin High School continue to be the lead story in Macon County. The county has $62 million in the form of a state grant to help get the project off the ground, but the total cost is estimated at $120 million. Where will the rest of the money come from? What is the timeline to start construction? Will the project also include upgrades for Highlands School?
There are a lot of questions left to be answered.
In Jackson County, representatives from Southwestern Community College outlined their newly minted capital improvement plan for county commissioners. SCC and Western Carolina University are vital educational resources, not just for Jackson County, but for all of Western North Carolina. Their growth is good for everyone – students, faculty, employers, etc.
Highlands town board has turned its attention to the upcoming 2024-25 budget, and the list of priorities is lengthy. From improving the electrical grid, to renovations at the water plant, to remodeling the former fire station to house the ABC store, there are a lot of projects that will need attention in the coming year.
Holding government bodies accountable and addressing issues in full view of the public is what Sunshine Week is all about. Celebrated each year since 2005, Sunshine Week promotes access to public information, open government meetings, and the ability to request accurate and complete public records.
What’s happening in government, from Highlands Town Board to Congress, is all of our business. So let’s make Sunshine Week count and be better, more tuned-in citizens, as we keep a watchful eye on our elected officials and government agencies.