It’s a fitting coincidence that Sunshine Week 2023 happens to fall during the week that both local elected bodies governing Highlands are scheduled to meet.
The Macon County Board of Commissioners held their March meeting on Tuesday night in Franklin and got an earful from a hoard of Highlands residents who are upset with the board’s recent decision to shutter an expansion plan for Highlands School. The project would have added two desperately needed Pre-K classrooms, four middle school classrooms, two career and technical education classrooms, and remodeled the school’s media center and library.
It’s the type of project the county commissioners and school board traditionally support, so it’s not surprising that many Highlands parents and community members are unhappy with the decision to remove it from the 2023-24 capital outlay list.
The Highlands Board of Commissioners will crack the gavel on their March meeting on Thursday night. Among the items on the agenda are renewals of communications tower leases, a NC 106 sidewalk survey proposal, and a proposal to relocate the Highlands ABC store. Highlands commissioners are also knee deep in preparing the 2023-24 operating budget for the town, and as always, there is a long list of wants, needs and must-haves throughout town departments.
What roads are going to get paved? Which departments are going to see technology upgrades? Will there be any changes to Highlands current parks and recreation offerings?
All of those important questions will be sorted out over the next three months as the budget comes into focus.
Holding government bodies accountable and answering questions 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.