n uptick in building permits in Jackson County has prompted the county to hire an additional office clerk to keep up with the load. A decline in building permits in the wake of the housing bust had led to a reduction in both building inspectors and clerical staff in recent years. But as the number of building permits rebounds, the county needs to replace some of the staff it lost. It’s a good problem to have, County Manager Chuck Wooten told commissioners this week. “Jackson County is very, very lucky. I’d say that the economy has picked up,” Wooten said. Jackson saw 124 residential building permits as of September this year, compared to 86 for the same period last year. While it doesn’t top pre-recession numbers, 2013 is on track to be the best since 2008 for building permits, Wooten said. Right now, the workload necessitates an additional clerical position to process all the permit applications. By next year, the increase in permits will translate to an increase in actual construction, and an additional field inspector will probably be needed as well, said Tony Elders, the head of Jackson’s permitting and code enforcement department.
A
for the future rather than end up with too little space down the road. Jackson County’s justice center is about 20 years old. After conducting the analysis and coming up with recommendations, Heery would be a logical frontrunner as the architect for the project. The county would not necessarily seek proposals from other architectural firms at that juncture, Wooten said. While construction projects must be put
Building permits: by the numbers 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
278 152 157 105 121 124 (to date)
Not only has the number of building permits increased, but the size of the houses is also up. “They are walking back in the door with a 5,000-square-foot house, a 9,000-squarefoot house. It is going back up to that,” Elders said. And bigger houses take longer to inspect, Elders said. Jackson County has a building permit office both in Sylva and Cashiers. Between them, there are currently four clerical staff and 12 field inspectors. The salary for the additional clerical position will be a wash for the county due to additional fees coming in from building permit applications, Wooten said. — By Becky Johnson out to bid and awarded to the cheapest one, professional firms, such as architects and engineers, can be selected based on their expertise and merits rather than a lowestbid criteria. The county still has the option of putting out a call for proposals but is not obligated to do so. “If we were doing a brand new building, we would in all likelihood invite people to come in and make a proposal,” Wooten said. But this would only be a renovation project if it reaches that point, he said.
Art
DancesWITH Nature WHERE
JEWELRY DESIGNER
KERI HOLLIFIELD
WILL BE DEMONSTRATING AT ART AFTER DARK NOVEMBER 1, 6-9 194-57
“WHERE ART DANCES WITH NATURE” 9 8 N . M A I N S T. • D O W N TO W N WAY N E S V I L L E • N C 8 2 8 . 4 5 6 . 19 4 0 • M O N . - S AT. 10 - 5 : 3 0 • S U N . 1- 4
W W W. T W I G S A N D L E A V E S . C O M
Mountain Radiance Medical Spa
828.627.2711 Clyde EXIT 105 US 23/74 | BEHIND COFFEE CUP CAFÉ WWW.MOUNTAINRADIANCE.COM
SPOOKTACULAR EVENT
October 23-29, 2013
S PACE, CONTINUED FROM 12
A Gallery
news
Additional staff needed in Jackson as construction jumps
211-50
8:30 am - 6 pm • Oct. 30th
Open House Refreshments Door Prizes
Fundraiser at Vine will help mission work
f OBAGI® Medical Skincare
f glominerals
therapeutic makeup
20% OFF
f Latisse
grow eyelashes longer, fuller, darker
Jackson Patriots host speaker in Asheville Prominent 10th Amendment scholar and educator Joe Wolverton, along with Mark Hopp and Allen Page, will hold a forum at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, in the Skyland Fire Department auditorium. Wolverton, a featured contributor to numerous publications and a sought-after speaker nationwide, has written extensively on such issues as the surveillance state, drones, states’ rights and the concept of nullification. The seminar is being coordinated by the Jackson County N.C. Patriots. A suggested donation of $10 is to help cover expenses for the event. The Skyland Fire Department is located off I-26 at the Long Shoals Rd. exit in Asheville, at the intersection with N.C. 25. Box 547@aol.com or 828.329.3167.
f RevitaLash Products Phone orders taken with credit card.
$50 off Thebooked Perfect Peel and paid that day
Smoky Mountain News
There will be a fundraiser from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the Vine (188 Depot St., Waynesville) to raise money for Mason Stephens, who will be leaving in January for New Zealand to train for mission work in the Pacific region. The fundraiser includes desserts, a talent show and more than 50 silent auction items from artisans and business owners. Tickets are $5 each and $15 per family and can be purchased by phone by calling 828.476.0381 or online by visiting www.thejaspercarrot.net.
FREE paraffin hand dips Ask about the Radiance Experience. Come meet the regional Obagi representative 211-15
13