County board mulls manufactured home policy

By Scott Nicholson

Watauga County may be cleaning up its abandoned manufactured homes in the wake of new statutes that encourage such programs.

During their Monday morning meeting, the county commissioners reviewed the possible impacts of a state law regarding abandoned manufactured housing. Counties have the authority to “manage” abandoned homes, identifying such homes and setting policies for removal. The state has some funding available for the program, though it could require some local funding.

Planning director Joe Furman said the county could receive up to $2,500 to develop a plan and get $1,000 for the removal of each abandoned home. Furman said he didn’t know how much of an issue it was and how much money the county would receive to implement a removal program.

Commission chairman Jim Deal said the board had previously acknowledged there were significant numbers of abandoned manufactured homes, which created eyesores and environmental and public-safety concerns. Deal said it might be difficult to find the owners of abandoned homes and have the property owners pay a portion of the costs.

“It’s a matter of pride,” said commissioner Winston Kinsey. “Neighbors can’t do this. It’s something that has to come from government.”

County manager Rocky Nelson said there were property-rights issues involved and that previous rules on older mobile homes had created controversy. He suggested a public hearing be held before any policy was implemented.

The commissioners agreed to gather information on the numbers of abandoned mobile homes before making decisions on a policy. The state law puts no time restriction on establishing a local program. A policy would be included in the county’s solid-waste plan, with a public hearing scheduled prior to implementation.

Danny Staley, director of the Appalachian District Health Department, submitted his annual report, listing the department’s public-health priorities as obesity prevention, tobacco-use prevention and limiting of radon exposure.

Staley said one of the key tenets of public health was regular assessment, with surveys conducted every three years. Staley said the surveys pointed out trends and areas that could be addressed through partnerships.

The 2008 Community Health Report stated that smoking was the most-preventable leading cause of death, and Staley said changes in state law had given governments more authority in setting smoking policies. He said physical fitness was also an important element of public health, citing the county’s receipt of a $475,000 grant to fight obesity.

Staley said while vaccines and disease prevention had improved health, “for once, we’re seeing the impact of lifestyle diseases,” with the younger generation possibly facing a shorter life span than the current adult generation. He said obesity was linked to diseases such as diabetes.

In Watauga County, 22 percent of teenagers are overweight, and Staley said the health department was developing programs and policies to encourage physical activity.

Staley said radon was a concern because the mountains had a higher level of radon, with average radon levels in Watauga County more than twice the recommended action level set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Staley said the number of suicides was a growing concern, particularly among men. The health department is working with mental-health agencies and healthcare providers to remove the stigma of seeking help. Men are also more prone to lung cancer, pneumonia, heart disease and non-motor vehicle injuries.

In the 2007-08 fiscal year, the three-county health department administered 1,441 HIV tests, 5,033 child immunizations and 5,078 adult immunizations, as well as 2,198 maternity check-ups.

N.C. Cooperative Extension Service agent Wendy Patoprsty presented a proposal for a conservation easement in the county’s Brookshire Road property. The easement would help the agency, in connection with the National Committee for the New River, to secure grants to restore stream banks and preserve wetland habitat along the South Fork of the New River. The required easement would take about seven acres of flood-plain property near the Ted Mackeroll Soccer Complex.

The application for $350,000 in N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund and Environmental Protection Agency grants would require an easement stretching 50 feet from the river. The goal is to establish boardwalks and trails as an educational effort in addition to providing a riparian stream buffer and natural stormwater-retention system.

Patoprsty said the partnering agencies had visited the site and she was confident the grant would be awarded. She said the plan has also been coordinated with the parks and recreation department’s plans for the property.

Watauga Parks and Recreation Department director Stephen Poulos received approval to apply for a grant for recreation development at the Brookshire site. The application will seek $500,000 for a paved walking trail, basketball court, picnic shelters, sand volleyball court and bathrooms. The grant will be submitted to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and, if approved, would require a $500,000 match from the county.

Poulos said the trail would tie into the existing Greenway Trail in Brookshire Park and create a concession and bathroom area for the soccer fields. The commissioners approved the grant request, which had been unsuccessfully submitted last year.

In other business, the commissioners approved a bid of $164,000 for construction of a new communications building for the tower on Howard’s Knob. The contract went to Eagle Wood, Inc. of Denver.

A resolution supporting efforts to create affordable housing was approved, which will help local groups and agencies in pursuing public or private projects. “This is a recognition of the need for both affordable and work-force housing in our community,” Deal said.

The commissioners scheduled a Jan. 17 meeting with school board members to discuss a Greenway Trail connector from the current trail in Boone to the new high school. A portion of the obesity-prevention grant was earmarked for the trail construction, though some people have expressed safety concerns over access to the school.

The commissioners appointed Jeff Deal, Charlie Wallin and Jim Fox to the planning board. Jimmy Marsh and Lee Stroupe were appointed to the Boone Rural Fire Protection Service District.

The commissioners also scheduled their annual pre-budget planning retreat for Feb. 19 and 20.