Commissioners Hear Requests' for Assistance from Local Non-profits

By Ron Fitzwater

The Ashe County Board of Commissioners held their regularly scheduled meeting Monday, May 4, with a light agenda of items.

Following opening ceremonies and approval of the minutes from sessions on April 6 and 20, commissioners heard from Doctor Garrett Briggs, who came to speak to the commissioners about the very recently formed Ashe County Frescoes Foundation.

"Thank you, lady and gentlemen of the board, for allowing us this opportunity to come before you and talk to you about the emergence of the Ashe County Frescoes Foundation.

"In describing the needs and the purpose of this foundation, I would like to put them in a historical context first and then in light of current circumstances that warrant the foundation's being created," Briggs said.

Briggs then gave brief history artist Ben Long's Frescoes and the two churches that make up the congregation's dual home. The congregation, lead by Reverend Steve Miller, alternates between the Holy Trinity Church in Glendale Springs, on even numbered months, and St. Mary's Church in West Jefferson, on the odd numbered months, for worship services. The congregation is officially the Episcopal Parish of the Holy Communion.

Pointing out the historical and economic significance of the Frescoes, Biggs explained to the board that the wear and tear on the churches from the "tens-of-thousands" of visitors was beginning to become expensive to maintain and that help from the community was needed to keep the culturally important sites open for visitors and locals alike.

The churches are open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with docents on duty during the busiest times of the day to assist visitors. Members of the congregation, which numbers only around 100, perform cleaning and most maintenance on the structures, but it is an aging community and more work is needed to be done than there are workers available.

"The tourists continue to come in by the car and bus loads and it does cause considerable wear and tear on the churches. Our poor little restrooms are just beaten to death, our parking lots are worn, security is an issue and few of the people who visit ever answer the call for a small contribution to support the ministry. We are overwhelmed and simply cannot maintain the churches the way they need to be maintained for the huge crowd of people who come each year, either as art lovers or pilgrims on a spiritual journey," Briggs said.

Briggs asked the board to consider the importance of the Frescoes to the county and how they operated "with no cost to the county and no appreciable gain to the churches. So the question I pose is, 'What would the community lose if the churches were no longer open to tourism?'"

The Frescoes Foundation has been formed to answer that question, while working to preserve the artistic treasures. But the foundation is in need of help from the community, from individuals and businesses alike to obtain the funds needed to keep the attractions open to the public.

The foundation, which has filed for tax exempt status, is currently accepting donations by check, money order or cash. Donations can be sent to 201 River Knoll Drive, Jefferson, N.C. 28640

Next the board heard from Nancy Kautz concerning the launch of a fundraising effort to keep the Ashe Medication Assistance Program up and running. The AMAP aids Ashe County residents to obtain necessary medications at little to no cost. The program has been facing financial difficulties for some time and has received funding assistance from the board of commissioners in the past to remain open.

Kautz did not come asking for more funding from the board, but to announce to the county "The 2,300 That Care" program which, if successful, will fund the program without the need for more county funds.

"I figured up what it will take to fund the program with a full time staffer and I found that if 2,300 people give us $20 each, we would have enough. So from now until June 30, I'm going to come around collecting $20 from everyone that I know."

Kautz then challenged the commissioners to do the same. Her pitch for aid came with a brochure that will be distributed throughout the county explaining the program's needs and how citizens can help. The program needs to raise $44,117.96 to continue to operate until June 30, 2010.

For more information, contact Kautz at (336) 846-0781. To help, make donations payable to Ashe Medication Assistance Program C/O Ashe Memorial Hospital 200 Hospital Avenue, Jefferson, N.C. 24640.

Next, a representative from the Ashe County Middle School Pool Committee spoke during public comment to inform the board about their upcoming Saturday potted plant sale in Warrensville and update them on the efforts of the committee to raise funds to repair the unserviceable pool, as well as asking for the board to consider helping with funding when they begin work on the next county budget.

In other business, the board approved the first reading for reappointment of Dwayne Howell and JoAllen Lowder to the High County Workforce Development Board, and approved two resolutions: one pertaining to disposal of surplus property and one opposing proposed health department funding in North Carolina Senate Bill 202. Finally, before recessing to executive session, the board approved a proclamation to declare the week of May 3 to 9, National County Government Week.

The Ashe County Board of Commissioners meets the first and third Monday of each month in the small third-floor courtroom of the Ashe County Courthouse. Meetings begin at 3:30 p.m. and are open to the public.