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Written by PWF Admin
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Monday, 31 July 2006 |
Boone and Steep Slopes
By Gayle M. Turner
Last year Boone Town Council members heard the same thing from all
sides of the political spectrum, from locals, and from visitors and
newspapers down the mountain: How could they have let the development
above Wal-Mart happen? The only possible answer was that the town’s
ordinances made it possible, and they would make it possible again.
Something had to be done, but the question was what?
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Written by PWF Admin
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Friday, 28 July 2006 |
“Zero Waste” Initiative
By Jasmine ShoShanna
Because Watauga County’s landfill is closed, local government must pay
$44 a ton for someone else to haul away thousands of pounds of our
trash every day, five days a week. That amounts to some $1.9 million
per year spent on hauling our trash out of state.
The Zero Waste Initiative seeks to promote awareness of those numbers
and to proactively change our habits of “throwing it away.”
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Written by PWF Admin
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Friday, 28 July 2006 |
BIODIESEL
By Russell Harper and Matt Cooper
Last year the Watauga County School System used 89,000 gallons of
diesel fuel, and AppalCart used 86,000 gallons. We estimate there were
another 50,000 gallons used by other municipal vehicles. That amounts
to a round total of 225,000 gallons a year. It is feasible that a local
small biodiesel processor (perhaps at the Watauga County Renewable
Energy Park) could produce enough biodiesel to make our county
self-sufficient as far as our diesel vehicles. The processor, its
installation, and the training for employees should cost around
$300,000 initially. Operating cost can be figured but is not available
at this time. Quality biodiesel fuel could be made for as low as a
consistent $2.60 before tax credits or renewable energy incentives are
applied. Several new jobs would be created including technicians making
the fuel, someone to collect waste vegetable oil, and potentially
opening new markets for local farmers to grow and sell oil seed crops.
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Too Much Local Development? |
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Written by PWF Admin
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Friday, 28 July 2006 |
Too Much Local Development?
How Can People Have a Voice?
By Ralph Grosswald & Pam Williamson
So you have a 5,600-acre development going up near you? You have
concerns about your well going dry? Traffic? Higher property taxes?
How does the little guy get heard around here, anyway?
It has been clear from recent county commissioner meetings that
unbridled growth, steep-slope development, and water issues are
becoming major concerns for all of the people in Watauga County. But
with no zoning and no conditional use permits (CUP’s) to provide a
chance for input, local county residents are finding it hard to weigh
in with their concerns before major development impacts them.
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Written by PWF Admin
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Friday, 28 July 2006 |
BOONE WATER
By Mayor Loretta Clawson
In January 2004, the Town of Boone and the Town of Blowing Rock met to
discuss the possibility of bulk water sales from Boone. Out of this
meeting and after a study plan was conducted to determine exactly how
much water resources we have available, the Town of Boone found that we
have little reserve capacity available to serve the citizens of Boone.
The Town of Boone was then advised to proceed immediately with a raw
water supply study. Phase 1 of this study has been completed, and we
should have the results of Phase 2 studies soon. Phase 2 will identify
raw water sources and present these to the town for its consideration.
Town officials at that time will then decide how to proceed.
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