A public hearing on Monday, Dec. 20 for the Mitchell County schedule of values for the 2022 tax reappraisal went on for nearly 30 minutes and featured lively public comments and responses from the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners.
Tax Assessor Blair Hyder introduced the schedule of values before the hearing began, calling it the “manual for reappraisal.” It was previously available for public viewing.
Each commenter was given five minutes to speak. Bill Jones, a Mitchell County resident who started a non-profit called Save Mitchell County NC, began.
Jones has called into question on his website and in letters to the editor the county’s tax assessment values, specifically for properties owned and used by Sibelco and Quartz. Corp.
During the Dec. 6 meeting, Commissioner Jeff Harding said anyone with something to say should come to a meeting and say it.
On Dec. 20, Jones did, introducing himself as a county resident, taxpayer and voter before going on to detail the findings of his research into tax assessment values.
“Mitchell County’s most valuable natural resource makes these companies billions,” Jones said. “Where do these billions go? Not back to Mitchell County. Oh no. They go overseas.”
Jones said he emailed a copy of his full findings to each commissioner six months ago. “Have any of you bothered to read it?” he asked.
Harding said he was glad to see Jones respond to the invite.
“You have chastised this board,” he said. “You have chastised the people of Mitchell County, Spruce Pine and Bakersville. You didn’t live here when we dealt with the fires, the floods and the rockslides.”
Harding also harkened back to pictures and videos that Jones posted on the save Mitchell County NC website which highlighted properties he felt needed attention. The Save Mitchell County website has a blog, a forum and several links to different improvement ideas.
Harding said more can be done.
“You want to come and save us,” Harding said. “If you want to come and save us, sir, put your hands to the plow.”
Jones began to reply but Harding asked to be allowed to finish responding.
“You could easily volunteer with Main Street,” Harding said. “You could volunteer with the Bakersville Improvement Group. You could deliver Meals on Wheels. But the only thing you want to do is write in to the newspaper. You must have a lot of idle time because you continually write behind the newspaper.
“If this is such a terrible place to live and we’re such terrible people, why’d you come to live here? Don’t beat people down. You don’t know where we have come from to get to the point where we are now.”
Harding also brought up a letter to the editor Jones wrote about a neighbor who died from COVID.
“You must be a heartless person, sir,” Harding said. “You basically pointed out you were glad he died.”
Jones shot back that he “never used those words.”
“That’s ridiculous,” he said.
Harding proceeded to again thank Jones for coming and reiterated that if mining companies are ever found to not be paying their share, the board will go through the proper process to correct it.
“I guess we’ll find out when we see the values,” Jones replied.
Board Chair Steve Pitman thanked Jones for speaking and pointed out his time was up. Jones continued with a final comment before being seated.
“If you can’t take the heat, old Harry Truman said, get out of the kitchen,” Jones said. “Criticism is part of America.”
Little Switzerland resident Sam Rogers, listed as a Director on the Save Mitchell County NC site, followed with similar comments about the values.
“I hope to resolve these issues informally as per the appeals process,” Rogers said in closing. “If not, I will see you again in April at the Board of Equalization and Review.”
Hyder took the podium again at the end of the hearing, pointing out that Quartz and Sibelco are the top two taxpayers in the county and that properties surrounding them contribute greatly, too.
“Let’s be fair and put that out on the table, too,” Hyder said.
Former County Attorney Lloyd Hise took the podium to invite Jones and Rogers to appeal to the state if they’re not satisfied with the outcome. The public hearing closed shortly after.
“I’m certainly not hiding away from you,” Hyder said while glancing back at Jones and Rogers. “Like I said, if you want to send me any material, I’ll be glad to look at it.”