Mariel Williams
editor@mitchellnews.com
The Spruce Pine Town Council agreed to solicit applications for a new council member at its regular meeting last week.
Council member Larry McKinney resigned his seat in August and the council is looking to appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of McKinney’s term. Mayor Phillip Hise said this is how the town has handled unexpected vacancies in the past.
“I think normally we’ve done applications, and you’ve all seen the application process before,” Hise said.
Application forms are now available on the town’s website, www.townofsprucepine.com, or in a hard copy at Spruce Pine Town Hall, 11050 State Hwy. 226. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 30.
Library board reappointment
The council voted to reappoint Luther Stroup to both the Mitchell County Library Board and the AMY (Avery, Mitchell, Yancey) Regional Library Board. Town Manager Darlene Butler presented a letter from AMY requesting the reappointment. Stroup is currently the chair of the AMY board.
“[The letter] says he has never missed a regional board meeting and handles meetings with clarity and knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order,” Butler said. “They’re very appreciative of him.”
(Robert’s Rules of Order is a set of rules and ethics regarding parliamentary procedure that is typically followed by government boards.)
Snorkel Trail
The council informally approved a request from Downtown Director Spencer Bost to add local access points to the Toe River to the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is encouraging aquatic wildlife enthusiasts to explore mountain rivers more with the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail, a map of access points where snorkelers can come and see what lives under the surface of the water at a leisurely pace.
Bost said he plans to place Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail signs in Riverside Park and River Bend Park. The trail has received a lot of attention, he said.
“It’s been on NPR [National Public Radio]; it’s been on all these other news sites,” Bost said. “It just adds another fun thing for people to do in town.”
Lions Club fundraiser
The council approved a request from the Spruce Pine Lions Club to hold a fundraiser on the roadside Oct. 6.