Area article about local preservation efforts

Here's a link to an article from December in the Carolina Public Press about some of the local historical societies, including ones in Big Ivy and Ox Creek. Interesting notes about how these groups are preserving scrapbooks.

New council format

The Weaverville Town Council unveiled a new format to its meetings Monday (Feb. 20). The council is now allowing comments before certain topics. Mayor Al Root said the format is a trial-run, and the council will be evaluating its effectiveness over the next few months.

Several residents have asked council recently about allowing comments before a particular vote is taken. The previous format allowed for comments only in the beginning. The new format allowed for public comment following the council's discussion on each of the four primary agenda items in Monday's meeting. Public comments are still limited to three minutes, and those wishing to speak on topics outside of the agenda may still speak at the beginning of the meeting.

Town's website gets a makeover

Weaverville's website http://www.weavervillenc.org/ has undergone a makeover. The redesign has been in the works since last summer. Some of the new features include a slideshow of area pictures, a "Frequently Asked Questions" section and a "Forms and Documents" section that pertains to daily life in Weaverville.

Sidewalk dicussion continued

The Weaverville Zoning Board of Adjustment continued Wednesday's (Feb. 15) meeting until April 18 while the board decides how to rule on the lack of sidewalk beginning near Zaxby's at Weaver Village and continuing south to Ingles. There is a roughly 100-foot chasm between Weaver Village and Ingles that makes constructing a sidewalk problematic and costly. Weaverville Town Manager Michael Boaz said a preliminary deal has been drafted for a 285-foot sidewalk to be built that would complete a sidewalk from downtown Weaverville to Ingles. Some residents have complained they have to walk into the street to get past the area. The deal would need the support of Weaver Village developers, as well as encroachment and easement agreements from the N.C. Department of Transportation and Ingles.

Bus driver appreciation week

Approximately 790,000 children ride more than 13,000 school buses each school day in North Carolina.  To recognize the excellence of our state’s school bus drivers and their accomplishments, Gov. Beverly Perdue has proclaimed February 13-17, 2012, as “School Bus Driver Appreciation Week.”

School bus drivers in Buncombe County travel 15,100 miles, transporting 16,600 students in 290 school buses each day on the way to and from schools in the City of Asheville and throughout the 660 square miles of Buncombe County.  

A downtown ATM

Weaverville now has an ATM machine in downtown. Weaverville Drug Company installed one recently. Since HomeTrust Bank moved last January, downtown has been without an ATM for residents and shoppers to the district.

Zoning Board of Adjustments meeting

The Weaverville Zoning Board of Adjustments is meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 15) to discuss the sidewalk issue in between Zaxby's and Ingles on Weaver Boulevard. Area residents have complained that walkers have to cross into the road near Weaver Village. The 100-foot chasm that exists between the two properties makes constructing a sidewalk problematic, so the Zoning Board of Adjustments is reviewing where the liability might lay. Councilman Doug Dearth has suggested the town, the N.C. Department of Transportation and Weaver Village developers should work out an agreement to complete the sidewalk.