Watauga Commissioners To Hold Public Hearing on Three ETJ Appointments To Town Boards Tuesday

By Jesse Wood

Oct. 14, 2013. The Watauga County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing regarding extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) appointments during its evening meeting on Tuesday.

The public hearing has been scheduled in response to the Town of Boone denying two appointments and potentially a third appointment to the town’s Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment due to “procedural deficiencies.”

The town recently said that it was declining the July 16 appointments of Frank Bolick and Dale Greene because a public hearing was not held in accordance to its Unified Development Ordinance, while County Attorney Four Eggers states that the town doesn’t have the “statutory authority” to require a public hearing. Town Manager Greg Young also noted recently that that the Boone Town Council was reconsidering the appointment of Jon Tate because the lack of a public hearing.

In an effort to “extend an olive branch,” as Commissioner Perry Yates said, the commissioners voted 4-1 two weeks ago to schedule a public hearing and see which way the branch sways. While Boone Town Councilman Rennie Brantz noted in late September that a public hearing would go a long way in rectifying the situation, Chair Nathan Miller on the Watauga County Board of Commissioners said he would rather file a lawsuit and halt any meetings of the two town boards until the ETJ appointments are set.

Public hearings begin at 6 p.m. The Watauga County Board of Commissioners meet in the commissioners board room inside the Watauga County Administration Building on King Street. The public is encouraged to come. For more information, call 828-265-8000.

See previous articles for more background on the situation:

Oct. 1, 2013: Commissioners Vote 4-1 To Hold Public Hearing on ETJ Appointments, Chair Miller Would Rather File Lawsuit

Sept. 25, 2013: Boone, Watauga Squabble Over ETJ Appointments To Town Boards Again, ‘Procedural Deficiencies’ Cited