Pat's publications

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August 10, 22 We got it, you got it too!  What?  We have all recently received our Macon County 2022 Property Tax Notice, aka tax bill.  The bills go out every August and are due by January 5th.

July 27, 22  I have complied with the Save Highlands attorney’s public document request, and all my emails concerning STRs have been sent to Derek Allen.  There may be a few I have overlooked or missed, but I have made a good faith effort to fully comply with the request

July 27, 22  The impact of climate change, including massive droughts, wildfires and the loss of habitat for creatures that share space with us on this big “blue marble” can be distressing. Both the dolphin tour and turtle walk made me think about our own special space on the Highlands Plateau.  

July 20, 22  My call for stakeholders to propose compromises concerning STRs underscores the community stalemate on this combative issue. I asked stakeholders to publicly put forth any proposed compromise. I wanted the community to see if there was any common ground.

July 13, 22 The purpose of this public meeting is to review proposed unified development ordinance amendments regarding short term rentals. Bob Hagemann of Poyner Spruill will present proposed amendments to the Board. These amendments were generated by the Board’s work group and also discussed by the entire Board in an attorney/client closed session.

JULY 6, 22 In a special meeting this past Thursday, the Highlands Town Board passed the Highlands Comprehensive Community Plan in a 4 to 1 vote. I wish the vote had been unanimous, but unanimous votes on big items like this plan and yearly budgets don’t seem to be possible.

All the Articles are here for your review.  Please click the "Find Out More" button to go to our dowload section.

JUNE 22, 22 At last Thursday’s Highlands Town Board meeting, commissioners passed a 27.3-million-dollar budget for this coming fiscal year. I hope that budget number increases by September. Let me explain, I’m not talking about more spending or a tax increase.

JUNE 15, 22  My heart almost stopped when Josh Ward told me that the public hearing concerning STR amendments had not been properly advertised as a legal notice in the Highlander. That oversight invalidated the subsequent actions of the Town Board in amending the UDO ordinances related to STRs; therefore, the process will have to be done all over again.

JUNE 7, 22 The time after Memorial Day is a very active period for organizations in Highlands. I have had the opportunity to attend many of these events in recent weeks, and unfortunately, I have missed some also.

JUNE 2, 22 I support the difficult decision that the Highlands Board of Commissioners made by a vote of four of the town commissioners to limit the spread of short-term rentals(STR). That vote impacted the future use of their homes and families, as well as my own.

MAY 25, 22 The Highlands community has been polarized over short-term rentals. The amendments to the zoning ordinance concerning STRs that were passed by the Board last Thursday night did not completely resolve this divide.

MAY 11, 22 Cost of energy is a huge national issue and a major driver of inflation. At the last Town Board Meeting our energy consultant informed us that Duke Power would be increasing wholesale electric rates in the coming months, and he recommended the town approve a rate increase very soon to address this impending increase that the town will pay for wholesale electricity.

MAY 4, 22 Last Thursday I went to Asheville to participate in a round table on the State of Healthcare moderated by North Carolina Attorney General, Josh Stein, who came to Asheville to assess the state of healthcare, and to especially to see how the 2018 sale of Mission Healthcare to HCA was progressing.

APRIL 28, 22 Last Friday afternoon the weather was warm. Sallie was on the front porch listening to the birds. She asked me to join her. We began to hear voices talking over the Billy Ray Cyrus 1992 hit song, Achy Breaky Heart. We realized it was coming from a nearby neighborhood house.

Several weeks ago, I expressed the concern about a national trend and spread of ghost kitchens.  A ghost kitchen a commercial kitchen that is operated in a residence, sometimes in secret.  I see a parallel with the rapid expansion of STRs in the past few years.

APRIL 19, 22 Last week I attended the Newly Elected Officials Seminar in Asheville. The event was sponsored by the University of North Carolina School of Government and the North Carolina League of Municipalities. While I was recently elected to a third term, I like to attend these events to learn about new issues and brush up on old ones.

APRIL 12, 22 We are getting close to the end of the school year and the graduation season. Highlands School usually has a senior graduation class of about 25 to 30 students. Being one of only three K through 12 schools in the state, our whole town celebrates the accomplishments of our hometown seniors.

All the Articles are here for your review.  Please click the "Find Out More" button to go to our dowload section.

MARCH 30, 22 I attended the recent broadband meeting that Senator Corbin and Representative Gillespie hosted two weeks ago. There was a strong turnout of people throughout Western Carolina where broadband accessibility is a vital issue.

March 16, 22 Realizing that someone had carelessly attempted to place their household trash bag in the street BearWise can was distressing. What the photograph does not show is a half-eaten lunch plate that was left on top of the can. What are some people thinking?

MARCH 8, 22 I want to touch several big-ticket items that will be presented. This review illustrates how a few hundred thousand here and there adds up to major budget needs. They are not frivolous expenditures, but essential needs that impact the basic operation of the town.

February 2022 Highlands dodged a bullet March 10 Highlands Town Retreat I want to thank everyone for a very successful and civil public hearing last Thursday night that addressed the Highlands Planning Board’s recommendations concerning short term rental amendments to the UDO.

February 2022 Highlands dodged a bullet with the recent major snow storm. We had no widespread power outages. Nevertheless, town needs to address the problem of how folks can report power outages when town hall is closed

There is a growing movement for residents to use solar energy panels to power their homes. The solar systems save overtime energy costs and contributes to green energy solutions to address climate change.

In Highlands we are getting an increase interest in the use of solar energy.  

The town has relied on the Macon County emergency dispatch call center for years. With a continual increase of residents living here, especially in winter, that system and arrangement has become overloaded. 

I attended a ZOOM meeting last week concerning racial equity and approaches to policing. The police chief from Jacksonville, NC gave a comprehensive presentation concerning his department’s community policing initiatives.

Are your customers raving about you on social media? Share their great stories to help turn potential customers into loyal ones.

On Monday night the Highlands Planning Board completed a review of the draft proposal for amending town ordinances related to short term rentals. 

Let me give you an account of the worries of a mayor.  Recent worries started at the first of last week with a vague forecast of an impending winter storm

Let me cover several current items.  Some of this information comes from questions folks have sent to my website in recent days. COVID, Waterline on Moorewood Rd., town lighting, and power.

We are about to see 2021 fade away and 2022 rise before us.  Looking back, even though it had some challenging moments, 2021 was much better than the COVID dominated 2020.Looks like the Omicron variant will spread this winter.

I was a rainy day on Saturday when wreaths were placed on the graves of American veterans. Nevertheless, Phil Potts, Mike Murphy and Derek Taylor had organized this national event for Highlands, Wreaths Across America. 

Thursday is the December meeting of the Highlands Town Board of Commissioners. The meeting is at the Highlands Community Center next to the ball field. It begins at 7 pm with public comment.

I loved the Highlands Christmas Parade this year.  I am always honored as mayor to lead the parade just behind the color guard.  Sallie, our grandchildren and Lucy, our dog, had a great time walking in the parade and passing out candy.

In the coming weeks I will ask the town board to review current ordinances concerning construction work on weekends.  Our ordinance may need clarification.  Also, I will request a review of noise issues coming from equipment operation.