Opinions for week ending: Sunday, November 02 2008

(10.27.08) There are some duties county commissioners simply cannot hand off
WAYNESVILLE- A recent court case proving misuse of funds in the Cruso Volunteer Fire Department raises important questions about oversight of taxpayer money when it comes to fire districts. In North Carolina, counties have broad legal authority to handle fire protection. Many carve the rural areas of the county into fire districts and tax property within the boundaries to provide money to build fire departments, buy equipment and pay other needed expenses.

(10.27.08) Downtown downturn
CLAYTON- The economic crisis had seemed a little abstract to us until last week when we heard that a bedrock of the downtown commercial district and local arts scene might vanish by year’s end – or sooner. Cliff Morgan and Jodi Sager, co-owners of The Coffee Mill coffee shop and The Flipside restaurant, announced that they would have to close their twin enterprises if they did not experience dramatic reversals of fortune. Morgan and Sager say business has been slack at the same time that their food and rent costs are rising.

(10.27.08) Criminal failure demands action
ROCKY MOUNT- No matter which party controls the N.C. General Assembly in 2009, it’s time for legislators of all stripes to take a serious look at the state court system and how it’s funded.

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