Asheville Citizen-Times from Asheville, North Carolina • Page 9

ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES SECTION State2B Deaths4B, 8B Business5-8B Mo N1AINS Wednesday Nov. 10, 1993 1 LOCAL NEWS OTin eases pmpssedl sridikSsta onDes DIGEST ordinance and will hold another public hearing in two weeks. One of the biggest changes included an exemption for people who divide property by giving land parcels to heirs. Other changes included shortening right of way widths and lessening the compaction level of road beds. Harold Talbert, a member of the committee that spent about a year writing the new rules, said the ordinance would be good for the county.

"This ordinance was drawn up to be used for quality growth for years to come. It was not drawn or considered in haste," Talbert said. By Jason Sandford STAFF WRITER Pressured by local developers and real estate brokers, Buncombe County commissioners agreed to water down proposed subdivision rules Tuesday. "We're trying to come up with a workable ordinance you can live with," Gene Rainey, county board chairman, told a group of about 50 people at the workshop meeting. But two residents of a Fairview subdivision urged commissioners to protect county residents by adopting a tough set of rules.

"I am asking you to give tax-paying citizens the same consideration for the protection of our money and the investments in our homes," said Grant Goodge, a resident of Fairview Forest. Commissioners are considering adopting a subdivision ordinance aimed at improving road building. Opponents have called the rules a form of zoning and said the proposed law will increase the cost to develop and sell land. Commissioners agreed to several changes Tuesday, which all eased the "I am asking you to give tax-paying citizens the same consideration for the protection of our money and the investments in our homes. GRANT GOODGE FAIRVIEW FOREST RESIDENT regulations.

The board did not vote on the ''Hug. RfloonligMiiinig policy tto gett another Imh Water Department official's side business raises eyebrows By Clarke Morrison STAFF WRITER Asheville officials will re-examine policies on city workers having second jobs in the wake of a controversy over the Water Department's assistant director operating his own water services business, City Manager Doug Bean said Tuesday. City Council members reached that consensus after a closed-door session to discuss allegations concerning Charles Rector and his Water Systems Ser--vices Bean said. However, councilmen refused to comment on the matter following the closed meeting. And Bean said he's found no evidence of violations of city policy by Rector.

But in an interview Monday, Councilman Chris Peterson said it "looks fishy." "I consider this conflict of interest," he said. "Rector Is working for the city in the Water Department, and here he sets up his own There is a whole lot of questions here. It sure stinks like a can of tuna fish." Rector formed Water Systems Services Inc. in October 1992, according to incorporation papers filed with the state. Also Students face drug charges Sheriffs deputies lodged drug charges against four Reynolds High School students Tuesday after a drug-sniffing dog got a whiff of marijuana in a 15-year-old student's book bag, deputies said.

The 15-year-old student was attending a school safety assembly with other lOth-graders at the high school east of Asheville when the dog made the find. Deputies charged the 15-year-old they would not release her name because she is under the age of 16 with possession of marijuana. The drug agent said he also charged Cody Manley Derrick, 17, who gave a Sugar Hollow Road, Fairview, address, with selling and delivering marijuana; James Lind-sey, 17, who gave a Spruce Hill Court, Asheville, address, with simple possession of marijuana; and Arte John Wilson, 18, who gave a Haw Creek Trace, Asheville, address, with distributing a drug to a minor. The three males were released from police custody on unsecured bonds. The girl was suspended from school for five days because she is a minor, while the males were given 10-day suspensions, assistant principal Audrey Hall said.

After their suspension runs out, Derrick, Lindsey and Wilson will go before a disciplinary committee which will decide if they will be punished further. 4 Election probe continues A Buncombe County Board of Elections investigation into election irregularities in Black Mountain's town board race may not be decided until next week, the board supervisor said Tuesday. "We're collecting information and checking the precincts," Mickey Allen said. "We might set a special meeting Monday." Election officials are reviewing how a 28th precinct poll worker counted five curbside ballots initially thought to have gone uncounted. The controversy leaves the fifth and final Board of Aldermen slot undecided.

Incumbents Ruth Brandon and John Ben Hamilton are vying for the seat. Poll workers told the elections board that they voted curbside ballots into a voting machine. Laura Clark, elections board chairman, said die action was a "clear violation" of election law. NICHOLE MICHAELSCmZEN-TIMES Construction crews work on a section of Interstate 40 In Haywood County recently. The roadway between Buncombe and Haywood counties will return to four-lane traffic within three weeks, officials say.

DOT says 1-40 to unclog soon UoNSTtfobTidb 7U NEARLY FINISHED r-i i Nak if i jp LeicesterCX Bridge construction on U.S. 1923 in Waynes-ville is one or two weeks away from completion, Norris said. A bridge crossing there is constructed, but workers need to lay more asphalt, and install curbing and guardrails. One lane remains closed. Major construction on N.C.

209, a two-lane road linking U.S. 23 with 1-40, is just crank N.C. 209 construction near Lake Junaluska north to 1-40, where grading began two weeks ago, is scheduled to be finished in the winter of 1995. N.C. 209 construction will begin in December north of Crabtree to one mile north of Silver Cove Road, and is scheduled for completion sometime in 1994.

Brief delays await motorists on N.C. 209 near Junaluska now, Construction on 1-40 in this area is expected to By Nicole Michaels WAYNESVILLE BUREAU Travel on Interstate 40 between Buncombe and Haywood counties should be easier within three weeks when all four lanes are expected to be cleared of construction. According to Department of Transportation resident engineer Ken Norris, work near the Buncombe-Haywood line in the Candler area should wrap up in the eastbound lanes by December. "We hope in three weeks to have that completely opened back up to traffic," Norris said Tuesday. Christmas is the soonest motorists in western Haywood County will see relief on the interstate between Fines Creek and Jonathan Creek.

A highway rehabilitation project continues there. With good weather, Norris said, DOT officials could reopen lanes by the holiday but it will likely-be later. Construction of a new exit on 1-40 near Canton at Newfound Road continues, but is not interfering with traffic, Norris said. named as an incorporator is Vicki Heid-inger, who is Rector's wife and an executive assistant in the city Department of Audit and Budget. Bean said he had been aware that Rector had been doing some outside work, but first learned of the corporation Monday after getting a call from Peterson.

He said he then found out in a meeting with Water Department Director Mike Hol- be completed in about three weeks "I consider this conflict of interest. (Charles) Rector is working for the city in the Water Department, and here he sets up his own corporation It sure stinks like a can of tuna fish. CHRIS PETERSON CITY COUNCILMAN CITIZEN-TIMES MAP ing up. The heavily-traveled road will be widened from 18 feet to 24 feet, outfitted with paved shoulders, and straightened, a project DOT officials say will improve safety. Norris said, as road construction crews cross the one-lane road, moving dirt "We are moving soil See 1-40 on page 3B TRAVELING SHOW Bele Chere a financial loser for the first time i CLOSED: Asheville and Buncombe County Schools, federal, state and Buncombe County offices, Post Office branches, Pack Library and branches, Buncombe transfer station.

OPEN: Banks, Asheville City Hall, ABC stores, Buncombe County landfill, UNCA, malls and retail stores. FROM STAFF REPORTS yl FROM STAFF REPORTS Asheville's huge Bele Chere festival lost money for the first time in its 14-year history this year, a victim of reduced corporate sponsorships, festival organizers said Tuesday. "Everything worked better this year, except the financial end," Bissette said. Some of the other reasons revenues were down, according to organizers: more beer was sold by downtown businesses, combe that Rector's firm had done work for the towns of Woodfin and Marshall, as well as others. According to city policy, employees are allowed to have outside employment as long as it is not done on city time, and doesn't involve city equipment or resources, the city manager said.

Bean said that Rector said he has not violated that policy, and he doesn't have any reason not to believe him. "If we find any information to the contrary we would act on it," he said. "At this point we don't have any evidence he has done anything contrary to city policy." Bean said Rector was told Monday not to do any business with municipalities or private water systems in Buncombe County because those could eventually become part of the Asheville-Buncombe system, and that could create a conflict of interest However, Rector can continue his private business outside the county, Bean said. "I feel fine about Charles," Holcombe said. "He has not violated any policy or procedure based upon what I know." Holcombe said Rector's responsibilities include running the department in his absence.

Rector also is acting superintendent of the water maintenance division, Holcombe said. In an interview with the Citizen-Times, Rector also defended his outside work. "The work that my company has done has been mostly manual-labor type work," he said. "I informed the people I needed to inform of the status of company and the work that I was doing. I haven't done anything I think is a conflict of interest" Rector said the work involves such things as rebuilding valves and pumps.

Bean said that probably half the city's employees engage in some form of "moonlighting." "We certainly want to take a look at the existing secondary employment policy," he Raid after Tuesday's council meeting. City officials might look at the polkf of other cities, and whethef- Asheville's needs to be more restrictive. crnzEN while alcohol was being de-emphasized by festival vendors; downtown restaurants got free booth space; food and drink prices were kept at 1990 levels to keep them affordable. Festival organizers will meet Dec 2 to But they said that area businesses earned $12 million from festival visitors. Bele Chere had $654,386 in income and $673,513 in expenses, creating a deficit of about $20,000.

The corporate sponsorship of the stages generated only Bele Chere raised $654,386 in income. Expenses were $673,513, making a $20,000 deficit Corporate sponsorships were $39,000 less than expected. QUESTION: Do you think North Carolinians should be able to decide on a state lottery through a public referendum? look the numbers over and talk about what needs to be changed to avoid a shortfall in 1994. Some of the items to be discussed include going after corporate sponsorships more aggressively, improving the token system, and generating more money from concession sales. Vice Mayor Eugene Ellison suggested raising the rental price for vendors 2 or 3 percent.

DEBBIE CHASE-JENNINGSCmZEN TIMES Cindy Camille of the Junior League of Asheville helps North Buncombe Elementary School third-grader Timothy Hawkins create a colorful visor Tuesday at a traveling show called "Kaleidoscope." The workshop, set up In the Asheville Mail parking lot, encourages children ages 6-12 to express their creativity using art materials provided by Hallmark Cards Inc. The show will be in Ashevif. through Nov. 16. 1-900-622-3956 $85,885, when it was expected to be $125,000.

The festival has $121,900 piled up from past festivals to easily cover the shortfall, according to City Manager Doug Beaa In his presentation to Asheville City Council Tuesday, 1993 event chairman Louis Bissette praised this year's festival for restoring the free concerts having fewer problems than before. To vote, dial 1-900-622-3956 at 95 cents per col Results wil be pubMed bi Sunday's Asheville Ctizen-Timw. Touch-tone phone only..