Shaun Adams
As of Monday, there has still not been a decision on whether Bryson City’s annual Independence Day celebration, Freedom Fest, will take place. The town board of alderman is still struggling with the possible health dangers of having the festival and the potential to spread the contagious COVID-19 versus the economic impact if the festival is canceled.
Mayor Tom Sutton expressed his concern. “I don’t know how we can do it, given the current situation,” he said.
N.C. Governor Roy Cooper is anticipated to make a decision next week if more restrictions will be eased come June 25.
After a lengthy discussion during the Bryson City town meeting on Monday, June 15, weighing the risks of spreading COVID-19 if the festival takes place and the disappointment if it doesn't happen this year, the board did not vote on the matter. Alderman Ben King said that many locals would be disappointed if Freedom Fest is canceled.
There was a mention of a possible special meeting next week about Freedom Fest, but the board didn’t schedule that meeting.
Karen Proctor, Swain County Chamber of Commerce executive director, discussed social distancing and vendor booths. The booths will be spaced at six feet apart if the festival does occur, she said, and booths selling food would be spaced at ten feet apart. As of Monday, there were 24 vendors who had signed up for the event—ten of which are food vendors.
Fireworks will go ahead
“They do plan on moving forward with the fireworks,” said alderwoman Heidi Ramsey-Woodard.
Proctor confirmed that the chamber board also discussed fireworks and said she is working with the fire marshal to “ensure fireworks are a go.”
This is the first time the state has sent a letter wanting to know about the viewing locations and about social distancing, Proctor said.
She also praised the Bryson City fireworks show.
“One of the main reasons people come is we do have such an amazing show,” she said. “There are not a lot of communities that have a 24-minute firework show.”
Budget approved
Even though she voted yes to passing the budget, alderwoman Janine Crisp voiced her concern about the rate water and sewer rates being raised.
“I am disappointed that we moved along with increases in this unique year,” she said.
According to the county manager Regina Mathis, a rate study was performed by Marty Wilson a few years ago that concluded the town needed to raise its rates to help pay for projects and apply for grants.
Mathis said that the rate study “kind of said this is what’s going to happen: if you don’t raise your rates, you’re not going to have enough revenue to do these projects, and as we apply for grants they look to see if we are doing our part to collect revenue.”
Mathis also said the “USDA has looked and said, ‘we look to see how much you are capable based on rates to pay back before we will give you loans or grants.’”
In other business, the town board approved the revised agreement with the Southwestern Home Consortium. A $104,145 budget amendment to transfer that money from the general fund to the water/sewer fund was also passed to pay for repairs to water lines on Black Hill Road.