News

Firing range, Balfour opponents pack courthouse

By Bill Moss, Published: April 18, 2018

Hundreds of people jammed into the assembly room of the Board of Commissioners to express their opposition the biggest nimby projects since the Duke Energy transmission line, filling every seat and overflowing into a community room next door.
The Board of Commissioners has a Balfour Parkway workshop on its agenda, the issue for dozens of county residents, and opponents of a firing range in Saluda are signing up to speak against that proposed project on Macedonia Road.

Dozens of people lined up before the doors opened, stretching from the front door of the couthouse to the street and down the sidewalk. Signup for comment started at 8:30 and didn't end until 9:07.

Sara Bell, owner of the Gorge Zipline and Green River Adventures, said Wednesday morning that after hearing from firing range opponents on Monday night the Polk County Board of Commissioners had agreed to send a letter to Henderson County opposing the project, which the county wants to build on 99 acres on Macedonia Road.

Chair Michael Edney opened the meeting at 9:10 with one question: "Has everyone who wants to speak signed up?"

After an invocation by County Manager Steve Wyatt and Pledge of Allegiance led by County Commissioner and Air Force veteran Grady Hawkins, the board opened a public hearing on a zoning case. Edney said nothing about the order of agenda items.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. FOR MORE RETURN TO THE HENDERSONVILLE LIGHTNING. THE LIGHTNING WILL UPDATE THE STORY WITH COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS WHEN THE MEETING GETS UNDER WAY.