.
Murphy – Cherokee County commissioners were forced to back off a cut in the county’s annual contribution to the N.C. Forest Service for fire control.
Commissioners cut the county contribution by $36,258 amid displeasure over the location of the Forest Service building beside Tri-County Community College that the college wanted to use for a building project. The county is required to provide 40% of funding for Forest Service fire protection, but cut back its share to 25% because of the dispute.
The state appropriates $133,746 for fire protection in Cherokee County and expects the county to contribute another $89.163. The board of commissioners approved an extra $36,258 at its Oct. 20 meeting.
Airport lights to be replaced: Commissioners also approved a project to replace four light towers at awarded a $439,100 bid to RG Tenney Electric Inc. of Loganville, Ga., to replace four towers serving Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews.
The $396,472 project includes a $383,774 state grant and $12,668 match by the county. The airport has been undergoing a series of improvements, including new fencing and a weather transmitter.