Liberty
Not News
Swain County Manager Kevin King and commissioners David Monteith and Phil Carson paid a visit to Washington, DC to lobby not legislators, but decision-makers in the Department of the Interior.…
David Monteith
Liberty
Southern Hospitality
Swain County voted to increase its room tax from 3 to 4%. “We felt like it would be a good plus for Swain County,” said County Commissioner David Monteith. “It…
Liberty
Real People Like Property Taxes
People act like Swain County Commissioner David Monteith is from outer space. He proposed using North Shore Road settlement funds to give everybody in the county a year without paying…
Liberty
Swain
5 of 5 precincts from Swain County have reported the following winners: Mike Clampitt (R), County Commission Chair, 66.41% John Ensley (D), Sheriff, 28.97% Curtis Cochran (R), Sheriff, 77.09% Hester…
Liberty
What People Mean by Down and Out
The Swain County Commissioners voted to accept the federal government’s settlement. David Monteith cast the only dissenting vote. “I’m against any cash settlement,” he said. “I’d rather work for this…
Liberty
Dear Nobody, Please Help Us Numb Our Minds
This issue is really peeving. For one thing, the article in the Smoky Mountain Times informs us that the Constitution “mandates separation of church and state.” It quotes a resident…
Liberty
Swain Budget Woes Continue
A recent audit of Swain County’s budget strongly recommended a tax hike. The county’s fund balance has fallen substantially below the level required by the Local Government Commission. The county…
Liberty
Patching an Oopsie
Swain County found itself $1 million short. Reasons for the shortfall include the state’s Medicaid swap, budget overruns, and votes by the county commissioners to spend more. To make up…
Liberty
Above the Law
Complaints from Swain County Commissioner David Monteith’s peers about him keeping his own records of closed sessions led to an investigation. In addition to confirming reports that the minutes were…
Liberty
What’s Wrong with the Truth?
Swain County Commissioner David Monteith got in trouble for making electronic recordings of closed sessions. His actions were not illegal, so the board of commissioners voted to disallow him the privilege.…