Good Story on Waynesville & Town Mgr... (Asheville: school, live)

[motordavid]

At the risk of the link reading like a puff piece: the linked art from the free Smoky Mtn News, is worth the 5 min read, imo. It is a flattering but realistic assessment of the town of Waynesville development over the past decade plus, under the leadership of the recently retired town manager, Lee Galloway.

I met & got involved with Mr. Galloway during our area/HOA water debacle a few years ago, when the state EPA basically forced we 30+ homeowners to 'leave' our decades long, quality community well system and go to a town supplied water service. He was instrumental in helping us obtain a grant from the state, and helped us through the bureaucratic and very expensive nightmare. He may be the most professional and clear thinking 'public official' I have ever met/worked with...I know him only professionally, not personally. And, he is not a kudos or accolade seeker, and is now retired.

NEway, the art. is a good if glowing story on Galloway, as town mgr, the Town of Waynesville and why it has become 'successful', and the nature of small towns in western NC.

Yes, I have lived 'here' for nearly 11 years, and I have seen its 'development', but I am not pumping anyone interested, to 'move here'. Just thought it was a good read on what quality leadership, and cooperation among the factions and the 'politicos' of any town can do to make things better over the long run. Worth the 5 min read. Apology for the long post...
BR, mD

How Galloway

[Shooting Stars]

You are lucky to have had him and lucky that he managed to hang on.

Where I live, the good ole boy network is alive and well. Too many people are hired here because of who they know, not because they are best for the job - from the school system to the top. (The school system has been designated as a failing system by the federal gov't.)

We elected a new police chief that was actually from this area, but because he wasn't part of the "network" and had the audacity to want to overhaul the police department and raise standards, he had to rely on newcomers to get elected. The locals wanted to re-elect a former chief who had presided over a department that was wracked with scandals.

I am curious about the community well. Why would NC have a problem with that? Are community wells no longer allowed?

[Binkbaby]

MotorDavid- Could you pleasee recommend an active community with amentities in the Asheville area? We are not golfers however, would love a community to meet new people.

[Ann in Oriental]

Thanks for posting that link! My husband and I are moving to Waynesville in a few months from coastal NC. It was interesting to find out some of the reasons for Waynesville being such a neat town. I know we are going to love it and be really happy there!

[SoManyPlaces]

Nice link MotorDavid
I truly enjoyed it! My husband is waiting impatiently to hear about a job he applied for in Waynesville and articles such as this help affirm our belief that the Waynesville/Asheville area was a good choice for us.

Thank you!

[Fiddlehead]

Cool article. I doubt I will ever move to Waynesville (looking into an academic job at Western Carolina-they rarely seem to work out), but it is good to see an article about understated leadership. We hear so much braying from the loud mouths, it is nice to see a competent, low key person recognized.