Century council tables action for more info
At the Aug. 6 council meeting, Century Mayor Henry Hawkins leveled allegations that former mayor candidate Felic Fussner was not only not qualified to run for mayor of the town of Century, but that he was given a newly-built house, built with State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) monies, to replace the house he never lived in when it was destroyed by a tornado in February 2016.
Century Town Planner Debbie Nickles told members of the Century council on Monday, Aug. 6, that the Alger-Sullivan Historic Preservation Board met on Tuesday, July 31, to discuss and decide on several requests made by Fussner that pertained to his property at 402 Front St. Fussner requested to keep his metal shipping container on the property to house safely his tools and equipment as he constructs the storage shed and fences, with plans to open a wood working shop in Century.
The board discussed the reasons a metal container is not desirable in an historical district like Alger Sullivan and how problems can arise if one person was allowed to have one on their property indefinitely.
As a result of the meeting, the board recommended to approve construction of a 6-foot wooden privacy fence on the sides and front yard; to approve construction of a 4-foot picket fence in the front yard; to approve construction of a wooden storage shed in his back yard and approval of a temporary use for the metal shipping container for a 90-day period, with an option to renew the temporary use for an additional 90-day period.
Fussner told board members he wants a 6-foot privacy fence instead of the recommended 4-foot fence to keep potential thieves from seeing his equipment and stealing it, claiming he needs the metal shipping container to store his woodworking tools to construct the fences and storage shed on the property at the meeting.
When Nickels told the council the board's recommendations and requested approval, Hawkins responded, “Why is this man trying to jerk everybody around the chain when he did not live in that house?”
Nickles told the mayor that he would have to ask Fussner that question.
“Well, I'm asking whoever made the recommendation to build it,” said Hawkins.
Nickles said that Fussner was living there at the time, to which Hawkins responded, “No, he wasn't.”
Nickles said she did not have an answer and reminded the mayor that he would have to direct his question to Fussner.
“We got monies from SHIP or wherever else to help build that house,” said Hawkins. “And my question is, why are we letting him jerk us around the chain? We're basically building this man a house and he lived somewhere else.”
“The only thing I can tell you is to ask the county, they are the ones that approved it,” said Nickles.
Hawkins then asked Nickles whose recommendation the county went by. “His application form, I guess,” said Nickles.
Nickels then directed Hawkins to ask Meredith or Steven Barry.
“I don't think this man has the right to be jerking people around the chain when we have people that need a house,” Hawkins said. “He never lived in Century. He bought that house on an auction block. He never lived in it. So I will call the county tomorrow.”
Hawkins told the council he recommendation is to table the Historic Preservation Board's recommendation, saying he would check with the county.
Councilwoman Anne Brooks asked how Fussner was jerking them around and the mayor said Fussner has had the metal container there and does not want to move it, even though the Historic Preservation Board says no container.
“So we are going to give him 90 days, and if he doesn't remove, we'll give him another 90 days, so he's got 180 days,” said Hawkins. “That's jerking folks around the chain when he shouldn't even have a chain to be pulling.”
Brooks asked if Fussner was the gentleman who ran for Century mayor in the last election.
Hawkins told Brooks that Fussner did not qualify to run for mayor because he did not live in Century, and responded that Fussner was on the ballot because someone did not do their homework.
“He got zero votes, he couldn't even vote for himself,” said Hawkins.
After more discussion about why the metal container was there and Nickles pointed out that the town had not had the opportunity to revise the ordinance requiring that metal shipping containers are not allowed, stating that at this point they are allowed, until the ordinance is changed.
Brooks asked if the board wanted to make a motion to approve the recommendation or table it until the mayor spoke to the county.
Nickles said she didn't think talking to the county would do any good or bring about any changes.
Councilman Luis Gomez made a motion to table the item until more information could be provided, which was seconded by Councilwoman Sandra McMurray Jackson.
All council members voted yes, except for Brooks, who voted no. The issue was tabled.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Aug. 14, Hawkins said that he had spoken to the county and did not wish to comment, stating he has more information to gather.
In a phone interview Wednesday, Fussner said, “Being the construction manager and case manager for UMCOR for 11 months for both tornadoes, Century and Ferry Pass, I spoke to a lot of people and as far as I know my kids were the only ones that looked out the window into the eye of the tornado before the house was thrown into the neighbor's driveway.”
