By Susan Tolley

Staff reporter

For all Jonesville residents who have not paid their property taxes — especially those who are several years delinquent — the Jonesville Board of Commissioners has now placed those people on warning.

“The town of Jonesville is now serious about these unpaid taxes,” said town clerk Lynn Trivette. “It is only fair that everyone pay the taxes that are assigned to their property, or face the penalties.”

Those penalties, Trivette said, include a 2 percent assessed penalty if not paid between Sept. 1 through Jan. 5. Homeowners also face possible foreclosure, and that can mean attorney fees atop the tax and penalty fees.

This is standard procedure, said Trivette. She added that in recent years, it had not been enforced.

Attracting visitors and business to Jonesville also was discussed Monday, and centered around the purchase of four directional tourism signs, to be installed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The signs will be posted at various points on Interstate 77.

Another purchase under consideration was presented by fire chief Keith Macy, who urged the commissioners purchase a cardiac support device known as an AutoPulse.

“We’ve already had to use this device four times since June of 2008,” Macy said. “Everyone in the department is very pleased with how this device performs.”

The AutoPulse is a non-invasive cardiac life support pump that squeezes the entire chest area and is meant for victims of sudden cardiac arrest and improves blood flow. According to Macy, the device costs $15,000. He told the commissioners he hoped to receive a $10,000 grant to offset the expense, and wanted the board to provide the remaining $5,000; the board approved the request.

In a related matter, Macy discussed selling a 1989 Ford F350 pickup truck as the fire department had earlier purchased a newer vehicle. The board of commissioners approved the sale of the truck, with the money from the sale going toward payment of the AutoPulse.

During the public forum session, Danny Lewis made a request the board review recommendations on a a swimming pool park, RV park and business park, in order that he might proceed with grant applications that would help fund the initiation of those projects. The board said it wanted some time to further review the proposal, as well as another proposal put forth by Lewis.

In that proposal, Lewis urged the opening of a thrift shop,which would be operated rent-free in the former town hall.

“I believe the thrift shop would not only create jobs, but revenue for our town,” he said. “Given the economic times we’re in, people ar looking for ways to save money, such as shopping at a thrift shop.”

In other business, the Jonesville Board of Commissioners:

• Will have a budget retreat meeting Feb. 20

• Review the four resumes submitted by those interested in filling the seat on the board vacated by the death of Bud Byrd

• Was presented options on memorial benches to be installed at town hall that would bear honorary messages regarding military veterans