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From YouTube: Board of Commissioners' Regular Meeting (July 16, 2019)
Description
Regular Meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners from July 16, 2019. To view the meeting agenda or future meeting agendas you can visit buncombecounty.org/commissioners.
A
A
Since
our
last
County
Commission
meeting,
our
nation
has
celebrated
the
4th
of
July
Independence
holiday.
So
before
we
begin
our
meeting
this
evening,
let's
take
a
moment
of
silence
for
reflection
on
or
silent
prayer
for
silent
prayer
of
appreciation
for
the
many
blessings
that
we
have
to
live
in
the
United
States
of
America.
Please
join
me
a
moment
of
silence.
A
Thank
you
all
right.
We
have
a
couple
of
announcements.
First,
I'd
like
to
announce
that
we
have
parking
validation
and
bus
passes
for
folks
who
are
attending
the
County
Commission
meetings
and
workshops,
so
anyone
who's
attending
this
meeting,
who
parked
in
the
county
parking
facility
next
door
or
who
used
Asheville
transit
to
travel
to
the
meeting,
can
get
a
pass
from
security
on
your
way.
Out
of
the
meeting
that
is
valid
for
today,
only
a
please
take
a
moment
to
silence
your
cell
phone
and
I'm
going
to
read
the
ethics
reminder
for
the
board.
A
In
accordance
with
the
code
of
ethics
adopted
by
the
board,
all
county
commissioners
have
a
duty
to
obey
all
applicable
laws
regarding
official
actions
to
uphold
the
integrity
and
independence
of
the
office,
to
avoid
impropriety
in
the
exercise
of
official
duties
to
faithfully
perform
the
duties
of
the
office
and
to
conduct
the
affairs
of
the
governing
board
in
an
open
and
public
manner.
Is
there
any
item
on
the
agenda,
the
outcome
of
which
would
have
a
direct,
substantial
and
readily
identifiable
financial
impact
for
any
board?
Member?
B
You
commissioners,
it
is
my
privilege
to
Steve
then
to
introduce
civil
Tate.
Civil
Tate
is
her
new
assistant
county
manager.
She
joins
us
from
person
County,
where
she
served
as
the
assistant
county
manager
for
seven
years,
and
previously
she
served
in
Chatham
County
as
a
performance
manager
and
community
development
specialist.
So
please
join
me
in
welcoming
civil
Tate
here
to
Buncombe
County.
A
D
D
E
A
F
Is
the
d-o-t
process
so
with
that
still
listed
as
a
state
maintained
road
and
that's
just
a
little
short
piece
of
two
or
three
properties
near
Lake,
Julian
and
they've
just
requested
that
the
d-o-t
drop
it
from
the
state
maintained
road
system
and
the
statute
just
requires
that
the
Board
of
Commissioners,
where
that
road
is
located
to
say
we
think
it's
a
fine
idea.
So.
E
F
F
D
E
A
A
G
Illness
such
as
obesity,
diabetes
and
infectious
diseases,
as
well
as
less
maternal,
breast
and
ovarian
cancers
and
diabetes,
and
a
faster
recovery
from
childbirth
as
compared
to
formula-feeding
and
whereas
breastfeeding
promotes
maternal
infant
bonding
and
benefits
the
entire
family
and
is
associated
with
lifelong
health
and
development.
Whereas
collaborating
with
health
care
providers
and
community
resources
can
positively
impact
breastfeeding
success.
G
I
was
recognizing
the
persistent
inequities
in
our
communities,
birth
outcomes,
where
african-american
babies
in
Buncombe
County
are
nearly
four
times
as
likely
to
die.
In
the
first
year
of
life
as
white
babies,
a
breastfeeding
friendly
community
could
be
an
antidote
to
tragedy
and
a
strategy
towards
advancing
equitable,
equitable
birth
outcomes
in
Buncombe
County
and
whereas,
in
his
Proclamation
supporting
the
2018
World
Breastfeeding
week,
the
governor
of
the
state
of
North
Carolina
has
recognized
that
in
a
world
filled
with
inequality,
crisis
and
poverty.
G
Breastfeeding
is
the
foundation
of
lifelong
good
health
for
babies
and
mothers,
and
whereas
the
World
Alliance
for
breastfeeding
action
is
dedicated
to
the
protection
promotion
and
support
of
breastfeeding
worldwide,
with
the
annual
international
observance
of
World
Breastfeeding
week.
August
1st
through
7th.
Now,
therefore,
on
stay
of
July,
16
2019
and
henceforth
we,
the
Buncombe
County
Board
of
Commissioners,
declare
the
County
of
bunkum
to
be
a
breastfeeding
family-friendly
community.
G
H
Thank
You,
jasmine
and
commissioners.
We
do
appreciate
your
partnership
and
your
support
and
our
desire
to
make
Buncombe
County
a
breastfeeding
friendly
community,
as
Jasmine
said
really.
If
you
think
about
it,
the
natural
order
of
things
would
suggest
that
this
is
the
best
source
of
nutrition
for
infants,
and
we
have
long
supported
this
in
Buncombe
County
at
HHS
through
our
women
and
children's
nutrition
program
WIC,
and
so
we
do
utilize
peer
support,
counselors
so
that
there's
a
mother
to
mother
connection
for
participants
in
our
WIC
program
to
encourage
breastfeeding.
H
But
even
with
our
efforts
as
jasmine
said,
there's,
certainly
a
disparity
and
our
community
and
who
breastfeeds
and
who
does
not,
and
just
to
highlight
some
of
that.
As
of
May
20
19,
23
percent
of
our
WIC
infants
participants
exclusively
breastfed.
We
want
to
expand
that
that
inequity
in
our
community
24
percent
of
our
white
WIC
participants
exclusively
breastfeed
compared
to
17
percent
of
black
WIC
infants.
H
15%
of
WIC
infants
were
partially
breastfed
compared
to
13
percent
of
black
infants
and
59%
of
WIC
white
infants
are
formula-fed
compared
to
72
percent
of
black
quit
participating
infants.
As
our
purpose
statement,
HHS
is
to
strengthen
our
communities
by
advancing
health
safety
and
opportunity
and
we
believe
giving
children
a
strong,
healthy
start
does
allow
them
to
have
opportunities
for
the
rest
of
their
life.
So
this
is
just
stage
one
and
I
do
want
to
recognize
our
friends
from
the
partnership
for
children.
H
They're
gonna
help
us
with
this
project
and
do
a
lot
of
the
community
education.
It's
actually
a
ten
step
process,
at
the
end
of
which
we
hope
to
have
a
certification,
an
official
certification
as
a
breastfeeding
friendly
community,
and
tonight
you
have
really
kick-started
us
down
the
first
part
of
that.
So
we
we
thank
you
very
much.
All.
A
I
I
It
was
an
innovative
program,
nothing
like
it
has
been
done
around
the
country
and
we've
been
able
to
serve
over
40
women
from
Buncombe
County
in
on
Friday.
We
will
have
our
Athey
graduation
of
this
year.
We
have
two
ladies
graduating
there,
but
but
in
January,
I
mean
in
June.
I
was
asked
to
to
come
to
California
for
a
gathering
of
rescue
missions,
Teen
Challenge
programs,
Salvation
Army's
HUD
I'm
Catholic
Charities.
There
was
over
1,200
of
my
peers
from
around
North
America.
That
was
there
and
we
were
awarded
the
city
gate
award.
I
It's
only
the
second
time
that
this
award
has
been
given
out
to
to
a
rescue
mission,
and
it's
not
given
out
annually.
It's
actually
only
give
out
when
there's
and
when
there's
an
innovative
program,
that's
brought
forward
and
we've
had
so
much
success
with
this.
This
is
this
is
Becky
Turchi
she's,
our
program
director
and
so
I'm
gonna.
Let
her
kind
of
talk
about
the
award
a
little
bit,
because
this
is
our
award
for
a
community.
This
is
our
award,
so.
J
This
is
such
an
honor
and
a
privilege
just
to
be
a
part
of
what's
going
on
in
our
community
and
just
to
be
able
to
work
around
with
collaboratively
and
I
just
wanted
to
take
the
time
to
just
kind
of
read
through
the
award
for
why
it
was
given.
But
it's
in
a
city
gate
award,
that's
presented
to
Western
Carolina's
rescue
ministries,
Asheville
North
Carolina
for
the
insightful
strategies,
innovative
services,
collaborative
initiatives
and
an
indestructible
desire
to
make
a
difference
for
the
cause
of
Christ
in
the
heart
of
our
city.
J
K
I
L
L
L
E
I
I
I
They
are
they
are
it's
it's
working
and
it
is
it's.
It's
an
exciting
thing
to
be
a
part
of
something
where
we're
seeing
lives
changed
on
a
daily
basis,
and
so
thank
you.
This
is
our
award.
It
really
is
I'm
hearing
from
people
from
all
over
the
country,
I'm
I'm,
actually
going
and
consulting
with
other
areas,
because
they
they
want
to
produce
this
in
their
area,
and
and
thank
you
all
for
taking
a
chance
with
us
and
believing
in
us,
and
so
thank
you.
I
A
A
And
thank
you
that
as
well
Becky,
thank
you
for
being
here
and
for
this
positive
update.
You
know
our
Commission
didn't
identify
the
opioid
crisis
as
one
of
the
strategic
priorities
for
the
county
and
it's
something
that
is
one
of
the
toughest
issues
we
face
and
we
know
there's
not
any
one
solution,
but
we're
happy
to
work
with
partners
who
are
really
taking
it.
The
issue
head-on
and
really
trying
to
make
a
difference,
especially
for
families
and
kids.
So
thank
you
all
for
your
great
work,
chairman.
E
I
just
want
to
say,
I've
had
the
opportunity
to
go
there
a
couple
of
times,
I
distinctly
remember
the
first
time.
I
went
there
and
toured
the
facility,
and
it
was
an
emotional
experience
for
me
to
go
in
and
see
the
care
that
had
went
into
those
rooms
in
the
love
that
in
one
of
those
rooms
and
I,
mean
yeah,
you
you,
you
felt
that
when
you
walked
in
the
door,
so
we
we're
very
grateful
for
the
for
the
success.
It'll
change
generations.
We
appreciate
it
right.
A
A
E
A
Right,
thank
you.
Thank
you
very
much.
So
there's
a
motion
in
a
second
to
nominate,
brownie
Newman,
to
be
our
voting
delegate
at
the
County
Commissioners
Association
meeting
in
Guilford
County
next
month.
Any
other
discussion,
okay
and
if
any
other
commissioners
are
interested
in
going
it's
a
great
event
and
you
learn
a
lot
about
what
county
governments
are
doing
across
the
state.
So
if
anybody
else
is
interested
in
going
of
course,
it's
open
to
to
everyone.
C
H
I'm
happy
to
announce
that
we've
been
offered
a
commercial
donation
and
really
what
great
timing
on
the
night
when
we
had
that
Proclamation
by
air
flow,
which
is
a
business
down
in
Arden
and
they're,
willing
to
donate
a
hundred
commercial
breast
pumps
that
week
and
then
turn
around
and
give
to
low-income
mothers
that
were
working
with
that
would
allow
them
to
continue
breastfeeding
and
when
I
think
about
this
situation.
I
mean
this
is
just
one
of
many,
but
just
imagine
you're
a
20
year
old,
mother
and
you're
working.
H
You
know
from
5:00
in
the
evening
to
1:00
in
the
morning
at
a
restaurant,
so
you
can
pay
nine
hundred
dollars
for
a
one-bedroom
apartment
and
you,
but
you
still
want
to
breastfeed
your
child
because
you
do
believe
those
things.
We
said
that
it's
better
for
your
health,
it's
better
for
bonding,
it's
better
for
your
baby,
but
you
don't
have
a
hundred
and
ninety
five
dollars
to
spend
on
a
breast
pump.
H
So,
through
this
generosity
of
air
flow,
we
will
have
breast
pumps
that
we
can
give
for
free
and,
like
I
said,
we
even
have
the
peer
mentoring,
the
one-on-one
mentoring,
with
with
a
mother
that
can
help
you
to
understand
how
to
use
it.
So
we
would
respectfully
ask
that
the
county
accept
this
donation
and
we
certainly
have
from
a
fiscal
perspective.
We
have
audit
control
environments
where
we
can
control
the
inventory
and
track
every
pump
back
to
the
individual
who
received
it
or
the
companies.
A
E
A
L
A
And
we
we
send
our
appreciation
for
this
to
this
great
member
of
our
community
very
much
okay
and
the
next
item
under
new
business
is
an
update
on
House
bill
370
and
Commissioner
Jasmine
Beach
Farrar
will
present
this
item.
There's
not
any
vote
to
be
taken
on
this.
This
is
simply
for
discussion
purposes
and
I
want
to
acknowledge
that
I
with
sheriff
Quinton
Miller
with
us
here
this
evening,
so
sheriff
thank
you
for
being
with
us
and
for
all
your
great
work
of
you
and
the
folks
on
your
on
your
team,
commissioner.
Sure.
G
This
is
to
provide
some
background
in
context
periodically,
there's
a
bill
under
consideration
at
the
North
Carolina
General
Assembly
that
has
particular
implications
in
Buncombe
County
from
one
reason
or
another
and
HP
370
is
one
such
bill.
So
this
will
be
just
a
discussion
to
provide
a
bit
of
background
in
context
and
to
share
an
update
about
a
letter
that
for
members
of
Commission,
myself,
chairman
Newman
commissioners,
Whitesides
and
Edwards
sent
to
governor
Cooper
as
well
as
leadership
at
the
General
Assembly
expressing
opposition
HB
370.
G
The
situation
we
find
ourselves
in
now
is
that
there
is
a
bill
titled
HP
370
that
was
introduced
at
the
state
legislature
in
a
retaliatory
manner,
to
basically
undermine
the
local
policies
that
have
been
set
in
these
seven
counties
and
to
mandate
that
sheriffs.
In
all,
North
Carolina
counties
comply
with
ice
detainers
I
oppose
this
law
and
put
a
invitation
on
the
table
to
anyone
in
Commission
to
join
me
in
sending
letters,
because
it
is
actively
under
deliberation
and
Raleigh
right
now.
G
It
has
not
yet
passed
into
law
the
status
of
the
bill
is
it
passed
both
chambers
but
is
currently
sitting
in
the
Rules
Committee
of
the
house,
because
the
Senate
version
that
passed
was
slightly
amended
if
it
is
to
pass
through
this
committee
and
find
its
way
to
the
governor's
desk.
There's
a
pledge
veto
of
it,
which
would
bounce
it
back
to
the
legislature.
G
I
could
I
want
to
speak
briefly
about
why
some
of
the
reasons
that
I
oppose
HB
370
and
they
start
and
end
with
the
primary
reason
that
I'm
sitting
here
at
all,
which
is
to
represent
people
who
live
in
Buncombe
County
and
to
represent
and
serve
the
interests
of
people
who
live
in
Buncombe,
County
and
any
time
members
of
our
community
are
being
targeted
by
law.
I.
Think
it's
important
to
speak
up
about
that
and
I
have
grave
concerns
that
HB
370
is
unconstitutional,
that
it
targets
solo.
G
Immigrant
communities
are
here
in
Buncombe,
County
and
across
North
Carolina,
and
that
it
also
undermines
the
authority
of
duly
elected
sheriff's,
to
do
their
jobs
and
to
set
policies
that
protect
and
maintain
the
public
safety
of
the
communities
they're
elected
to
serve.
So
that's
a
bit
of
context
a
bit
of
my
perspective
as
an
individual
commissioner.
Anyone
who's
interested
can
find
copies
of
those
letters
linked
to
through
our
agenda.
E
Let
me
turn
it
on
now.
I
would
like
to
make
a
couple
comments.
One
is
that
which
I,
which
I
was,
was
glad
and
supported
that
I
think
chairman.
It
was
when
you
you,
you
become
chair
that
we,
it
wasn't
a
written
policy,
but
we
did
not.
A
lot
of
people
were
coming
to
us
one.
Let's
do
resolutions
directed
towards
the
state
were
directed
towards
federal
issues
and
that
we
had
decided
that
we
were
not
going
to
do
that
and
I
know
that
this
falls
short
of
a
resolution.
However,
the
conversation
is
is
similar.
E
I
do
I
do
appreciate
where
this
conversation
is
coming
from
yet
I
think
it's
a
similar
to
doing
a
resolution,
and
so
I
think
there's
a
better
way
for
us
to
handle
this,
because
when
you
do
it,
when
you
do
a
letter,
even
though
you
have
two
or
three
people
signing
the
letterhead,
that
we
have
has
everybody,
and
so
it's
it's.
It
appears
to
be
a
board
decision
and
I
support.
E
However,
I
think
that
we
have
to
be
really
careful
when
we're
doing
a
letter
that
has
entire
board
and
we
have
one
or
two
I.
Don't
even
think
I
can
do
a
letter
by
myself
that
has
all
the
board
represented
at
the
top
I
think
we
have
to
be
careful
of.
We
have
to
be
careful
of
that.
So
and
that's
that's
the
reason
I
chose
not
son
signed
the
document.
I
don't
want
to
get
into.
You
know
the
partisan.
E
E
E
It
is
my
obligation
to
support
that,
but
but
I
do
support
where
you
guys
are
coming
from
why
you
feel
the
way
you
feel
and
I
understand
that
and
I
respect
your
right
to
be
able
to
have
that
have
that
have
that
discussion.
D
Yeah
done
some
background
research,
you
know,
I
got
a
little
thing
here
and
I
can
make
it
wherever
one
can
have
it,
but
I'd
like
to
read
it
after
each
of
us
was
elected
to
this
board.
The
first
thing
we
did
was
raise
her
hand
and
take
an
oath,
an
oath
of
office
between
God
and
the
good
people
of
Buncombe
County.
When
we
said
those
words,
we
were
promising
to
do.
D
We
all
did
now
I
understand
that
good
people,
including
my
colleagues
here,
can
have
an
honest
disagreement
about
how
to
handle
things,
especially
on
hot
topic,
issues
like
illegal
immigration
and
as
far
as
the
specific
concerns
raised
by
my
colleagues
of
the
majority
regarding
House
bill
370,
they
may
even
have
some
valid
points,
but
under
our
system
there
is
a
right
way
to
do.
Things
is
often
said
that
we
are
a
nation
of
law.
D
Now
we
as
aboard
or
temporary
elected
officials
of
the
seat
we
hold
on
behalf
of
the
citizens
of
Buncombe
County
and
while
I
appreciate
my
colleagues,
social
justice
activism
as
a
way
to
change
things,
I
don't
believe
we
should
allow
that
activism
to
get
in
the
way
and
promise
that
we
made
to
the
citizens
we
were
sent,
who
sent
us
here,
I'm
a
simple
guy-
and
this
is
a
simple
matter
for
me.
I
made
a
promise
and
I
intend
to
keep
it.
C
C
If
we
have
something
that
I,
don't
think
it's
right,
and
it
really
concerns
me
now
not
only
as
a
commissioner
but
as
a
citizen
of
America.
Where
is
our
moral
compass?
Folks,
we've
gotten
to
the
point
that
we
don't
give
a
darn
anymore
about
people.
I
can
remember
at
one
time
we
were.
You
know,
police
in
the
world
for
people's
human
rights.
Now
we
don't
give
a
darn
about
citizens
right
so
let
alone
anybody
else,
but
we're
losing
track
of
our
moral
compass.
C
And
you
know
when
I
hear
us
talk
about
what
religious
community
we
are
in
America
folks,
we
don't
practice
what
we
preach
and
it's
obvious
to
me,
and
especially
in
churches
and
I'm.
Very
critical
of
this
and
I've
always
been
still
the
most
segregated
hour
in
the
week
is
11
o'clock
Sunday
morning,
but
I
still
think
what
we
did
is
right
and
I
will
do
it
again.
C
You
know
if
it's
a
law
that
I
see
that
I,
don't
think
it's
fair
and
when
you
start
arresting,
people
are
picking
them
up
without
due
process,
even
if
they
are
not
citizens,
they
in
the
United
States
of
America,
and
we
follow
policy,
and
we
should
do
that
there,
and
this
reminds
me
of
the
Jim
Crow
period
that
I
came
up
with
when
I
was
a
kid
heaven
forbid.
We
go
back
there.
G
I'd
like
to
follow
up
just
and
I'm
glad
we're
having
this
discussion
and
I
think
it
raises
some
important
issues
about
what
is
the
responsibility
of
a
County
Commission
when
you
have
a
moment
where
a
local
policy
and
state
law
seem
to
be
on
a
collision
course.
It's
long
been
said
that
North
Carolina
is
a
Dillons
law
state,
but
there's
actually
diverging
legal
opinions
on
that
and
diverging
jurisprudence
on
that.
G
So
I
think
we
ought
not
rest
necessarily
on
that
analysis
in
a
in
a
simple
way
in
every
instance,
but
this
is
a
particularly
important
one
and
I
think
it's
important
for
people
in
Buncombe
County
know
what's
happening.
Federal
law
is
actually
neutral
on
this
topic
and
says
it
is
at
the
discretion
of
sheriffs
about
whether
to
comply
with
ice
detainers.
So
they
point
to
the
local
authority
on
this.
G
Our
Sheriff's
Office
is
tasked
with
the
very
difficult
legal
moral
fiduciary
responsibilities
of
maintaining
the
detention
center
and
has
made
the
decision
that
holding
people
without
a
court
order.
It
not
only
violates
due
process,
but
it's
not
in
the
community's
interest,
our
Public
Safety's
interest.
G
To
me,
that's
exactly
the
kind
of
moment
when
it
is
appropriate
for
a
County
Commission
to
add
our
voice
to
the
course
of
elected
officials
across
the
state
who
are
wrestling
with
this
topic
and
trying
to
figure
out
the
direction
that
makes
the
most
sense
and-
and
this
is
an
instance
where
I
feel
like
respecting
the
respecting
the
will
of
our
community,
which
clearly
voted
in
a
sheriff
who
campaigned
on
exactly
issues
like
this
and
who
has
used
his
discretion
to
make
this
assessment
as
critical
as
have
six
of
the
other
largest
counties
of
North
Carolina
that
are
contending
with
this
issue
and
on
them
in
the
most
frontlines
way,
and
as
has
been
pointed
out,
this
is
not
a
law.
G
It's
a
law
under
debate
at
the
North
Carolina
General
Assembly,
so
citing
to
the
oath
we
took
to
uphold
the
federal
and
state
constitution,
actually
points
us
if
anything,
to
federal
law
which
is
neutral
on
this
topic.
So,
if
we're
going
to
cite
to
our
oath
in
this
moment,
it
would
point
us
to
a
federal
law,
saying
it's
at
the
discretion
of
the
sheriff
and
and
in
doubt,
I
am
going
to
look
to
the
oath
to
the
Federal
Constitution.
G
So
there's
a
lot
of
ways
we
can
talk
about
this
I
think
it's
good
for
us
to
have
these
discussions
and
there
are
going
to
be
times
when
what's
happening
in
Raleigh
has
direct
and
immediate
implications
in
particular
ways
in
Buncombe,
County
and
I
will
always
land
on
the
side
of
us,
it
being
better
for
us
to
shine
a
light
on
those
topics
to
discuss
them.
If
there
are
those
among
us,
you
feel
compelled
to
act.
G
A
All
right
all
right
all
right
if
there's
no
one
else
in
this
Christian
everyone's
comments
on
this
I.
Just
you
know
I
will
we
don't
have
a
formal
policy
on
the
adoption
of
resolutions
regarding
use
for
state
and
federal
issues?
A
E
You
know
to
me
if
we're
going
to,
if
we're
going
to
do
a
letter
and
somebody
wants
to
do
a
letter,
then
they
ought
to
just
do
a
letter
or
we
don't
need
to
do
a
letter
from
the
entire
board
on
there's.
Just
there's
just
you
know
it's
not
whether
we
agree
or
disagree
on
what
Raleigh's
going
to
do
or
not
going
to
do
is
just
to
me
just
the
we
just
have
to
be
very
careful
in
the
and
like
what
I
would
choose
to
do
it
Dooley,
but
I
think
everybody
spoke.
M
So,
first
let
me
thank
you
guys
for
even
considering
this
conversation
even
considering
the
letter,
but
let
me
be
absolutely
clear
that
everyone
was
looking
a
couple
of
things
for
me
tonight.
First
of
all,
as
it's
been
stated,
the
previous
sheriff
basically
did
not
support
the
287g
and
I've
come
out
and
I
said
that
I
would
not
support
the
detainer
part
of
that.
I
just
want
to
be
clear
that
for
me,
this
is
even
more
because
this
hasn't
become
an
issue.
Until
the
seven
minority
sheriffs
in
the
state
of
North
Carolina
were
elected.
M
We've
made
our
decision,
and
now
you
know
we
speak
about
62
percent
of
people
in
Buncombe
County
that
elected
me,
I
was
ran
on
the
campaign.
The
campaign
I
ran
on
the
fact
that
I
would
not
support.
27
I've
been
very
clear
about
that.
I'm,
not
gonna.
Back
up
from
when
I
stated
before,
because
I
do
support
what
the
people
who
put
me
in
office
and
they
knew
from
the
beginning.
M
So
as
we
move
forward
and
we
start
to,
might
the
287
I
just
want
to
be
clear
that
I'm,
not
you
know
not
doing
my
oath
of
office?
I
am
doing
that
I'm,
not
breaking
the
Constitution.
I
am
following
the
Constitution
and
if
you
look
at
what
I've
said,
is
that
I
will
honor
the
detainer
if
they
give
us
a
valid
warrant,
so
the
problem
I'm.
Having
is
that
is
not
a
valid
warrant.
We're.
E
M
E
A
A
Okay,
the
time
limit
for
individual
comment
to
the
board
is
three
minutes.
If
your
time
expires,
you
can
leave
your
question.
Your
name
I'll.
Excuse
me,
along
with
your
name
address
and
phone
number
with
the
county
manager
board.
Members
are
not
expected
to
comment
on
any
matters
during
public
comment.
This
is
the
public's
chance
to
speak,
just
speak
to
the
Commission
and
the
board
reserves
the
right
to
deny
public
address
on
topics
that
we've
already
had
public
comment
on
specifically
earlier
in
the
same
meeting,
all
right
who
would
like
to
start
us
off
mr.
N
First
and
foremost,
let
me
say:
I
don't
have
any
animosity
toward
anybody,
that's
trying
to
work
and
make
themselves
better
and
I.
Don't
have
any
tension
to
look
at
somebody
differently,
because
they're,
black
or
brown
and
I've
even
got
homosexuals
or
friends,
and
that
may
shock
the
crap
out
of
some
of
you.
But
that's
the
fact.
N
I
judge
people
by
people
but
I
do
look
for
consistency
and
when
I
see
this
letter,
I
see
a
party
that
represents
non-citizens
over
citizens,
because
we
talk
about
all
these
elections
that
wasn't
the
majority
of
the
people
and
we
are
not
a
democracy.
We
are
a
democratic
republic
where
we
left
elect
people
to
represent
us.
I
also
see
a
party
that
doesn't
want
photo
ID
at
elections.
N
I
also
see
a
party
that
uses
kids
to
get
more
money,
but
then
they
turn
around
and
support
destroying
a
mass
of
living
cells
that
has
limb
buds
and
a
beating
heart,
and
they
call
it
a
personal
choice,
and
we
just
talked
about
those
kids
tonight
and
how
valuable
they
are.
So
those
of
you
that
are
here
hear
my
words:
let
them
burn
in
your
heart.
We
also
see
a
party
that
pushes
letting
a
man
go
to
a
bathroom
with
a
little
girl,
and
our
current
governor
Cooper
is
considering
reintroducing
that
bill.
N
N
N
Folks,
I'm
not
against
anybody,
but
we
as
a
nation
must
have
borders
and
we
must
have
laws
and
we
must
arrest
those
that
do
have
warrants
for
them
period
or
have
defied
the
judges,
orders
and
I
may
be
standing
alone,
but
those
of
you
that
have
a
Bible
or
believed
in
God's
Word,
better
wake
up
because
I
see
if
we're
rights
wrong,
it
runs
right
and
yes,
twirls
are
out
the
window
matter
of
fact.
What's
at,
what's
the
motto
for
Asheville
anyway,
you
like
it,
we
don't
have
any
morals.
Folks.
O
If
I
could
just
have
a
moment
to
regroup
and
recompose
myself
after
the
discussions
that
were
had
previously
by
the
Commission
and
by
mr.
Yeltsin,
please
marry
standard
Montreat
North
Carolina
on
June
17,
2019
thigh
was
disenfranchised.
In
fact,
every
citizens,
a
mantri,
Black,
Mountain
and
Biltmore
forest
lost
their
right
to
vote.
How
and
why
members
of
the
sitting
Town
Council's,
voted
to
cancel
the
2019
and
2021
municipal
elections
and
give
themselves
the
incumbent
the
unelected
year
in
office.
The
stated
objective
was
to
change
change
to
the
even
year's
election
cycle.
O
O
The
change
to
the
even
year
could
have
easily
been
accomplished
by
having
elections
in
2019
and
2020
one
for
a
one
or
three
year
term,
without
counseling
the
elections
senator
Edwards,
who
does
not
represent
any
of
these
three
towns,
sponsored
bills
to
change
the
election
cycle
and
grant
the
incumbents
a
fifth
year
in
office,
the
reals
were
ratified
by
General
Assembly
on
June
17th,
less
than
three
weeks
before
the
July
5th
filing
date
for
candidates.
Edwards
van
Dying,
agar-agar
and
Turner
all
voted
in
favor
of
these
bills.
O
You're
the
officials
responsible
for
the
Buncombe
County
Board
of
Elections
budget
and
ensuring
their
ability
to
Cecily
conduct
the
election
process.
How
can
they
do
their
job?
When
politicians
cancel
election
three
weeks
before
the
filing
dates?
How
can
citizens
be
expected
to
have
faith
in
the
voting
process
when
their
right
to
vote
and
to
file
as
candidates
are
cancelled
with
three
weeks
notices
I
ask
you
tonight.
Perhaps
the
night
is
not
the
right
one
for
that.
Yes,
prepare
a
resolution
unanimously
and
a
bipartisan
way
and
vote
in
September.
O
This
resolution,
hopefully
prepared
by
you,
would
affirm
the
right
to
vote
for
one's
own
representatives,
affirm
the
certitude
of
elections
and
three
disavowed
disenfranchisement
in
the
cancellation
of
elections
by
sitting
and
cumference
disenfranchisement
can
never
be
justified
and
can
never
be
rationalized.
I
asked
you
to
consider
this
carefully.
O
This
should
be
an
issue
that
unites
each
of
you.
The
right
to
vote
should
not
be
taken
lightly,
even
though
this
law
was
indeed
enacted
with
bipartisan
support
by
the
General
Assembly
other
laws
of
in
the
past
literary
test
poll
taxes
the
right
to
deny
women
to
vote,
they
were
enacted.
This
should
be
addressed.
Thank.
P
Good
evening,
commissioners,
my
name
is
michael
harney,
I
work
at
the
Western
North
Carolina
aids
project
and
I
teach
at
a
BTech
in
a
Blue
Ridge
community
colleges.
I
failed
to
be
around
to
update
you
on
things
for
the
last
several
months,
because
I've
been
teaching
on
Tuesday
nights
and
so
we're
in
between
semesters
right
now,
I'm
glad
to
be
back
and
see
you
all
I'm,
sorry
to
miss
being
able
to
introduce
myself
to
Commissioner
Edwards.
P
So
just
a
quick
update
on
the
needle
exchange
program
of
Asheville,
we
are
still
going
through
between
40
and
50
thousand
needles.
Every
single
month
out
of
the
office
of
the
Western
North
Carolina
AIDS
Project
people
are
still
coming
from
over
20
to
25
different
counties
and
several
states
in
our
region.
P
So
it
is
still
a
major
issue
that
I
feel
is
not
necessarily
the
obligation
of
the
Western
North
Carolina
AIDS
Project
to
continue
to
fund
I
am
looking
forward
to
the
Buncombe
County
Department
of
Health
and
Human
Services,
providing
access
to
syringe
service
programs,
we're
hoping,
if
not
now,
July
maybe
August.
But
this
is
the
25th
year
anniversary
of
the
needle
exchange
program
Asheville,
we
started
in
1994
back
then
I've
said
before
in
front
of
you
that
we
exchanged
maybe
a
thousand
needles
in
a
whole
year
and
thought
we
were
pretty
hot
about
it.
P
But
going
through
over
half
a
million
needles
every
year
is
way
out
of
control.
So
there
are
a
lot
of
issues,
I'm
so
happy
to
hear
about.
What's
going
on
at
the
Western
Carolina's
rescue
mission,
how
they're
addressing
the
issues
for
opioid
users?
We
are
all
drug
users.
I
know
it.
I've
said
it
before
that
some
of
us
can
drink
coffee
in
the
morning
or
you
can't
even
talk
to
you
until
you've
had
coffee
I
like
mine
at
night.
P
If
other
programs
want
to
be
enacted,
that's
great
as
well
I'm
all
in
support
I
want
to
transition,
though,
to
something
secondary.
The
kind
of
harm
reduction
related
I
heard
and
on
the
NPR
radio
station
and
I've
been
reading
in
the
mountain
express
about
the
energy
innovation
task
force
and
I
see
that
goal
number
two
here
at
the
website.
It
is
about
the
transition
for
Western
North
Carolina
to
a
cleaner,
affordable
and
smarter
energy
future
through
community
engagement,
collaboration,
etc.
P
I
really
hope
that
we
can
look
at
ways
that,
as
we
give
permits
to
new
buildings
and
all
this
construction,
whether
it's
hotels
or
schools
that
we
find
a
way
to
put
solar
panels
on
each
of
those
buildings,
I
think
every
Walmart
should
have
it
every
store,
major
mall.
All
these
settings
need
to
have
these
solar
panels.
It
might
be
able
to
draw
down
a
little
bit
of
the
use
that
we
have
and
bring
some
energy
resources
that
are
not
fossil
fuels.
P
I've
said
it
before
in
front
of
you
I
just
reiterate
it
again:
I
hope
that
we're
looking
at
ways
to
be
innovative
I'm,
not
all
about
fracking
I'm,
not
all
about
coal,
although
I
know
that.
Obviously
we
need
fossil
fuels,
we're
not
going
to
get
rid
of
them.
I'm
a
realist
about
this
after
all
these
years,
but
I
do
think
we
have
an
obligation,
as
we
are
building
new
buildings,
to
do
that.
Thank
you.
Michael.
A
Q
Monica
Crais
from
seek
healing
the
program
assistant,
so
this
is
the
first
time
I've
ever
stood
before
you
with.
Actually
a
pre-planned
speech
set
out
normally
I,
just
speak
from
my
heart
and
I'm
gonna
go
against
it
and
not
go
with
my
pre-planned
speech.
November
of
2017
I
said
before
you
for
the
first
time
after
meeting
mr.
Belcher
in
a
Candler
Church,
and
he
invited
me
here
to
speak
passionately
to
my
commissioners
and
ask
for
help.
Since
then,
my
dreams
have
been
coming.
True:
I
had
a
dream
to
quote:
Martin
Luther
King
jr.
Q
and
through
the
guidance
of
the
County
Commissioners,
and
my
community
they're
coming
true
I
have
the
privilege
and
honor
through
seek
healing
to
help
spearhead
overdose,
Awareness
Day
for
our
County,
and
that's
why
I'm
here
for
you
today?
You've
helped
me
so
much
in
these
journeys.
So
many
things
are
coming
true
and
I
don't
want
to
let
my
community
community
down
I,
don't
want
to
let
my
team
down.
This
is
the
first
big
project
I've
ever
done,
and
our
County
deserves
something
great
something
huge.
Q
So
we
can
remember
the
people
that
we
lost
to
the
to
overdose,
so
on
August
31st,
it's
a
Saturday
from
2
to
8:30
and
carrier
Park
will
be
having
overdose
Awareness
Day.
Our
hopes
and
dreams
is
to
have
at
least
trees
that
gated
in
memory
to
those
that
we've
lost.
Our
high
hopes
is
to
have
an
actual
hole,
Greenway
dedicated,
so
we
have
a
place
that
we
can
go
and
sit
and
grieve
if
we
need
to
to
remember
those
that
are
gone.
Q
I
stand
before
you
today
to
ask
on
behalf
of
myself
my
team,
my
work
and
just
the
community.
Please
help
I'm
hitting
roadblock
after
roadblock
and
mr.
Miller.
Our
sheriff
actually
directed
me
here
today
to
you
and
has
faith
that
through
our
accounting
commissioners,
we
can
obtain
bigger
things.
Also,
I
am
here
to
request
speakers
as
well,
because
I've
not
personally
been
able
to
reach
out
due
to
hospitalization
but
miss
jasmine
as
well
as
mr.
Whiteside.
Q
We
would
love
to
have
you
on
that
day
to
come
and
speak
and
just
educate
our
community
help
spread
awareness
of
what
the
day
is
really
about.
We've
really
really
enjoyed
the
company
that
you
gave
us
last
year,
mr.
Esmond,
and-
and
we
would
love
to
have
that
again
this
year
and
then
oh
one
minute
I'm
getting
really
good
at
this
timing
thing:
okay,
one
minute
left
so
I
got
a
minute
to
talk
about
fundraising
and
I'm
funding.
We
are
a
non-profit
nonprofit.
Q
In
my
eyes
we
have
no
money,
so
I've
been
really
good
at
that
having
no
money,
my
whole
life,
so
we
need
money
in
order
to
keep
our
program
going
with
sea
killing,
but
also
more
directly
with
overdose
Awareness
Day.
We
have
big
dreams
and
big
plans
for
this,
but
unfortunately
the
world
still
revolves
around
money
as
much
as
I
hate
it.
So
if
there
are
any
donor
sponsorships,
we
we
do
have
packages
available
for
private
or
organization
funding
to
come
through
to
us.
Q
A
G
K
Thank
You
mr.
chairman
and
members
boarding
well
I
want
to
thank
a
county
manager
for
getting
the
cleanup
out
here
in
the
hall
and
get
that
desk
out
of
the
room.
So
we
could
move
around
and
more
freely
in
case
of
a
fire,
I
told
her.
The
fire
marshal
didn't
have
more
sense
than
she
had
better
sense
and
he
did
so
I'll
give
her
credit
for
that
much
or
whoever
in
directed
her
to
do
it.
Thank
you.
K
Tb.
Excuse
me
the
letter
that
you're
talking
about
writing
tonight.
You
say
you
didn't
take
a
vote
on
it.
Well,
you
had
to
take
a
vote
for
four
people
to
sign
a
letter
and
you're
all
elected,
and
you
put
it
on
your
letterhead
so
somebody's
lying
when
they
say
they
don't
take
a
vote
on
it,
you
did
it
in
the
back
room.
Shame
on
you!
Do
it
out
your
public
land
vote
on
it.
K
K
K
K
You
know
the
law
was
here
a
lot
quicker
and
sooner
than
these
new
sheriffs,
these
new
surfaces,
new
kids
on
the
block
they
might
have
been
in
law
enforcement,
but
there's
still
new
kids
for
the
what's
going
on
in
our
county.
We
need
leaders,
not
followers
as
well
as
commissioners
leaders
and
not
followers.
You
got
to
stand
for
something
or
fall
for
anything.
So
what
are
you
gonna
do?
Thank
you.
A
A
Okay,
so
stay
tuned
for
the
location
it'll
be
somewhere
here
in
Buncombe,
County
for
sure
comfortable.
The
reasonable
accommodations,
okay,
July
30th
at
8:30
a.m.
the
next
day,
we'll
have
a
follow-up
on
that
strategic
planning
workshop
on
July
30th
at
I'm.
Sorry,
so
the
department
heads
are
meeting
on
the
30th
at
8:30
a.m.
so
the
the
county
staff
will
meet
that
morning
at
8:30.
The
county
commissioners
will
reconvene
at
1
o'clock
on
July
30th.
To
conclude
the
strategic
planning
workshop
with
the
department
heads
on
August
6th
at
noon.
A
The
county
commissioners
will
hold
a
pre
meeting
at
200,
College
Street
on
the
first
floor
conference,
room
at
200,
College
Street
in
downtown,
and
then
that
evening,
at
5
p.m.
will
be
the
next
County
Commissioners
regular
meeting
at
200
College
Street.
That
concludes
our
agenda
for
this
evening.
Thank
you
all
for
being
with
us
this
evening.
We're
adjourned.