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From YouTube: Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting (January 3, 2017)
Description
Regular Meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners from January 3, 2017. To view the agenda or information on future meetings, please visit buncombecounty.org
A
B
B
Great,
thank
you
all
for
being
with
us
this
evening.
A
happy
New
Year
to
everyone
and
I'd
like
to
begin
the
meeting
and
to
recognize
that
between
now
and
our
next
county
commission
meeting
our
community,
our
state
and
our
country
will
celebrate
dr.
Martin
Luther
King
Junior's
a
day
which
is
recognized
on
Monday
January.
Sixteenth.
This
day
has
been
set
aside
by
our
state
and
our
nation
to
recognize
a
man
who
has
changed
our
country,
dr.
Martin,
Luther,
King,
jr.
B
dedicated
his
life
to
tearing
down
the
walls
of
DC
of
segregation
and
to
the
advancement
of
equal
rights
for
all.
He
helped
America
become
a
better
nation.
By
confronting
our
country's
legacy
of
slavery
and
government
enforced
discrimination,
amazingly,
he
carried
out
his
work,
not
by
calling
for
revenge
or
appealing
to
anger,
but
through
an
unwavering
commitment
to
reconciliation,
peace
and
non-violence,
all
of
which
were
inspired
by
his
deep
Christian
faith.
B
Our
next
order
of
business
this
evening
is
our
ethics
reminder
I'm,
going
to
read
the
ethics
statement
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
and
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.
B
Is
there
any
item
on
the
agenda,
the
outcome
of
which
will
have
a
direct,
substantial
and
readily
identifiable
financial
impact
for
any
board?
Member
also.
Does
any
board
member
have
a
financial
interest
in
any
public
contract
coming
before
the
board
today,
there
being
none
all
board.
Members
have
a
duty
and
obligation
to
vote
on
all
matters
that
come
before
the
board
this
evening.
B
Alright,
we
will
now
open
up
the
meeting
for
public
comment.
Are
there
if
there's
any
members
who
would
like
to
comment?
Let
me
just
review
our
protocols.
The
time
limit
for
individual
comment
to
the
board
is
three
minutes.
If
your
time
expires,
you
may
leave
any
question
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
your
time
to
speak
to
us.
B
B
Great
seeing
none
we
will
move
on
to
our
next
item,
which
is
a
we
need
to
discuss
and
approve
the
agenda
for
the
meeting
and
including
the
consent
agenda
and
I
would
also
like
to
ask
that
we
add
one
additional
item
to
the
agenda
for
the
evening,
which
would
be
to
formally
appoint
Robert
Pressley
and
to
reappoint
commissioner
Allan
Frost
to
MSD.
Are
there
any
objections
to
adding
this
to
the
agenda
tonight?
B
Why
don't
we
go
ahead
and
take
care
of
the
MSD
item?
At
the
last
meeting,
we
reviewed
all
of
the
appointments
that
for
four
positions
that
commission
members
themselves
are
required
to
represent
the
board.
Msd
is
a
board
where
we've
had
two
commission
members
representing
the
board,
but
it's
not
actually
a
requirement
that
they
do
so.
We
need
to
formalize
the
discussion
we
had
at
the
last
meeting
to
have
Commissioner
Frost
and
Commissioner
Presley
serve
going
forward
so.
B
A
B
C
A
B
B
D
Just
a
little
bit
of
background
on
the
RC&D
program,
we
became
a
USDA
program
in
Western
North
Carolina
in
1974.
We
cover
eight
counties,
including
bunkum.
My
office
is
located
in
Madison
County,
but
we
have
a
number
of
projects
that
are
regional,
because
we
do
try
to
cover
those
eight
counties
in
our
in
our
area.
We
also
work
with
for
three
other,
our
CDs
that
are
in
Western
North
Carolina,
so
we
have
some
initiatives
that
were
carrying
out
with
our
partner,
our
CDs
in
this
region,
specifically
in
Buncombe
County.
D
At
this
time
we
have
a
few
different
projects.
We
have.
The
raising
cane
project
at
0
in
middle
school
and
river
cane
was
very
common
throughout
this
area
years
ago.
Has
cultural
significance
with
the
cherokee?
Has
economic
significance
because
they
use
it
to
make
their
baskets
and
then
ecologically
it's
a
stream
Bank
stabilizer
and
acts
as
a
riparian
buffer
and
filter.
So
we're
going
to
be
transplanting
some
River
cane
from
Warren
Wilson
and
it's
going
to
stay
in
the
same
watershed
and
become
a
the
natural
learning
initiative
at
Owen
middle
school.
D
Another
project
that
we
have
in
buncombe
county
is
at
barnardsville
elementary.
The
school
had
been
having
a
problem
with
stormwater
runoff
at
the
back
of
the
parking
lot
that
was
going
and
overflowing
septic
tanks
and
sometimes
getting
into
the
school
building
to
the
septic
tank.
Overflow
was
our
primary
concern.
D
So
we've
got
a
pigeon
river
fund,
grant
some
funding
from
Punk
Buncombe,
County
Schools
and
a
partnership
with
buncombe
soil
and
water
to
address
that
with
a
number
of
rain
gardens
that
are
going
to
divert
the
water
away
from
that
parking
lot.
The
main
project
that
is
really
helping
out
Buncombe,
County
and
there's
a
card
specifically
in
your
packet
is
the
ivory
river
partners
project
the
Ivy
River
watershed
is
the
water
supply
for
weaverville
and
so
not
to
be
confused
with
the
big
ivy
group,
we're
actually
looking
at
the
Ivy
River
watershed.
D
That's
also
in
Madison,
County
I
will
say
that
the
Buncombe
County
side
of
the
watershed
it
includes
barnardsville
and
that
big
ivy
area
is
historically
a
lot
cleaner
than
the
Madison
County
side.
The
Madison
County
side
has
a
history
of
being
impaired
and
is
on
the
303
date
list
for
a
second
time
right
now,
so
we've
gone
after
grant
funding
for
years.
D
Accomplishments
were
basically
wanting
to
become
a
resource
if
someone
is
low
income
and
needs
a
septic
repair
or
if
they
have
a
farm,
they
can
work
with
soil
and
water
through
our
partnership
and
319
funding
to
exclude
the
livestock
from
the
stream
and
install
a
new.
Well,
we've
pulled
over
90
tires
from
the
IV
and
over
a
hundred
bags
of
trash.
Just
in
this
past
year.
D
We're
continuing
a
water
quality
monitoring
program
that
began
in
1992,
and
so,
like
I
said,
we
are
relying
entirely
on
grant
funding
to
keep
this
water
supply
protected
and
hopefully
improved
in
the
near
future.
But
we
do
get
some
assistance.
Our
our
board
is
appointed
by
the
soil
and
waters
in
each
county
and
the
county
commissioners.
We
actually
currently
have
a
vacancy
in
Buncombe
County,
but
we
get
eight
hundred
dollars
in
dues
from
each
county
and
that
comes
out
of
the
soil
and
water
budget,
but
other
than
that.
We're
exclusively
relying
on
grant
funding.
D
So
we've
got
regional
projects
as
well.
I
was
actually
hired
in
2009
to
create
a
cost
share
program
for
farmers
to
do
renewable
energy,
and
that
was
renewable
energy
for
farms.
Since
then,
we
have
continued
funding.
We've
done
about
40,
prop
40
projects
that
I've
been
directly
involved
in
since
2009
and
originally
just
started
with
pv
and
we're
still.
We
still
have
a
cost-share
to
support
photovoltaics
on
farms,
but
now
we
also
assist
small
businesses
and
it
we
do
energy
efficiency
and
we've
also
done
some
solar,
hot
water
on
dairy
farms.
D
We've
made
five
installations
on
dairy
farms
because
they
are
just
really
high
users
of
hot
water
for
that
pasteurization
project.
So
we
have
the
that
is.
Renewable
energy
for
farms
has
become
the
energy
cost
share
assistance
program
and
that
is
in
the
packet
as
well.
If
you
know
of
any
opportunities
to
partner
on
that,
please
let
me
know
other
regional
projects,
mainly
that
IV
river
partners
and
the
energy
and
the
e
cap
program-
I
didn't
really
I
mean
our
mission
is,
is
in
the
packet
but
I'm
sure
you're
getting
the
idea.
D
Our
mission
is
resource
conservation
and
economic
development
and
protecting
the
resources
that
we
have,
and
so,
if
you
I
can,
if
you
wouldn't
follow
up
with
me
on
any
suggestions
for
a
board
appointment
or
any
interest
in
any
of
the
projects
or
programs,
we
have
at
this
time,
I
could
answer
any
questions.
If
you
have
any
so.
C
D
Do
it
through
grant
writing
so
it
really
is
transitioned.
Like
I
said
we
became
a
USDA
program
in
1974.
At
that
time
we
had
federal
funding,
which
we
lost
in
2011.
The
USDA
service
center
has
been
gracious
enough
to
allow
us
to
keep
our
office
space,
so
that
really
helps.
But
before
that
time
a
lot
of
our
grant
assistance
was
almost
in
a
pass
through,
so
that
mountain
valleys,
our
C
and
D,
was
actually
how
ASAP
got
started,
but.
A
D
D
Ok,
so
it's
we
had
cover
eight
counties
from
Madison,
County,
all
the
way
to
Transylvania
and
then
over,
to
poke
Rutherford,
Cleveland
and
McDowell,
and
the
challenge
is
not
favoring,
buncombe
and
Madison,
because
that's
where
a
lot
of
our
contacts
are
and
that's
why
we
try
to
get
those
cost
share
programs
that
are
eligible
in
any
of
our
counties.
If
anyone
wants
to
participate.
D
Those
would
probably
be
useful
numbers,
don't
the
most
of
the
math.
That
I
know
is
just
how
much
we
need
a
year
to
operate
and
to
stay
afloat.
But
right
now
we
have
two
other
staff
members
and
they
are
more
in
it
with
the
environmental
or
renewable
energy.
Technical
expertise
than
I
am
I'm
the
director,
so
I'm
kind
of
overseeing
all
the
projects.
C
B
D
We
have
because
two
of
the
positions
in
Buncombe
County
have
been
appointed
by
solo
and
water.
We
have
a
lot
of
close
ties
with
agriculture
in
terms
of
resource
conservation
and
I
mean
anyone
who
could
identify
a
conservation
need,
that's
not
being
met,
because
we
aren't
looking
to
compete
with
other
nonprofits,
but
if
there
is
an
opportunity
like,
for
instance,
it
was
our
board
member
who
came
to
us
and
said
Owen
middle
school
is
doing
this
natural
learning
initiative.
D
I
really
like
you
to
go
talk
with
them,
see
the
campus
and
when
I
went
there
they
said.
Well,
we
want
to
do
this
raising
Cain
project,
and
so
we
said
all
right.
Well,
let's
see
we'll
follow
up
with
lauren
wilson
and
see
if
we
can
make
that
happen.
So
someone
who
knows
people
and
might
be
able
to
identify
projects
that
are
specifically
tied
to
resource
conservation
would
be
perfect
and.
B
That
problem,
it
needs
to
be
made
by
this
board
right.
Okay,
so
have
we
advertised
for
that?
So
we
should.
We
should
start
doing
that.
Okay,
well
great
I,
just
one
other,
just
one
of
their
comment
just
and
this
is
not
something
I
know
very
much
about,
but
it's
just
something
that
somebody
who
also
is
very
interested
in
the
whole
river
cane
conservation
and
restoration
kind
of
reached
out
to
me
about.
But
you
know,
my
understanding
is
one
of
the
other
larger
tracts
of
remaining
river
cane,
which
is
this.
D
Let's
maybe
getting
a
little
bit
too
far
out
of
our
scope,
and
so
it
really
would
be
kind
of
site-specific
and
we
could
take
it
to
them
and
see
what
they
thought
and
then
another
thing
we
could
do
is
just
educate
landowners
and
do
it
on
our
own
and
then
then
involve
the
cherokee
foundation
in
that
way.
Because
really
it's
not
that
transplanting
that
calms
isn't
that
expensive!
Okay.
B
Well,
I
think
it's
great
and
again
I,
don't
know
that
much
about
it,
but
I.
Think
we'd,
love
to
you
know,
make
sure
we're
coordinating
with
you
a
lot
of
these
different.
You
know.
Greenway
projects
in
the
county
are
in
these
Riverside
areas
where
River
cane
is
or
used
to
be,
and
we
I
think
there's
opportunities
to
make
sure
we're
conserving
it
and
being,
and
we
need
to
make
sure
we're
being
careful
not
to
you
know
inadvertently
lose
anymore,
we're
where
we
can
avoid
that
exactly.
D
B
B
A
B
By
Commissioner,
frost
seconded
by
Commissioner
Belcher
any
other
comments
all
in
favor,
please
say:
aye
aye,
any
opposed
terrific.
All
right.
We
have
just
a
couple
of
announcements
that
we
want
to
make.
That
concludes
all
of
the
business
we
had
on
our
agenda
for
this
evening.
So
we
have
just
a
couple
of
announcements
to
go
over
January
sixteenth,
as
Martin
Luther
King
jr.
holiday
county
offices
will
be
closed.
On
that
day.
January
17th
at
5pm
will
be
the
next
regular
meeting
of
the
board
of
commissioners.
B
Here
at
200,
College
Street
January
25th
to
27th
the
county
commissioners
will
be
attending
the
essentials
of
government
of
conference
at
the
quality
inn
and
Biltmore.
Here
in
Asheville
and
again
we
do
not
have
a
closed
session
this
evening.
So
that
concludes
our
business.
For
the
evening
Thanks
to
everyone
have
a
great
new
year
adjourn.