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From YouTube: Board of Commissioners' Regular Meeting, Jan. 21, 2020
Description
This is the regular meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners for Jan. 21, 2020. To see the agenda from tonight's meeting and others, visit buncombecounty.org/commissioners.
A
A
On
Monday
January
20th,
our
community,
along
with
others
across
North
Carolina
and
the
nation,
observe
the
day
set
aside
to
recognize
the
birthday
of
dr.
Martin
Luther
King
jr..
This
day
has
been
set
aside
by
the
state
of
North
Carolina
and
the
Congress
of
the
United
States
to
recognize
a
man
who
changed
our
country.
Dr.
Martin,
Luther,
King,
jr.
dedicated
his
life
to
tearing
down
the
walls
of
segregation
into
the
advancement
of
equal
rights
for
all.
A
He
helped
America
become
a
better
place
by
confronting
our
nation's
legacy
of
slavery
and
discrimination.
He
carried
out
his
work,
not
by
appeals
to
anger
or
calls
for
revenge,
but
through
a
commitment
to
justice
through
reconciliation,
peace
and
non-violence,
all
of
which
were
inspired
by
his
deep
Christian
faith.
A
Before
we
begin
our
meeting
this
evening,
let's
hold
a
moment
of
silence
for
prayer
and
reflection
on
the
life
and
legacy
of
dr.
Martin,
Luther,
King
jr.
and
all
the
men
and
women
in
our
country
who
have
fought
for
and
sacrificed
to
advance
the
cause
of
freedom,
equality
and
justice
for
all.
Please
join
me
in
a
moment
of
silence.
A
A
If
you
have
used,
the
county,
parking
facility
or
bus
passes
to
attend
the
meeting
for
this
County
Commission
meeting.
Now
your
parking
can
be
validated
by
one
of
the
officers
who's
with
us
this
evening
to
see
them
on
their
way
out
and
they're
happy
to
validate
your
parking
or
transit
pass
that
is
valid
for
today
only
we
read
the
ethics
reminder
to
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?
A
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
any
matters
voted
on
by
the
board.
At
this
meeting,
all
right
before
we
move
to
the
consent
agenda,
I'd
like
to
acknowledge,
we
have
former
sheriff
van
Duncan
with
us
in
our
meeting
this
evening,
sheriff
it's
always
great
to
see
you
thank
you
for
being
with
us
this
evening.
A
All
right
consent,
agenda,
I,
think
we've
got
a
couple
of
things
to
add
and
maybe
take
off,
and
there
might
be
some
things.
We
also
want
to
take
off
the
consent
agenda.
So
let
me
get
started
and
if
others
have
things
to
add,
please
follow
up.
First,
there's
been
a
request
to
remove
the
donation,
to
benefit
nonprofit
donation,
to
benefit
children
in
foster
care.
To
remove
that
item
from
the
consent
agenda.
For
this
meeting,
there's
also
been
a
request
to
add
the
resolution.
A
A
A
So
is
there
a
motion
to
approve
the
consent
agenda
with
the
addition
of
the
radon
resolution,
after
good
news,
the
removal
of
the
nonprofit
donation
to
benefit
children
in
foster
care
and
taking
the
transit
feasibility
study
off
the
consent
agenda?
We
will
we'll
take
that
up
after
we
approve
the
consent
agenda,
but
as
a
separate
item,
is
there
a
motion
to
approve
so.
A
B
It
is
this
I
asked
a
question
the
last
time
around
I
talked
first
but
I'm
talking
almost
a
little
better,
but
it's
costing
the
county
20,000
it's
costing
the
city
7,000.
Well,
we
got
a
lot
of
the
municipalities,
counting
Biltmore,
Forest
monetary.
You
know,
Black
Mountain,
went
fan
and
all
them
with
no
input
whatsoever,
so
I'm
totally
against
the
investment
in
this
period.
So
it's
you
know,
I
know
it's
supposedly
tied
into
something,
but
it
seems
like
the
county
is
the
big
bully
that
always
gets
to
help
the
city
and
that's
where
I'm
at.
A
So,
but
just
let
me
just
kind
of
reiterate
what
my
understanding
the
purpose
of
this
is.
So
the
idea
is
to
do
a
study
about
to
do
a
regional
transit
study.
You
know
the
city
runs
a
transit
system,
we
run
a
transit
system,
Hendersonville
runs
a
transit
systems,
a
lot
of
different
separate
systems
operated
in
Western,
North
Carolina
having
from
the
previous
presentations
we've
had
about
this.
A
My
understanding
is
to
basically
kind
of
take
a
look
at
this
and
determine
if
we're
currently
operating
all
these
separate
systems
in
the
most
efficient
and
effective
way
that
that
they
can
be
operated.
So
it's
you
know
to
me.
That
seems
so.
It
seems
like
a
really
good
idea,
and
you
know
so
I
think.
The
purpose
of
this
is
very
practical
and
there's
no
predetermined
outcome
for
what
might
come
of
it.
A
Maybe
they
come
back
and
say
you
know
it's
being
run
in
the
most
efficient
way
it
can
be,
or
maybe
they
come
back
and
say
you
know
it
doesn't
make
sense
to
have
all
these
separate
agencies
all
trying
to
do
the
same
thing.
Maybe
we
should
integrate
some
of
these
different
services
to
better
serve
the
people
in
our
community
I.
Don't
I,
don't
have
any
sense
of
what
might
come
of
it,
but
the
idea
of
taking
a
look
at
this.
A
You
know,
I
mean
frankly,
I
mean
that
the
one
group
of
people
who
seem
like
they're
sort
of
being,
maybe
arguably
not
being
treated
fair,
are
the
taxpayers
in
Nashville
because
they
already
pay
county
taxes
right
so
they're
paying
county
taxes
like
everybody
else,
but
they're
also
being
asked
to
pay
an
additional
$7,000.
So
I
don't
look
at
this
as
the
county
just
helping
out
people
in
Nashville.
A
If
anything,
I
think
they
have
a
pretty
good
argument,
they're
having
to
pay
twice
for
this,
whereas
people
who
in
Black
Mountain
and
Weaverville
and
everywhere
else
only
pay
once
so
but
I-
think
it's
some
they're
willing
to
do
it.
So
if
Nashville
is
willing
to
contribute
which
I
understand
that
they
have
agreed
to
that,
then
I
don't
see
any
reason
we
we
should
not
move
ahead.
That's
my
my
two
cents
on
it
any
other
comments
or
questions
from
other.
E
F
So
the
MPO
will
actually
do
a
request
for
qualifications.
They'll
actually
go
through
the
whole
process
of
identifying
a
qualified
vendor
and
then
working
with
them
to
produce
the
study
results.
They're
gonna
go
through
a
process
just
like
we
would
in
terms
of
a
vendor
selection
and
then
the
results
of
the
study,
as
as
has
been
mentioned,
acknowledging
that
the
study
is
going
to
be
undertaken
by
the
NPO
isn't
endorsing
any
of
its
findings
or
results.
F
F
F
E
I
just
want
to
make
sure
in
and
Commissioner
fryers
point
is
very
valid,
that
we
have
to
make
sure
that
the
you
know
the
cost
on
this
is
it's
paid
by
the
right
people
and
that
those
people
know
there's.
Other
municipalities
are
not
getting
railroaded
by
now
and
they're
not
participating
fairly
and
I.
Think
that
in
this
case,
the
way
the
MPO
is
set
up,
that
that
addition,
that
money
is
paid
by
Buncombe
County,
actually
represents
all
those
other
municipalities.
So
they're
not
being
left
out,
I
mean
I.
Don't
I,
don't
disagree
that
it's
frustrating.
E
Sometimes
it
seems
like
we're
paying,
for
you
know,
studies
for
for
other
people,
but
the
MPO
is
set
up
a
little
bit
differently
and,
like
I
said,
I
share
Commissioner
fryers
concern.
We
should
look
at
look
at
look
at
all
that
the
cost
associated
with
it
and
and
we
will
but
MPO-
is
a
pretty
complicated.
You
know
mechanism
that
that
takes
care
of
all
the
roads
and
everything
in
to
districts
right
right.
F
E
G
F
The
regional
kind
of
entity-
it
would
be
the
logical
place
where
that
kind
of
study
would
be
conducted,
partly
because
you
have
member
government
representation
on
a
board
that,
through
their
process,
has
identified
that
this
would
be
an
appropriate
stay
to
undertake
and
are
aware
of
the
different
contributions
that
they're
making.
In
order
for
that
state
to
proceed.
Okay
thanks,
but.
B
F
And
it's
the
Metropolitan
Planning
Organization,
so
they're,
charged
with
representing
all
the
urbanized
area,
which
is
largely
within
your
municipal
jurisdiction,
but
it
also
extends
to
beyond
that
into
the
rural
areas
as
well.
It's
a
defined
boundary
established
by
the
census.
So
there
are
portions
of
Buncombe
County
some
counties.
For
example,
Henderson
County
chooses
to
be
fully
represented
by
the
MPO,
so
they've
identified
their
entire
county
as
being
an
urban
area
for
purposes
of
how
they
participate
in
that
regional
government.
So.
E
Let
me
let
me
make
a
suggestion
for
the
for
the
board
and
for
County
manager,
maybe
to
consider
the
French
party.
Npo
is
very
complicated.
Board
it'd,
be
good
for
all
of
us
up
here
to
know
more
about
it.
I
think
it
would
be
good
for
for
us
to
have
a
presentation,
show
the
map,
because
you
know
Commissioner
fires.
E
B
Understand
20,000
dollars:
it's
not
a
lot,
but
20
can
turn
into
2
million
quickly.
The
way
this
you
know,
County
works
and
I've
seen
happen
more
than
one
time.
So
we
have
the
bus
andersonville
as
a
bus,
it's
not
their
city
bus.
It's
a
difference,
it's
kind
of
like
our
trailblazer,
but
that's
you
know
they're
happy
with
it.
We
are
a
County
I'm
happy
with
our
Trailblazers.
They
do
a
great
job
for
what
we
do.
B
Brandi,
there's
other
things
in
this
county
that
the
city
uses
more
than
the
county
does
like
the
jail
sixty
six
percent.
So
you
know
thirty
three
percent
snot
sixty-six,
so
you
know
we
have
to
look
at
all
areas
or
what
we're
looking
at,
not
just
this
area
but
right
now,
if
you
look
at
the
city
of
Asheville,
their
bus
still
is
going
up
double
in
the
last
five
years.
You
went
from
two
point:
nine
to
five
point:
nine.
Now
there
are
five
hundred
thousand
and
a
whole.
H
Commissioner
may
I
say
that
the
20,000
that
we're
discussing
for
this
study
is
part
of
our
membership
dues
to
NPO.
This
is
not
additional
County
funding.
As
a
member
of
the
MPL,
we
are
assessed
adieu
and
we
pay
those
dues
annually
and
that
part
of
that
dues
is
what's
going
to
fund
the
study.
It's
not
an
additional
20
and
that,
if
I'm
incorrect,
please
correct
me,
but
I
just
want
to
make
sure
that
I
brought
that
out.
Thank
you
for.
A
Clarification,
this
is
really
just
I.
Think
the
NPO
just
wants
to
know
that
if
they're
gonna
do
this,
you
know
kind
of
feasibility
assessment
of
looking
at
possible
different
ways
to
make
the
Regional
Transit
more
efficient.
They
just
want
all
the
participants
to
be
aware
of
it
on
the
front
end
so
that
they
don't
do
it
and
then,
after
they're,
all
done
everyone
says
hey:
where
did
this
come
from?
I
think
they
just
want
everyone
to
be
kind
of
looped
in
on
this
is
a
process.
If
you
don't
like
any
of
the
results,
that's
fine!
A
D
C
A
G
A
Was
not
a
request
to
I
have
public
comment
on
this
and
we're
following
our
policy,
so
people
had
requested
three
people
request.
We
would
have
done
it
yeah.
Oh,
you
know
what
you
know.
What
like
I'll
acknowledge
an
error
when
I
make
one
we
did
not
request
to
comment
on
the
consent
agenda
in
this
originally
one
say:
yeah
I
will
and
I'm.
Sorry,
we've
already
voted.
So
that's
that's
an
error
on
my
part.
You're
welcome.
You're,
welcome
to
do
so.
Yep.
I
Brandi
I
appreciate
that
very
much
I'll
tell
you
when
you're
writing
RT
when
you're
wrong,
and
you
know
that
I'd
like
to
heard
the
question:
how
much
is
the
study
going
to
toss
totally
and
what
is
each
municipality
and
county
participating
in
and
what
is
their
percent
of
the
cost?
In
other
words,
when
I
hear
the
word
complex
formula
and
complex
board,
you
know
what
I
think
B
is.
All
you
got
to
do
is
ask
the
simple
questions
and
nobody
on
the
board
asked
that
question
very
much.
Thank
you.
C
A
E
If
I'm,
a
chairman
did
make
a
suggestion,
did
not
hear
from
the
board
or
the
county
manager
on
for
the
future
to
be
able
to
put
some
explanation
about
the
French
party,
MP
o
MP,
o
what
it
covers,
what
our
dues
covered.
What
some
of
the
questions
does
come
up
today,
I
think
it'd
be
good
for
us
to
do
that.
Put
it
out,
let
the
public
see
it
can't
it
can't
hurt.
So
yes,
sir
I'd
like
to
see
if
it's
okay
for
direction
from
the
board
to
do
that
without.
G
A
E
I
J
E
J
Good
evening,
commissioners
good
to
be
here
with
y'all,
again
Randy
smart,
we're
here
tonight
to
honor
his
30
years
of
service
military
and
all
those
things
that
combined,
but
basically
focusing
on
his
24
years
at
the
Buncombe
County
Sheriff's
Office,
to
protect
the
citizens
of
this
county,
I
I'm
honored
that
I
got
to
work
with
Randy.
For
most
of
that
time,
he
actually
went
to
work
on
my
squad.
I.
J
J
We
received
eight
hundred
thousand
dollar
grant
for
our
SRO
program
and
we
received
an
award
from
the
honors
organization,
your
national
organization,
one
of
the
only
ones
in
North
Carolina
to
receive
that
that
year
for
innovations
in
community
policing
and
if
it
sounds
like
I'm
bragging,
I
am
on
all
those
folks
that
work
to
make
that
happen.
Nobody
was
more
pivotal
to
those
things
happening
than
Randy
smart.
Now
during
there
there
was
a
huge
team
and
a
lot
of
people
pitched
in
and
a
lot
of
people
get
to
claim
that
I
helped
with
that.
J
But
I
really
moved
Randy
around
a
lot
in
the
sheriff's
office
during
that
point
in
time
because
of
his
ability
to
manage
his
logistical
skill
and
putting
the
wheels
on
things,
I
talked
with
chief
retired
chief
kevin
practically
today,
and
he
goes
you
know.
Randy
was
always
the
behind-the-scenes
guy
that
made
sure
the
wheels
were
on
the
car.
When
we
were
driving
towards
a
new
goal
with
the
sheriff's
office,
he
made
sure
that
the
money
was
there
and
the
resources
were
used
to
accomplish
those
things.
J
One
thing
that
never
changed,
no
matter
where
I
moved
him
in
the
organization
was
his
undying
commitment
to
that
Sheriff's
Office,
the
men
and
women
that
worked
there
and
to
the
citizens
of
Buncombe
County,
and
that's
why
I'm
really
honored
to
be
here
today
to
present
the
order
of
the
longleaf,
pine
and
I'll
have
to
stand
in
for
the
governor
with
this
one
and
I
wish
I
would
have
brought
my
glasses
I.
Think
maybe
I
can
read
it.
I
should
have
it
memorized,
but
I.
J
K
Thank
you
very
much.
Thank
you
very
much
Thank
You
commissioners
for
allowing
me
to
come
and
be
part
of
the
meeting
tonight
to
receive
this.
It
is
honor
to
receive
this
award.
Certainly,
my
biggest
honor
is
to
serve
the
people
of
Buckham
County.
It
was
truly
one
of
the
best
jobs
ever
had
and
I
truly
do
miss
it
today,
but
I
think
my
family
for
supporting
me
throughout
my
career.
But
thank
you
very
much
appreciate
it.
I
A
A
B
A
H
H
Van
Tara
joins
us
from
Anderson
County
South
Carolina,
where
he
worked
as
emergency
services
director
for
almost
12
years.
His
more
than
30
years
of
professional
and
volunteer
experience
covers
a
broad
range
of
topics
from
disaster
preparedness
to
fire
services.
Jones
cumulative
knowledge
also
includes
managing
an
annual
budget
of
10
million
dollars,
making
his
combination
of
administrative
acumen
and
practical
skills,
a
true
asset
for
Buncombe
County
emergency
services.
Director
tonight,
I'm
pleased
to
recognize
van
as
our
newest
memory
started
today
as
emergency
services
director
for
Buncombe
County.
So
thanks
for
joining
our
team,
Van
Van.
A
G
L
He
is
in
so
I
got
to
tell
you
one
quick
story
about
Jerry
so
15
years
ago,
when
I
become
a
certified
emergency
manager,
he
was
a
guy
that
reviewed
my
packet
and
he
went
through
it
with
all
this
detail
and
he
I
thought
it
was
the
best
packet
I've
ever
put
together
as
far
as
detail
everything
in
it
he
sent
back,
and
he
said
you
like
these
three
things.
He
says
you
got
24
hours
to
get
it
to
me.
I
was
at
Hurricane
Charley
with
a
disaster
response
team.
L
So
I
got
it
back
to
him
and
you
come
back
to,
and
he
said,
oh
I
was
just
kidding.
We
don't,
but
you
know
that's
kind
of
way.
Jerry
was,
but
you
know
he
I
do
have
some
B.
He
left
me
with
some
big
shoes
to
fill
and
I'm
T
I
I'm
gonna
tell
you
that
consideration
every
day
and
work
hard,
just
like
he
did
it
for
47
years
to
make
this
community
as
disaster
resilient
community
and
I
appreciate
this
opportunity.
Yeah
welcome.
A
A
M
Good
evening,
chairman
and
commissioners,
yes,
the
the
first
item-
is
related
to
the
Woodfin
Greenway
project.
You
previously
heard
from
Josh
O'connor
Recreation
Services
Director
on
the
December
17th
pre-meeting.
He
provided
you
an
overview
of
Greenway
projects
and,
more
specifically,
the
wood
Fang
Woodfin
Greenway
project
noted
in
the
request
for
board
action
is
information
that
outlines
previously
estimated
amounts
for
design
and
construction
for
the
Woodfin
Greenway
project.
The
original
planned
amount
for
design
is
a
total
of
six
hundred
and
sixty
thousand
dollars.
M
This
was
to
be
comprised
of
five
hundred
and
twenty
eight
thousand
grant
award
from
the
federal
highway
administration,
along
with
a
county
design
match
of
a
hundred
and
thirty
two
thousand.
The
county
budget
currently
has
130
mm
as
the
planned
county
match
for
design,
as
well
as
an
additional
five
hundred
thousand
budgeted
towards
the
construction
phase.
The
budget
amendment
being
brought
forward
this
evening
is
a
request
to
budget
the
five
hundred
and
twenty
eight
thousand
dollar
grant
award
for
expenditures
and
associated
revenues
for
a
design
phase.
M
That
would
bring
the
available
budget
for
design
to
1
million
one
hundred
and
sixty
thousand
dollars,
including
the
grant
award
and
the
existing
county
funding.
We
would
anticipate
a
fiscal
year,
21
request
to
be
brought
forward
for
the
remaining
four
hundred
and
fifty
seven
thousand
eight
hundred
dollars
to
complete
design.
E
M
A
So
we're
just
shifting
from
the
design
I'm
from
the
construction
to
the
design
phase
for
those
previously
appropriated
funds.
So
no
additional
funds
are
needed.
Now,
though,
they
may
be
down
the
road
they
just.
You
know,
because
we
are
using
funds
for
design
that
were
earmarked
originally
for
construction,
but
we
don't
have
to
fight
that
fight
tonight
and
there
might
be
other
sources
of
funds
as
we've.
This
project
is
I
mean
as
I
recall.
This
total
project
is
in
the
neighborhood
of
10
million
dollars,
and
the
county's
funds
are
just
a
small
fraction
of
that.
A
So
there
could
be
it's
not
it's
not.
You
know
it's
not
this
evening,
necessarily
clear
how
the
additional
funds
might
be
raised
in
the
future.
We
might,
there
might
be
requests
to
us
or
it
might
be
filled
through
other
means.
That's
just
not
something
I
think
we
can
know
at
this
time,
but
the
decision
tonight
doesn't
require
any
additional
funding
right.
E
A
M
A
So
let
me
just
just
remind
the
board
the
procedure
we're
going
to
use
on
the
public
comments.
So
if
it's
a
public
hearing
will
automatically
have
public
comment
at
the
end
of
each
meeting,
will
always
have
public
comment,
but
and
if
we're
gonna
take
public
comment
under
new
business
to
commissioners
need
to
request
it
under
old
business.
Three
commissioners
need
to
request
it.
So
that's
our
adopted
policy
and
we'll
we'll
follow
that.
So
at
this
point
no
one
is
requested
public
comment
on
this
item,
so
we
won't
take
it
unless
it's
requested.
A
I
We
can
tell
it's
election
year.
Surprise.
Surprise,
surprise
appreciate
the
taking
of
public
comment
very
much,
because
you
explained
to
me
that
we're
taking
planning
money,
our
construction
money
and
putting
in
the
planning
so
basically
we're
delaying
what
we're
going
to
put
on
construction
I
have
to
come
up
with
extra
money
down
the
road
and
folks
with
what's
going
on
with
construction
right
now.
I
You
might
as
well
forget
that
ten
million,
because
if
we
keep
building
and
welcome
like
we're
building
that
10
May
is
going
to
be
20
million,
because
I
saw
that
property
on
Jupiter
Road
increased
two-tenths
of
a
percent
in
30
days,
two-tenths
of
a
percent
I've
got
your
county
attorney
over
there
and
me
two-tenths
of
a
percent
in
30
days,
so
yeah
I.
Thank
you
for
having
the
opportunity
to
make
public
comment
and
like
I
said.
I
will
compliment
you
when
you
do
what
you
should
so
that
we're
open
and
transparent.
Thank
you
very
much.
I
A
N
O
Good
evening,
commissioners
and
members
of
the
public,
both
in
the
room
and
watching
at
home,
I
just
want
to
say
that
I
really
am
both
excited
and
encouraged
about
where
we
are
in
our
fight
against
opioids
and
other
substance
use
disorders
in
Buncombe,
County
I,
don't
have
to
educate
you
on
how
many
years
now
our
community
has
really
been
ravaged
by
this
problem.
We've
lost
too
many
citizens
we've
suffered
in
so
many
ways
and
when
I
look
at
a
problem,
this
big,
you
know
why
you
could
argue
about
the
semantics.
O
It
really
often
comes
down
to
identifying
the
problem
and
then
educating
planning,
mobilizing
and
then
finally
moving
to
action
and
I'm
excited
because
we're
really
in
a
place,
I
feel
like
in
Buncombe,
where
we
are
really
able
to
mobilize
and
take
real,
definitive
action,
and
we've
done
a
lot
of
fantastic
things.
Just
this
fiscal
year.
To
date,
just
HHS
alone
has
received
about
1.15
million
dollars
to
attack
this
issue.
But
tonight
I'm
really
excited
about
I'm
excited
about
all.
O
The
new
initiatives
were
able
to
do,
but
tonight
we're
bringing
before
you
an
initiative
that
is
already
succeeding
since
2017
we've
been
implementing
the
start,
initiative
and
Dan
piezo
is
with
us.
I
have
to
recognize
him
and
some
of
our
staff.
This
model
has
had
tremendous
success,
and
so
what
excites
me
tonight
is
two
things
one.
We
have
the
opportunity
to
double
that
success
to
actually
double
the
amount
of
service
that
we're
providing
no
cost
to
the
county
and
also
the
other
thing
that
excites
me,
as
this
particular
program
really
addresses
some.
P
And
I
think
we
have
a
PowerPoint
presentation,
Thank
You
commissioners.
Thank
you
for
having
me
and
allowing
me
to
speak
a
little
bit
about
the
start
model
here
in
Buncombe
County,
like
Stoney,
said
we're
really
appreciative
of
this
opportunity
both
to
have
the
original
start
team
and
to
talk
about
expansion
to
a
full
new
start
team.
P
It's
an
integrated
program
that
engages
and
partners
with
the
behavioral
health
and
court
systems,
but
is
initiated
and
driven
by
Child
Protective
Services.
It's
focused
on
early
crisis
intervention,
and
that
really
is
the
key
to
helping
families.
Succeed
is
to
for
our
teams
to
get
in
early,
acknowledge
the
problem
and
help
partner
with
families
to
come
up
with
solutions.
P
So
the
overview
of
the
grant
we
applied
for
this
grant
back
in
January
of
last
year,
hoping
that
we
would
receive
these
funds
in
April
of
last
year,
based
on
some
information
that
we
had
from
the
state
and
from
the
governor's
crime
Commission.
Unfortunately,
it
took
a
little
longer
for
this
grant
to
actually
come
through
than
we
anticipated,
and
so
it
is
a
two-year
grant.
The
the
PowerPoint
says
that
the
grant
cycle
began
April
of
2019.
We
actually
spoke
with
the
governor's
crime,
Commission
and
they're,
able
to
move
that
back
to
October
of
2019.
P
I
didn't
find
that
out
until
late
last
week,
so
I
apologize
for
the
for
that
not
being
updated,
but
we
are
going
to
be
able
to
start
that
grant
cycle
in
October
and
then
go
all
the
way
through
September
30th
of
2021.
So
that
was
good
news.
It's
awarded
by
the
Department
of
Public
Safety
and
the
governor's
crime
Commission.
It
would
be
housed
within
Health
and
Human
Services
within
the
Social
Work
Department,
and
the
total
award
is
1
million
three
hundred
eighty
five
thousand
seven
hundred
and
sixty
dollars.
P
Our
goal
with
the
grant
would
be
to
double
the
capacity
to
serve
families.
We
would
be
able
to
add
in
a
full
additional
start
team
and
serve
twice
as
many
families
within
this
model
also
we'd
be
able
to
continue
to
build
a
trauma,
responsive
culture
within
Buncombe,
County,
Child,
Protective
Services,
as
you
all
heard
earlier.
P
The
start
model
truly
is
a
trauma-informed
model
in
the
peer
support
specialists,
specifically
the
family,
mentors
that
work
with
us
on
the
start
team
really
bring
their
experience
and
help
us
to
understand
how
parents
who
are
dealing
with
substance,
use
disorder
feel
and
what
they
respond
to
and
how
to
interact
and
engage
with
them
in
a
way
that
we're
able
to
really
make
progress
and
then
continue
to
reduce
the
number
of
children
entering
foster
care.
I'll
talk
about
more
about
that
in
a
second
and
then
when
children
do
enter,
foster
care
increased,
timely
reunification
rates.
P
This
grant
will
also
allow
us
right
now.
We
are
not
keeping
cases
as
part
of
the
start
team
when
a
child
enters
foster
care,
because
we
were
worried
about
those
cases
filling
up
our
start
caseloads
and
not
having
the
ability
to
serve
families,
pre
custody,
and
this
money
will
allow
us
to
double
the
team
and
be
able
to
take
cases
where
children
do
have
to
come
into
custody.
But
our
goal
will
be
to
get
those
children
back
in
their
homes
as
soon
as
possible.
So
it
really
does
open
up
great
possibilities.
P
P
P
But
what
we
do
know
is
that,
having
starred
on
board
having
the
peer
mentors
join,
our
teams
has
really
changed
our
culture
and
the
way
that
we
address
substance
use
disorder
in
Buncombe,
County,
and
so
some
of
the
great
activities
as
I
already
mentioned,
would
be
to
create
and
implement
a
second
start
team
in
Buncombe
County
by
hiring
and
training
staff
and
amending
our
contract
with
family
preservation
services.
To
add
the
additional
contracted
workers.
P
We
would
expand
start
eligible
cases
to
include
cases
moving
directly
from
investigations
to
foster
care,
create
case
assignment
process,
to
account
for
the
two
teams
continue
to
evaluate
and
contribute
to
evidence
the
evidence
base
of
the
start
model
to
increase
opportunities
for
future.
For
a
funding.
P
We
would
be
hiring
for
staff
members
as
grant
funded
employees
with
Health
and
Human
Services,
and
then
the
other
staff
members
would
be
hired
through
the
contract
with
family
preservation
services
and
it
would
be
set
up
similar
to
how
we
are
doing.
How
are
we
are,
how
we
have
set
up
for
our
first
team
I'm.
P
So
here's
the
personnel
breakdown
so
that
we
would
hire
the
three
family
mentors
and
the
service
coordinator
and
then
the
10%
of
clinical
supervisor.
Those
folks
are
all
hired
through
our
contract
with
family
preservation
services
and
then
we
would
hire
the
three
CPS
social
workers
and
the
Social
Work
supervisor.
As
internal
Health
and
Human
Services
grant
funded
employees.
P
As
you
can
see
there,
it
mentions
that
all
of
this
is
covered
by
the
grant.
There
was
a
match
requirement
for
this
grant,
but
we
were
able
to
use
existing
the
existing
dollars
that
we
spend
on
our
first
start
team
to
make
that
match
so
there's
no
additional
investment
that
is
needed
here
are
just
some
of
the
numbers
about
outcomes
from
our
start
model.
So
since,
since
2017
we've
served,
65
families
and
you'll
see
some
of
the
success
rates
there.
P
One
of
the
most
impressive
things
to
me
is
how
quickly
we
are
able
to
help
families
engage
in
services
so
within
two
days,
1.7
days
of
a
family
identifying
that
yes,
I,
want
to
be
a
part
of
this
start
program.
We're
able
to
do
a
comprehensive
clinical
assessment
and
help
help
that
family
to
access
treatment
services.
P
These
are
the
gains
that
that
have
been
singing
from
start
three
times:
lower
rates
of
reoccurrence
of
maltreatment
for
every
dollar
spent,
two
dollars
and
22
cents
in
the
foster
care
system,
children
being
half
as
likely
to
enter
foster
care
and
women
doubling
their
rate
of
sobriety.
So
those
are
some
of
the
outcomes
nationwide
for
the
minimal
cost
of
the
start
program.
Our
sustainability
plan
for
this
grant
would
be
really
looking
at
the
cost
savings
from
preventing
children
from
entering
foster
care.
P
In
addition,
looking
at
4e
reimbursement
under
the
families,
first,
prevention
law
that
will
come
to
the
state
of
North
Carolina
in
October
of
2021
and
then
really
having
fewer
children
in
foster
care
requires
fewer
social
workers
and
so
being
able
to
reinvest
those
dollars.
As
we
have.
Those
numbers
come
down
into
existing
positions.
P
So
what
we're
asking
this
evening
is
to
approve
the
receipt
of
the
grant.
Monies
approve,
the
establishment
of
the
four
full-time
employees,
which
would
be
grant
funded
and
again
that
date
is,
is
October
of
20th,
one
I'm,
sorry
of
September
30th
of
2021
and
then
the
like
I
said
the
additional
employees
will
be
secured
via
the
contract.
E
P
The
so
the
way
that
we
established
the
budget
for
the
grant
we
used
existing
salaries
for
existing
employees,
so
itsw
social
worker
salaries
and
then
supervisor
salaries
for
those
grant
funded
positions
and
then
the
contract.
We
worked
with
family
preservation
services
and
we
basically
contract
or
the
start
model,
and
so
we'll
be
using
those
grant
dollars
to
to
contract
for
twice
as
many
employees
from
family
preservation,
services
right.
Okay,.
E
Q
Just
a
brief
comment,
thank
you
and
the
rest
of
the
team
behind
this
work.
Remember
hearing
updates
about
it
in
recent
years
and
it's
really
tremendous
to
see
the
kind
of
impact
it's
having
in
people's
lives.
So
thank
you
all
for
being
out
front
on
this
and
it's
exciting
to
see
that
it
can
be
expanded
to
reach
that
many
more
people.
Thank.
P
P
Question
so
we
are
part
of
a
larger
evaluation,
like
I
said
through
child
and
family
futures,
which
is
the
purveyors
of
the
start
model,
and
we
contribute
our
evaluation
data
to
them.
We
are
not
in
Buncombe
County
doing
any
long-term
longitudinal
study,
but
they
are,
and
so
there's
actually
a
whole
research
team
that
is
dedicated
to
studying
the
start
model
and
looking
at
outcomes
and
I'm
happy
to
share
any
of
those
resources.
E
C
A
Opposed
all
right,
thank
you.
So
much
appreciate
the
updates
and
look
forward
to
hearing
for
hearing
more
Cisco's
forward.
All
right.
Commissioners
I
also
made
one
other
oversights
at
the
beginning
of
the
meeting,
which
is
that
we
did
not
after
spending
three
hours
talking
to
all
of
these
great
applicants
for
our
greenways
Parks
and
Recreation
Advisory
Board.
We
also
needed
to.
We
need
to
add
that
to
the
agenda
too,
because
I
think
we
are
prepared
to
go
ahead
and
appoint
folks.
So
it
needs
to
be
by
consensus,
but
is
without
objection.
A
We
will
go
over
that
because
there
is
gonna,
I,
think,
there's
gonna
see
'king,
not
we're
seeking
nine
nine
appointments
that
I
believe
based
on
the
the
prior
to
the
start
of
our
regular
meeting.
The
County
Commission
held
about
a
three
hour
special
meeting
to
interview
the
applicants
for
our
green
waste
parks,
Advisory,
Board
I,
believe
based
on
that
meeting.
The
board
is
interested
in
appointing
eight
of
those
positions
tonight,
but
not
I.
Think
we
want
to
do
additional
interviews
for
the
ninth
position
of
district
2
yeah
for
district
2,
a.
A
A
A
A
There
was
agreement
to
work
on
tonight,
so
just
as
a
little
bit
of
background
parks,
recreation
and
greenways
advisory
board
is
a
new
advisory
board
for
Buncombe
County.
We
voted
to
create
this
committee
several
months
ago.
It
includes
nine
members,
three
of
which
will
be
representing
each
of
the
three
County
Commission
districts
in
Buncombe
County,
and
just
because
things
you
know
everything
needs
to
be
complicated.
Of
course
these
districts
are
going
to
change,
but
the
what
the
Commission
agreed
to
is
that
we're
pointing
people
from
the
districts
as
they
exist.
A
Today
the
districts
will
change
after
the
2020
elections,
but
for
the
purposes
of
this
initial
appointments
they
are,
as
the
districts
exist
today,
all
right
so
and
we
had.
We
had
really
and
more
than
20
people
apply
for
this.
It
was
very
strong
interest
in
it,
so
it
was
very
difficult
to
narrow
it
down
and
we
appreciate
everyone's
interest
and
from
all
the
applicants
from
district
1.
R
E
A
Opposed
all
right
for
district
2,
again
there's
three
three
positions
for
each
of
the
districts
for
district
two
I
believe
there
was
sort
of
consensus
that
we
appoint
go
ahead
and
appoint
two
of
the
applicants
that
we
were
able
to
interview
today.
But
there
were
some
applicants
who
were
not
able
to
attend
the
interviews
today.
So
we're
not
going
to
appoint
all
three
we're
only
going
to
appoint
two
and
additional
we'll
do
additional
interviews
before
finalizing
our
decisions
on
district
2,
but
I
believe
there
was
support
for
Carol,
Peterson
and
Hann
Babcock.
So.
S
C
A
E
N
E
N
A
A
So
we're
gonna
have
a
special
meeting
week
from
today
on
Tuesday
week
from
today,
where
we'll
do
additional
at
least
one
additional
interview
for
district
to
Parks
and
Rec
and
Greenway,
and
then
we're
also
going
to
do
interviews
for
our
key
strategic
partnership
line,
Advisory
Committee
right,
which
will
actually-
and
we
can
let's-
go
and
talk
about
that
for
a
second.
So
we
have
another
another
new
citizen
advisory
committee.
We
have
is
the
citizen
advisory
board
for
allocation
of
or
recommendations
on
strategic
partnership
grants
committee.
A
This
is
also
a
new
citizen
committee
with
the
county
that
will
make
recommendations
in
our
budget
process
for
investment
of
our
funding
and
strategic
partnerships.
We've
had
21
applicants
for
this
committee
and
I
believe
the
board's
view
is.
We
just
were
just
going
to
interview
all
the
applicants
for
this
board
and
we'll
do
that
next,
Tuesday,
starting
at
1:00
o'clock
and
that'll,
be
especially
called
meeting,
but
it's
an
it's
a
public
meeting,
so
anyone
who's
interested
is
welcome
to
to
attend
all
right,
and
we
appreciate
everyone's
interest
in
that
as
well.
A
A
A
I'm,
assuming
that
we're
also
going
to
want
to
do
interviews
with
it
a
lot
for
maybe
all
of
these
positions,
but
again
we
might
you
know
we're
going
to
maybe
need
some
more
time
on
this.
In
light
of
the
strategic
partnership
interviews,
we
need
to
do.
I
do
see
that
one
EDC
we
have
a
reappointments
in
downtown.
A
D
A
A
E
A
That's
true
that
we
do
have
recommendations
on
most
of
these.
Most
of
these
mores,
I,
guess:
I
guess
you
know
it
seems
like
we're
still
in
some
ways
may
be
working
through
which
of
these
boards
we
want
to
do
interviews
for
and
which
ones
we
might
want
to
utilize
recommendations
from
the
committee's
as
a
basis
for
reappointment
I.
Think
we're
doing
it
a
bit
of
both
currently,
which
is
you
know,
I,
will.
N
A
N
Will
also
state
that
the
Greenway
board
and
the
Parks
and
Recreation
and
strategic
partnership
is
the
first
iteration
of
these
boards.
So
there's
not
a
board
established,
so
the
actual
commissioners
are
appointing
these
first
iterations
of
these
boards.
So
that
is
something
to
take
in
consideration
and.
A
C
A
A
Okay,
commission
I
would
I
recommend
we
just
take
a
take
a
pause
on
the
others.
We've
got
a
lot
of
work
to
do
on
strategic
partnerships
and
wrapping
us
Greenway.
So
why
don't
we?
Why
don't
we
work
through
that
and
then
we'll
revisit
kind
of
what
we
have
the
bandwidth
for
decks
that
are
at
our
next
County
Commission
meeting?
It's
that
acceptable
on.
E
D
A
A
Today,
so
all
right,
Thank
You,
commissioners,
all
right.
We
now
come
to
public
comment
and
any
members
of
the
public
who
wish
to
speak
to
the
board
have
three
minutes
to
do
so.
We
divide
you
to
come
up,
and
just
let
us
know
your
name
and
where
you
live
and
you'll
get
an
orange
light
when
you
have
30
seconds
left
and
a
red
light
when
your
time's
up-
and
we
ask
that
folks-
wrap
up
their
comments
when
time's
up,
because
we
want
to
give
everyone
the
same
amount
of
time.
C
Yes,
I'm
Emery,
Underwood
and
I
live
in
Montreal
autist
of
any
place.
I've
lived,
and
this
has
to
do
with
a
recent
election
or
non
election.
Actually
in
Montreat
Black
Mountain
and
Biltmore
Forest,
the
commissioners
there
decided
that
they
want
to
serve
another
year
without
an
election,
and
this
was
actually
approved
by
the
state.
Now,
no
nobody
here,
you
can't
actually
do
anything,
but
what
I'm
hoping
is
there
can
be
some
voice
on
this
because
it
you
know
I
thought
possibly
of
running
myself,
but
I
decided
not
to.
Of
course
they
decided.
C
You
know
you
can
save
even
more
money
by
putting
off
election
a
couple
of
more
years
and
to
save
a
little
more
money,
you
don't
have
an
election
at
all.
You
appoint
your
successors,
so
I
think
the
idea
of
trying
to
save
money
was
not
and
I,
don't
think
it
saved
much
money
of
any.
So
that's
my
thought
on
it
and
we'd
like
to
have
a
voice
from
here.
Even
though
I
know
you
can't
actually
do
anything.
T
Ronron
Marcello
I
live
in
Black
Mountain
for
years.
I
wish
I
discovered
this
county
earlier.
You
guys
are
great
counties
great,
but
we
do
have
problems
like
everybody
else.
I'm
addressing
the
same
issue
and
I
have
a
little
speech.
So
you're
gonna
have
to
listen
to
it.
I
guess
our
forefathers
fought
Revolutionary
War
to
correct
a
injustice
of
being
ruled
in
tax
by
foreign
power
England
with
no
say
in
their
or
representation.
T
So
now
we
have
four
unelected
representatives
in
the
Black
Mountain
Council,
two
of
them,
which
were
appointed.
They
were
never
elected
in
the
first
place
and
they
got
a
free
year.
So
I
don't
get
it
true.
Patriots
would
have
limited
their
terms
to
three
years
and
then
had
an
election
not
take
an
extra
year
to
go
five
years
cancel
an
election
undermines
the
basic
tenant
of
our
democratic
republic,
to
which
we
have
all
pledged
their
allegiance
to
our
founding
fathers
who
fought
our
revolution.
T
This
may
technically
been
legal,
but
it
surely
was
wrong
and
I
petitioned
the
county
as
being
the
leading
County
Commission
as
being
the
leaders
in
the
county
of
over
everybody
to
maybe
contact
our
legislators
and
say
you
know
hey.
This
is
great.
They
want
to
change
their
election.
Maybe
they
should
put
a
little
bet
amendment
there
that
says
append
whatever
it's
called
in
there.
It
says
you
want
to
change
the
year.
Go
one
less
year,
don't
give
yourself
a
free
year.
I
mean
we.
It's.
U
Mary
standard
and
continuing
the
theme
Montreat,
but
as
of
2024
municipalities
in
Buncombe
County
have
Town
Council's
that
were
not
fully
elected
by
their
residents.
The
2019
and
2021
elections
in
Montreat
Black
Mountain
Biltmore
forest
were
canceled
at
the
specific
request
of
incumbent
council
members
and
at
their
own
request,
given
a
fifth
unelected
year
in
office.
U
Asheville
elections
are
similarly
councils
and
council
members,
given
a
fifth
year
in
office
when
Asheville's
mayor
requested
of
General
Assembly
to
change
the
election
year
cycle
in
2019,
more
than
75,000
Buncombe
County
residents,
40%
of
your
County
voters,
were
denied
access
to
the
ballot
box
and
denied
the
right
to
vote.
The
Montreat
Black
Mountain
and
Biltmore
Forest
elections
were
canceled
only
three
to
four
weeks
before
the
July
5th
filing
date.
Potential
candidates
were
already
prepared
to
file.
Such
actions
undermines
confidence
in
the
entire
voting
process.
The
Buncombe
County
Commissioners
did
not
cause
this
problem.
U
Nor
can
you
fix
it,
however,
as
the
highest
elected
governing
body
in
Buncombe
County,
you
do
have
the
political
voice
and
are
empowered
to
speak
for
Buncombe
County
residents.
We
I
the
disenfranchised,
asked
that
the
commissioners
place
and
support
a
resolution
or
statement
on
the
February
4th
agenda
that
speaks
for
those
denied
the
right
to
vote
by
the
cancellation
of
municipal
elections
in
Buncombe
County
that
calls
for
officials
to
serve
only
the
terms
to
which
they
were
elected
and
three
affirms
that
if
a
democratic
is
to
exist,
the
motor
must
have
confidence
in
the
system.
U
This
are
simple
basic
and
nonpartisan
concepts.
There
are
some
550
municipalities
in
North
Carolina
with
the
potential
to
change
their
election
year
cycle.
Therefore,
as
leaders
of
the
county
and
the
state,
we
also
ask
that
the
commissioners
consider
advancing
a
proposal
to
state
legislators
which
would
prevent
the
cancellation
of
municipal
elections
with
sitting
council
members
being
given
an
extra
year
in
office,
but
not
never
happens
again
in
Buncombe
County,
and
it
should
not
happen
in
the
state
of
North
Carolina.
Yesterday,
each
Commissioner
was
sent
working
drafts
and
contact
information.
U
V
W
Good
evening,
commissioners,
my
name
is
Hannah
Honeycutt
I
live
in
Asheville
with
my
family
and
I'm.
Also,
an
employee
of
Buncombe
County
I
sent
an
email
last
week
explaining
some
recent
changes.
The
county
administration
has
made
to
our
health
insurance
policy
and
explaining
my
concerns
with
those
changes.
I
don't
want
to
reiterate
all
of
those
concerns,
but
I
do
want
to
touch
on
an
issue
that
my
colleagues
have
expressed
is
very
troublesome
to
them
about
this
new
policy.
W
According
to
the
personnel
ordinance
that
is
in
place,
the
county
commissioners
must
approve
any
change
in
the
employee,
benefit,
structure
or
options.
The
county
administration
has
stated
that,
because
this
policy
is
voluntary,
it
does
not
affect
any
change
on
the
options
or
structure.
However,
for
most
Buncombe
County
employees,
those
who
do
not
make
six
figures.
It
is
a
change
to
the
options
and
structures
that
are
available
to
us
and
it
is
not
voluntary.
W
For
the
past
eight
years
that
I
have
worked
for
the
county.
All
I
had
to
do
to
receive
health
insurance
was
to
pay
a
premium
with
from
every
paycheck
now,
in
order
to
receive
those
same
benefits.
I
have
to
pay
my
premium
and
either
engage
in
one
of
two
available
options.
The
first
option
is
to
pay
an
additional
two
thousand
six
hundred
and
thirty
three
dollars
per
year
for
the
same
benefit
or,
if
I
elect
not
to
do
that.
W
My
spouse,
who
is
not
a
county,
employee
and
I,
have
to
jump
through
a
bunch
of
Hoops,
the
first
of
which
is,
we
have
to
go,
see
a
medical
professional
and
have
an
intravenous
blood
draw
conducted
where
they
take
our
blood
and
submit
it
to
a
laboratory
for
testing.
This
is
not
testing
that
our
doctors
have
asked,
for.
This
is
testing
that
the
county
has
mandated.
W
We
have
to
be
assigned
a
health
risk
score
and
if
our
score
is
too
high,
according
to
some
arbitrary
standards
set
up
either
by
the
county
or
by
this
company
they've
contracted
with,
we
have
to
go
for
additional
appointments.
My
husband
has
to
do
this
as
well
and
he's
not
even
a
county
employee.
We
also
have
to
consent
to
the
release
of
our
medical
information
to
a
third-party
company,
a
company
that
we
know
nothing
about.
This
is
troubling
because
our
health
information
should
remain
protected.
W
Maybe
the
employees
who
make
six
figures
can
afford
to
pay
the
two
thousand
six
hundred
and
thirty
three
dollars
per
year
additional,
but
the
employees
making
between
forty
and
fifty
thousand
dollars
cannot
that
includes
sheriff's
deputies,
social
workers,
IT
professionals,
detention
officers,
economic
services,
employees
and
many
more.
That's
five
point:
five
to
seven
percent
of
their
yearly
salary.
W
Perhaps
it
would
be
different
if
the
county
was
offering
us
an
incentive
to
engage
like
in
Henderson
County,
where
their
premiums
are
not
paid
for
by
the
employee
but
they're
not.
We
are
asking
the
board
to
review
this
decision
of
the
county,
as
required
by
the
personnel
ordinance
before
allowing
the
implementation
of
a
plan
that
negatively
and
unfairly
impacts,
Buncombe
county's
employees.
Thank
you.
X
Good
evening,
commissioners,
my
name
is
Matthew
Putnam
I
live
in
Black,
Mountain
I'm,
an
attorney
for,
and
for
the
past
thirteen
years,
I've
represented
the
Buncombe
County
Department
of
Health
and
Human
Services
in
all
courts
of
this
state,
including
the
Court
of
Appeals,
and
our
North
Carolina
State
Supreme
Court,
as
my
colleague
miss
Honeycutt
points
out.
County
Administration
is
attempting
to
make
major
changes
to
employee
benefits
and
our
health
benefits
without
any
oversight
from
the
board
of
Commission.
This
oversight
is
required
by
the
ordinance.
X
X
The
fact
that
the
yeah,
in
order
to
get
the
same
health
insurance
benefits
that
I've
received
for
the
past
13
years,
I
have
to
have
blood
drawn
with
a
needle,
is
just
one
small
step
to
show
that
these
changes
are
major
and
should
be
approved
and
reviewed
by
the
Board
of
Commissioners
before
taking
effect.
What's
more
disturbing
than
the
blood
draw,
is
the
fact
that
County
legal
and
this
current
county
administration
is
taking
an
approach
that
would
even
attempt
to
skirt
past
board
of
commissioner
oversight?
X
Our
recent
scandals
have
shown
that
transparency
and
oversight
should
be
the
touchstones
of
not
only
every
county
employee,
but
certainly
the
Board
of
Commissioners,
so
I'm
asking
you
as
the
board
of
commissioners
with
the
citizens
and
the
voters
watching
you
exercise
your
oversight.
That's
required
by
the
ordinance
choose
oversight
over
an
obscure
legal
opinion,
choose
responsible
transparency
over
the
convenience
of
a
county
administration
seeking
to
make
whole
cloth
changes.
The
ordinance
requires
it
and
frankly,
the
citizens
of
Buncombe
County
deserve
the
oversight
that
the
Commission
is
required
to
do
so.
X
Y
Y
But
if
you
can
indulge
me
for
a
moment,
I
want
to
tell
you
why
you
we,
as
board,
are
having
trouble
doing
our
jobs
without
diving
too
much
in
the
weeds
or
of
nomenclature
or
what
things
are
called
Buncombe
County
collects
an
occupancy
tax
while
we
are
called
the
Buncombe
County
Tourism
Development
Authority,
most
of
our
metrics,
for
designating
our
success,
including
part
of
the
bonuses
given
to
explore.
Asheville
personnel
are
based
on
occupancy,
perhaps
a
better
name
for
us
would
be
debt,
Buncombe,
County,
occupancy,
Authority
or
to
be
catchy,
perhaps
just
occupy
Buncombe.
Y
Our
focus
on
keeping
occupancy
rates
high
precludes
us
from
acting
in
a
more
holistic
manner
to
address
what
can
be
done
to
keep
tourism
as
part
of
our
economy.
For
the
long
term,
the
occupy
bunk
home
board
has
heard
from
experts
at
organizations
like
destination.
Next,
who
tell
us
that
our
support
in
the
community
is
weak
and
that
this
will
erode
our
area
as
a
destination
over
time?
Yet
when
faced
with
opportunities
to
gain
more
community
support,
we
are
not
listening
to
what
our
community
is
saying.
Y
It's
not
that
we
don't
have
the
money
to
put
towards
other
uses,
explore
Asheville
recently
switched
over
to
a
new
marketing
firm,
who
told
us
we
were
over
saturating
areas
with
advertisements
and
that
we
could
save
over
$900,000
per
year
and
not
lose
any
market
share.
When
your
organization
has
too
much
money
in
your
budget,
overspending
by
almost
a
million
dollars
is
a
fairly
easy
thing
to
do.
Present
company
excluded,
if
occupy
Buncombe,
isn't
able
to
look
at
our
long-term
needs.
Y
It's
really
up
to
the
Commission
to
be
the
voice
of
reason
to
help
our
community
grow.
Smarter,
I've
admired
some
of
the
action.
This
commission
has
taken
under
the
direction
of
Chairman
Newman
to
focus
on
solar
energy
both
for
the
health
of
our
planet,
as
well
as
the
benefit
of
our
pocketbooks.
We
need
that
same
focus
directed
towards
tourism
in
our
area.
Y
Y
Let's
take
some
of
the
occupancy
tax
dollars
and
spend
them
on
affordable
housing
and
transportation.
Things
who
would
help
those
in
our
community
who
are
most
left
behind
in
our
current
economy
as
a
small
business
owner
I
depend
on
tourists
as
an
important
component
of
my
retail
business.
Please
help
keep
this
portion
of
the
economy
sustainable
by
putting
more
occupancy
tax
dollars
into
things
that
matter
most
to
our
community.
Thank
you
all.
R
My
name
is
Sheridan
Hill
I've
lived
in
Black
Mountain
since
2003,
and
thank
you
for
this
time
for
public
comment.
I'm,
just
echoing
the
sentiments
of
my
fellow
residents
of
Black
Mountain,
that
our
right
to
the
for
representation
in
the
form
of
the
Board
of
Aldermen
was
taken
away,
and
that
just
is
not
right.
We're
all
taxpaying
citizens
of
the
county.
R
S
We
just
had
this
Machain
McLeish's
I'm
getting
old.
You
know
we
just
had
the
Park
and
Recreation
interview,
recreation
and
all
that
and
I'm
disturbed
about
it
because
of
what
potential
that
it's
fixing
to
do
to
us,
the.
If
you
have
been
on
his
board
or
know
of
it,
the
cultural
recreation
the
authority
was
done
away
with,
but
at
the
time
that
the
legislators
passed
House
bill,
418
in
2013
to
create
Advisory
Board
and
create
a
tax
to
because
the
county
come
out
with
this
3.5
cent
ad
valorem
tax
in
2014.
S
My
point
is
getting
very
good
here
and
that's
the
taxpayers.
The
taxpayers
should
not
be
burdened
with
this
money
of
what
you
fixing
to
do
with
this
advisory
board
and
all
these
politicians
it's
going
to
be
sitting
on
it
when
I,
say
politicians,
I'm
talking
about
people
that
has
big
investments
in
the
community
they're
their
real
estate,
people
they're
business
people,
and
there
are
other
kinds
of
people
on
there.
That
is
going
to
be
profiting,
and
that's
exactly
what
it's
going
to
be.
It's
going
to
be
a
profiting
community
of
people
from
this.
S
It's
not
to
mention
that
the
thing
that
I
want
to
present
to
you
is
the
room.
Tax
I
want
to
present
a
solution.
We
need
to
get
the
room
tax
money
that
the
tourism
development
is
throwing
out
all
these
millions
of
dollars,
because
who
is
going
to
pay
for
this?
It's
going
to
be
the
taxpayers
of
property
taxpayers
of
this
county
that
can't
afford
to
do
that.
S
These
people
are
coming
in
here
from
Delaware
New,
Jersey,
New,
York,
and
all
these
other
big
states
and
they're
running
from
property
taxes
at
the
rate
of
eight
thousand
in
some
dollars
a
year,
and
that's
that
is
on
the
low
end.
That's
the
average
of
some
of
these
people
are
paying
these
kind
of
taxes
and
they're
coming
here
and
rape
in
our
community
and
leaving
us
tax.
They
can't
afford
it
with
the
bill,
so
we
need
to
start
thinking
out
of
the
box.
S
This
Recreation
Authority
advisory,
all
this
stuff
that
you're
talking
about
who
is
benefiting
from
it.
It
is
certainly
not
us
as
citizens
of
Buncombe
County.
The
people
that
you're
appointing
is
people
from
other
states.
It's
come
in
here
to
make
the
way
just
like
they
come
from,
and
they
don't
realize
they're
doing
it
at
to
our
community.
You
need
to
wake
up
and
think
about
it.
I'm,
tired
of
paying
high
taxes-
and
you
commissioners,
can
do
something
about
it.
We
do
not
need
to
pay
taxes
for
this
recreation
stuff.
S
I
I
just
thought:
I
had
problems.
Well,
almost
I'm
gonna
tell
the
folks
in
Black,
Mountain
and
mantri
how
to
solve
their
problem.
You
don't
do
a
TV
show
for
ten
to
twelve
years
and
tell
the
county
commissioners
and
the
politicians
in
Buffum
County
that
Wanda
green
was
crooked.
Yeah
I
did
all
those
10-15
years
and
guess
who
turned
out
being
right,
I,
don't
know
a
lot
I'm.
Just
simple
and
I
ask
simple
questions.
The
way
we
got
the
vote
on
zoning
in
welcome
County
is
because
of
your
legislators.
I
If
the
county
commissioners
all
agree,
that's
every
one
of
them
all
political
parties
agree
and
go
as
a
unit
to
the
legislative,
boys
and
girls
and
say
we
want
this.
There's
an
unwritten
law
in
Raleigh
that
the
folks
will
go
along
with
it
because
they
in
thir
County
may
want
something
done
specially
you
get
what
I'm
saying
so
you're
right.
I
First,
step
get
all
the
county
commissioners
to
write
a
letter
to
all
your
local
delegations,
but
then
you're
gonna
have
to
call
your
local
delegations,
everyone,
not
yet,
if
you're
really
ticked
off
about
it
and
you
will
get
it
changed,
that's
how
we
got
the
vote
on
Zoni,
because
I
made
the
call
and
told
somebody
on
the
other
side
of
the
political
spectrum.
What
was
fixing
to
happen
and
the
next
morning
Bill
Stanley
announced
we'd
have
a
vote
on
zoning,
but
he
didn't
make
it
binding.
Okay,
so
that'll
solve
your
problem
right
there.
I
Folks
now
on
this
transportation
study,
you
don't
do
a
TV
show
like
I
did
all
those
years.
Without
you
don't
look
at
transportation.
Folks,
New
York
can't
pay
for
their
transportation
program
with
fares.
We
don't
have
a
dense
enough
population
in
America
to
have
mass
transit.
We
don't
have
it,
we
sure
don't
have
it
in
Buncombe
County.
So
that's
why
I
asked
my
question
long
time
ago
how
many's
riding
each
route?
What
does
it
cost
for
each
person?
What's
it
gonna
cost
to
expand
the
route?
I
Simple
questions,
folks,
not
complicated,
and
when
you
hear
the
word
up
here
well,
I
can't
exactly
get
all
that
out.
You
all
should
be
saying:
okay,
do
it?
That's
what
your
pre
meetings
are
for,
spend
the
time
in
there
getting
the
real
details,
don't
make
it
a
dog
and
pony
show,
because
this
is
an
election
year
and
I
can
tell
you
right
now.
The
people
I
could
see
it
right
now
in
Black,
Mountain,
the
mantri
ain't
gonna
be
a
fruit
basket
turnover
up
there.
The
next
election
I
got
a
sneaky
feeling.
I
A
Okay
thanks
any
belts,
all
right
with
a
couple
of
announcements
on
Tuesday
January
20th
at
1:00
p.m.
the
County
Commission
will
hold
a
special
meeting
to
conduct
interviews
for
boards
and
commissions
that
will
be
on
the
at
200
College
Street
on
the
3rd
floor
will
convene
the
meeting
and
open
session
here.
We
will
actually
hold
the
interviews
in
the
conference
room
which
is
immediately
behind
the
Commission
chambers,
but
it
will
be
an
open
meeting,
so
the
public
is
invited
to
attend
if
you're
interested
in
that
on
February
4th
at
3
p.m.
A
A
Yes,
thank
you.
The
personnel
closed
session
to
conduct,
reviews
of
to
County
Commission
employees
will
be
at
4:00
p.m.
on
February
4th,
so
we'll
need
to
keep
the
pre
meeting
such
that
it
concludes
by
4
o'clock.
Ok,
thank
you.
For
that
reminder,
is
there
a
need
for
a
closed
session?
All
right
is
there
a
motion
to
adjourn.