►
Description
Regular meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on September 5, 2023. To review the full agenda visit buncombecounty.org/commissioners.
A
We'd
like
to
ensure
that
everyone
knows,
there's
parking,
validation
and
bus
passes
are
available
for
our
commission
workshops
and
these
meetings.
Anyone
parking
for
this
meeting
or
using
the
bus
can
pick
up
passes
from
security
on
your
way
out
this
evening,
and
it
will
be
valid
for
today,
Also,
let's
take
just
a
moment,
to
express
our
gratitude
for
all
those
who
provide
the
necessary
labor
to
keep
our
County
our
state
and
our
country
running
smoothly
and
a
special
thanks
to
all
those
who
were
still
working
over
this
past
Labor
Day
holiday
weekend.
A
We
appreciate
you
and
an
Ethics
reminder
to
the
board
in
accordance
with
Dakota
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
and
the
exercise
of
official
duties
to
Faithfully,
perform
the
duties
of
the
office
and
to
conduct
the
Affairs
of
the
governing
body
in
an
open
and
public
manner.
Is
there
any
item
on
the
agenda,
the
outcome
of
which
will
have
a
direct,
substantial
or
readily
identifiable
Financial
impact
for
any
board?
A
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,
and
are
there
any
questions
on
our
consent
about
any
items
that
are
on
our
consent
agenda
this
evening,
commissioners?
A
A
And
now
it
is
time
we'll
have
public
comment
and
we
have
the
time
limit
for
individual
comment
to
the
board
is
three
minutes
when
you
come
up
here
to
the
podium,
you'll
see
the
green
light
on
when
the
yellow.
That
means
you
have
approximately
a
minute
left
and
then
at
the
red
time
your
time
has
expired
and
please
stop
speaking
and
go
ahead
and
sit
down.
A
So
we
give
everyone
the
same
amount
of
time,
the
if
your
time
expires-
and
you
still
have
something
left-
you
can
please
leave
that
with
Mr
Joyner,
our
clerk
to
the
court,
and
he
will
ensure
that
we
receive
that
and
board
members
are
not
expected
to
comment
on
any
matters
during
public
comment.
This
is
your
time
to
speak
with
us
and
with
that
we
will
begin
I.
Believe
Jen
Hampton
is
our
first.
C
Good
afternoon
Commissioners,
my
name
is
Jen
Hampton
I'm,
co-chair
of
Asheville
food
and
beverage
United,
and
the
housing
and
wages
organizer
for
just
economics
and
I'm
here
today
to
basically
Express
the
Gratitude
of
workers
in
Buncombe
County
for
this
board's
commitment
to
making
affordable
housing,
especially
for
the
workforce
that
supports
our
tourism
economy,
a
top
priority
I've
seen
in
my
role
at
just
economics,
just
how
committed
each
of
you
are
to
this
issue
and
I'm.
Just
I
feel
really
optimistic
about
that.
C
C
But
if
we
keep
driving
people
away
from
living
here
and
working
here,
that's
really
going
to
have
a
detrimental
effect
on
the
tourism
industry
and
that's
pretty
bleak
outcome
for
Asheville
I.
Think
in
Buncombe,
County
now,
I
know
firsthand
from
meeting
with.
So
many
of
you,
as
well
as
County
staff,
that
the
county
is
working
hard
to
find
solutions
to
the
affordable
housing
crisis
and
I'm,
not
here
to
tell
you
that
you're
not
doing
enough.
C
You
are
but
I
feel
like
it's
important
to
also
let
the
public
know
that
we
need
help
too,
and
we
know
that
you
don't
have
a
lot
of
control
over
what
the
TDA
does
with
the
lift
fund,
which
is
you
know
why
we're
here
today
is
to
talk
about
the
TDA,
La
fund
and
I
kind
of
left
that
out
in
the
beginning.
But
we
know
you
don't
have
a
lot
of
control
over
that,
but
we're
hoping
that
you
can.
C
You
know
Advocate
that
they
Grant
some
of
that
money
from
the
Lyft
fund
to
agencies
that
are
doing
work
on
affordable
housing,
and
we
also
need
your
help
in
advocating
for
changes
to
zoning
laws.
That
would
make
building
affordable
housing
easier,
and
we
need
your
help
in
educating
the
public
about
the
importance
of
affordable
housing
and
why
it's
not
just
a
problem
for
low-income
workers.
C
Affordable
housing
is
a
problem
for
all
of
us.
It's
a
problem
for
our
economy,
it's
a
problem
for
our
schools
and
it's
a
problem
for
our
quality
of
life.
So
thank
you
again
for
your
commitment
to
this
issue.
We
know
you're
working
hard
and
we
appreciate
it.
We
just
ask
that
you
keep
working
hard
and
that
you
keep
us
in
the
loop
and
keep
us
in
mind.
So
thank
you.
D
Good
evening,
y'all
earlier
this
year,
myself
and
others
were
encouraged
to
build
a
Community
Coalition
to
generate
support
to
use
the
tda's
newly
created
lift
fund
to
address
our
County's
most
pressing
need,
affordable
housing.
So
that's
what
we
did.
Four
local
community
groups
formed
a
coalition
and
organized
a
two-month
canvassing
campaign
acquiring
well
over
2
000.
Signatures
of
support
for
two
asks
that
live
funds
be
used
for
housing
and
that
service
worker
representation
be
placed
on
the
lift
committee.
D
This
was
not
a
social
media
campaign.
Dozens
of
volunteers
gave
hundreds
of
hours
across
multiple
campuses,
engaging
in
thousands
of
face-to-face
conversations
on
front
porches
and
city
streets.
Besides
canvassing
Coalition
members
mobilized
and
spoke
at
the
TDA
met
with
members
of
this
body,
City
Council,
the
general
assembly
and
various
Community
groups.
D
D
Our
our
campaign
has
adopted
a
collaborative,
respectful
and
solution-focused
approach.
Our
ask
are
realistic
and
attainable.
We're
asking
for
service
workers
to
have
a
voice
comprising
one-ninth
of
a
TDA
subcommittee
and
for
yearly
funds
to
support
housing
that
won't
subtract
a
cent
from
the
tda's
marketing
budget.
D
So
we
came
tonight
to
update
you
on
the
campaign's
work,
keep
this
issue
present
and
we're
so
appreciative.
As
Jen
said
of
the
many
initiatives
this
board
has
taken
to
improve
the
quality
of
life
in
our
County.
We
look
forward
to
continuing
to
support
your
efforts
and
thank
you
for
the
push
to
build
this
Grassroots
Coalition,
we're
optimistic.
It
will
yield
results
thanks
for
your
time.
E
Hi
everyone,
my
name,
is
Andrew
Paul
I'm,
a
lead
organizer
with
Asheville
for
all,
and
just
like
other
folks.
Here,
I
want
to
express
support
for
the
TDA
using
money
from
its
new
Lyft
fund
towards
housing,
for
the
people
that
make
the
tourism
economy
run
and
I
know
that
you
all
have
been
working
to
put
a
little
pressure
on
the
TDA
around
this
stuff.
So
we're
here
to
say
thank
you
and
to
say,
keep
it
up,
but
really
I
want
to
talk
about.
E
That
means
less
pressure
on
the
market
for
three
bedroom
homes,
and
that
helps
me
so
more
housing
at
all
income
levels
actually
helps
all
of
us.
It
helps
working
people
at
every
stage
of
of
their
life,
so
I've
got
skin
in
the
game.
We
all
do
and
that's
because
scarcity
spreads
and
scarcity
makes
things
worse
everywhere
and
for
everyone,
everyone,
except
landlords
and
REITs.
E
We
know
that
housing
costs
Drive
inflation.
Well,
there
was
a
news
report
just
last
month
that
the
City
of
Minneapolis
had
actually
beaten
inflation
and
they
did
it
with
a
few
things.
They
got
rid
of
exclusionary
zoning,
they
got
rid
of
parking
mandates.
Some
of
you
all
know
I
love
to
talk
about
that
stuff,
but
the
other
thing
they
did
was
they
created
programs
to
subsidize
homes
for
the
people
that
needed
it,
the
most
and
the
result
was
actually
lower.
E
E
Now
we
have
no
daycare,
so
most
people
in
this
County
can
benefit
if
we
use
the
substantial
lift
money
to
attack
our
housing
scarcity
and,
in
this
case,
to
attack
it
from
the
bottom
up
and
to
combine
it
with
other
approaches
and
and
just
imagine
if
the
TDA
could
say
hey,
we
beat
inflation
so
come
here,
our
beers
are
cheaper
than
in
Charleston
or
Savannah
or
whatever
that
you
know
talk
about
marketing,
there's
the
marketing
right
there.
So
we
can
do
this.
We
can
join
in
solidarity.
E
F
B
F
An
example
is
on
January
9th
of
73
The
Citizen
Times
reported
that
then
commission,
chair
Radcliffe
was
negotiating
new
lease
with
the
owners
of
my
client's
property
for
the
County's
use
of
quote
Fairview
and
Chandler
landfills
operated
by
the
county,
citing
that
the
previous
leases
had
expired.
The
same
offer.
The
same
article
repeatedly
refers
to
the
quote:
counties
network
of
landfills.
End
quote
to
include
the
fear
of
you
landfill
that
was
then
being
operated
by
the
county.
F
There's
numerous
other
articles
in
the
citizen
times
that
reflect
the
County's
operation
of
a
landfill
in
Fairview
on
my
client's
property
in
your
records,
for
example,
on
September
18th
of
1973,
the
Commissioners
established
user
fees
for
all
the
County's
network
of
landfills,
which
would
have
included
my
client's
property.
So
the
county
generated
revenue
from
its
use
in
1995.
This
property
was
designated
as
a
Superfund
Site,
and
some
work
was
done.
Then
the
state
did
more
remedial
work
between
2016
and
2018.
F
F
My
client
at
this
point
asked
that
the
county
take
ownership
of
this
property,
they're
willing
to
convey
it
to
the
county
and
take
responsibility
for
maintaining
it
and,
and
all
that
comes
with
ownership,
because
the
county
did
not
properly
manage
this
and
allowed
the
contamination.
Thank
you
for
your
time.
G
Pastor
Ronald
Gates
of
Greater
Works
Church
of
God
in
Christ
all
right
School
in
session.
The
first
thing
I
want
to
reiterate,
is
in
regards
to
the
North
Carolina
General
statute.
According
to
General
statute,
14-190.13,
it
talks
about
harmful
materials
that
qualified
material,
the
performance
of
depicting
sexual,
explicit,
nudity
or
sexual
activities
that
would
take
as
whole.
It
also
talks
about
materials,
pictures
drawings,
videos,
recordings
and
films
of
visual
depictions
or
representative
representative
materials
that
consist
in
such
we're
going
to
do
reading.
G
G
What
the
general
part,
the
general,
the
genital
part,
the
penis
or
the
vagina,
where
it's
located
at
on
the
man
or
the
woman
and
then
what
is
the
use
of
it
while
I'm,
while
we're
doing
reading
class
so
definitely
would
like
a
man
to
put
that
you
will
put
your
name
on
it
and
then
turn
it
back
in
to
me.
I
love
love
to
have
that
back
by
the
end
of
class
here,
so
the
reading
portion,
you
got
where
it's
highlighted.
It
begins
to
talk
about
touching.
G
It
begins
to
share
that
you
ought
to
stroke
your
penis
and
insert
your
finger
your
finger
in
the
anus.
Your
your
finger
should
go
on
the
inside
of
her
vagina.
Now.
This
is
immoral
for
people
that
have
morals
and
principles
that
do
not
allow
their
children
to
you
know
even
to
discuss
such
erroneous
things,
but
you
got
it
in
the
school
system.
I
sent
y'all
packages
asking
for
opportunity
time
to
talk
with
you,
but
here
I
guess
you
just
blew
me
off.
Then
it
talks
about
oral
sex.
G
You
know
you
put
your
mouth
on
the
partner's
penis
or
Gene
a
genital
area,
and
then
you
ought
to
use
your
tongue
in
a
good
way
that
your
teeth,
Don't
Hurt
then
for
the
closing
anus
sex.
Here
it
is,
you
know,
you're
the
penetrate
the
person
with
your
finger
or
sex
toy.
This
is
erroneous.
You
should
I,
don't
know
who's
a
pervert
or
who's
the
child
molester.
H
Good
evening,
can
you
hear
me:
I
am
rather
short,
I
may
speak
more
fast
than
I
would
like
to
but
I'm
going
to
try
to
slow
down
and
I
just
want
to
say.
Thank
you
so
much
for
y'all
being
here
listening
and
doing
the
work
that
you're
doing
as
public
servants.
My
name
is
Emily
arganata
and
I'm.
A
native
of
Buncombe,
County
and
I
am
here
from
Asheville
food
and
beverage
United,
and
we
are
a
worker-led
coalition
that
works
to
empower
and
advocate
for
service
workers
in
Asheville
I'm.
H
Here,
primarily
to
tell
you
about
my
personal
experience:
I
I've
been
working
in
food
and
beverage
since
I
was
17,
I
believe
here
in
Asheville
and
throughout
the
years
I
have
often
on
gone
back
to
it,
primarily
as
a
dishwasher.
Well,
most
folks,
don't
think
I
look
like
that,
but
I'd
just
like
to
again
thank
you,
as
the
others
did
about
your
backing
of
what
we're
trying
to
do
with
the
TDA
and
get
representation
for
workers.
H
We
experience
sexual
harassment,
we're
increasingly
concerned
about
walking
to
our
vehicles
in
the
late
night
hours
throughout
the
county,
not
just
in
town
and
notably
when
the
bus
no
longer
runs
say
that
when
we
go
home,
obviously
we're
on
Limited
hours
days,
such
as
Sunday
or
holidays,
which
is
Big
days
for
us.
We
have
no
protections
with
the
NC
Labor
Board
I've
been
denied
all
things
from
that
when,
when
the
living
wage
is
over
20
an
hour,
a
restaurant
in
business
is
slow
and
owners
cut.
H
Worker
shifts
short,
including
closing
the
kitchen
shutting
down
early,
that
cuts
into
tips
and
wages.
And
we
deal
with
the
ups
and
downs
of
the
season
that
we
all
know
about,
and
often
the
most
the
slowest
season
is
when
it's
the
beginning
of
the
year
and
as
we
all
know,
that's
kind
of
a
slower
season
for
everybody,
and
so
it's
not
just
restaurant
workers
that
are
impacted
by
this
and
have
reduced
hours
income
in
those
slow
months.
H
Everything
from
the
people
that
clean
airbnbs,
which
I
do
that
too
local
in
event,
industry,
wedding,
industry
professionals,
as
well
as
the
events
and
entertainment
who
also
are
largely
made
up
of
service
employees
I.
This
part
I,
might
gonna
go
through
because
I,
just
like
kind
of
put
it
together
and
it's
so
I'm
gonna
try
to
go
a
little
bit
fat.
H
I
J
About
11
years
ago,
I
had
made
the
decision
to
come
to
Asheville,
leaving
Washington
DC,
where
I'd
lived
for
almost
20
years,
and
one
of
the
main
reasons
I
decided
to
do
that
was
because
I
could
afford
to.
It
was
the
end
of
the
recession
and
I
squeaked
in
just
under
the
wire
I
was
able
to
find
land
I
could
afford
and
build
a
extremely
cheap
house
which
I
live
in
to
my
great
relief
to
the
present
day.
J
That
was
one
reason.
I
moved
here.
The
other
reason
I
moved
here
was
because
of
the
people
who
were
already
here
the
half
dozen
times
that
I
visited
Asheville
first
in
a
touristic
way
and
subsequently,
as
a
prospective
resident
I
met
the
kindest
most
welcoming
most
diverse.
Both
in
age
and
demographics
and
in
occupation,
I
met
a
broad
spectrum
of
people
who
had
chosen
to
make
this
region
their
home
and
who
were
engaged
in
a
broad
range
of
livelihoods.
J
J
I
hope
that
we
can
find
a
way
working
together
to
ensure
that
the
people
who
make
Asheville
and
Buncombe
County
The
Marvelous
place
that
it
is
to
visit
a
place
where
those
who
serve
can
also
afford
to
live.
Most
people
will
not
have
the
opportunity
that
I
did
to
find
an
affordable
home
relatively
easily.
J
A
A
K
K
Our
clients
are
low-income
people
seeking
outpatient
counseling,
who
lack
Financial
Resources
to
be
able
to
afford
private
psychotherapy.
We
offer
mental
health
counseling
at
a
deeply
reduced
rate
to
and
turn
no
one
away
for
inability
to
pay.
Over
this
time,
I've
worked
with
many
people
who
work
in
our
service
Industries.
K
K
Securing
adequate
housing
is
a
struggle
for
many
of
them.
Some
have
lived
in
shared
housing
in
which
they
get
one
bedroom
and
share
living
quarters.
Some
have
had
to
move
out
of
Asheville
to
nearby
communities
and
a
few
have
spent
time
couch
surfing
until
something
has
opened
up
for
people
struggling
with
depression
or
anxiety.
This
added
stress
is
an
additional
burden.
K
I
myself
have
personal
experience
with
the
affordability
of
the
area's
rents
rental
rates,
when
I
moved
here
to
an
apartment
complex
in
the
fall
of
2019,
my
rent
was
an
affordable
twelve
hundred
dollars
a
month
when
I
moved
out
two
years
later
in
the
fall
of
2021
I
learned
that
My
two-bedroom
unit
would
now
be
listed
at
two
thousand
dollars
a
month.
That
is
over
a
50
percent
increase
in
two
years.
K
The
Citizen
Times
reports
that
Asheville
rents
have
increased
36
percent
over
the
course
of
two
the
last
two
years
and
the
organization
Buncombe
decides
states
that
40
percent
of
renters
are
cost
burdened
I
believe
it
is
incumbent
on
City
and
County
government
to
address
this
lack
of
affordable
housing
using
money
raised
through
one
of
our
main
industries.
Tourism
seems
like
a
very
appropriate
thing
to
do.
K
L
Good
evening,
County
Commission
and
all
the
folks
who
are
here
tonight,
my
name
is
the
Reverend
Mike
Reardon
I
am
the
associate
director
at
Grace,
Episcopal
Church
in
Asheville
here
on
Merriman
Avenue,
and
though
I'd
only
planned
to
speak
on
one
topic
tonight.
I
do
feel
the
need
to
briefly
address
comments
on
sexual
education
in
our
school
system,
as
well
as
a
county
Citizen
and
as
a
representative
of
our
faith,
community
I
find
it
is
important
to
state
that
I
am
unequivocally
supportive
of
safe
and
appropriate
sex
education
for
our
County's
children,
I
believe.
L
A
M
Through.
The
counties,
Community
engagement
markets
and
whereas
Manna
provides
a
free
food
helpline
as
a
source
of
information
for
Neighbors,
seeking
food
resources
and
Mill
programs
in
their
community
and
to
receive
assistance
in
applying
for
longer-term
food
benefits
and
whereas
making
weekend
food
accessible
to
the
one
in
four
children
that
will
face
food
insecurity
in
Western.
M
We
know
how
important
the
work
is
of
Mana
food
bank
to
our
community
and
Beyond
Buncombe
County.
We
hope
that
you're
here
for
another
40
years
and
Beyond
and
I'm,
also
excited
to
announce
that
starting
September
25th
Buncombe
County
Libraries
will
be
collecting
food
for
Mana
food
bank
for
a
two-week
period.
And,
there's
more
information
on
our
County
website
about
specifically
what
items
Mana
Food
Bank
needs
over
this
two-week
period.
N
N
We
know
that
folks,
all
across
Western,
North
Carolina
are
struggling
right
now,
and
so
we
feel
incredibly
blessed
to
have
a
community
that
cares
so
deeply
for
our
neighbors
and
is
so
committed
to
making
sure
that
that
no
one
in
our
region
goes
hungry.
So
thank
you
again
for
your
partnership
and
thank
you
for
this
Proclamation.
A
O
Good
afternoon,
thank
you
so
much
for
having
our
committee
provide
you
with
this
annual
update
today.
My
name
is
Carol
Steen,
for
those
of
you
all
who
haven't
had
the
pleasure
to
meet
I
wear
a
hat
in
the
community
as
a
human
resources.
Professional
I've
been
committed
to
Workforce
Development
in
this
community
for
over
13
years
as
a
resident
of
Buncombe,
County
and
I'm
really
delighted
and
privileged
to
have
this
opportunity
to
represent
our
committee
and
provide
you
an
update
on
the
work.
O
That's
gone
on
over
the
last
12
months
with
regard
to
early
childhood
education.
So
thank
you
for
for
having
me
likely,
commissioner
Moore.
Does
it
need
an
introduction
to
those
in
the
audience
and
those
online?
And
so
if,
if
you
allow
me,
I'll
just
jump
right
in
so,
as
you
all
are
aware,
The
Early,
Childhood,
Development
Fund
was
developed
in
2018
by
resolution
to
allow
for
funds
to
be
set
aside
initially
at
3.6
million
dollars,
with
the
annual
increase
at
two
percent
per
year
and
in
fiscal
year
2023.
O
That
amount
was
3.82
million
dollars
that
was
to
be
set
aside
for
issuing,
do
Grant
applications
that
were
in
support
of
early
childhood
education
and
why
that's
important
for
me
and
my
enthusiasm
for
participating
on
this
committee,
because
I
have
two
young
children,
myself
they're
well
beyond
the
years
of
early
childhood
education.
But
it's
so
important
that
those
that
recognize
the
need
for
growth
of
talent
in
our
Workforce
Community
invest
in
the
first
2000
days
of
a
child's
development.
P
O
O
2023
we're
really
focused
on
increasing
slots
within
the
community
and
ensuring
that
we
close
that
gap
of
Need
for
access
to
early
childhood
education
and
also
addressing
that
through
the
development
of
and
diversifying
the
workforce
within
Buncombe
County
to
meet
the
need
of
having
early
childhood
education
professionals
that
can
provide
that
quality
education
to
enhance
the
first
2000
days
and
with
that
I
will
turn
it
over
to
commissioner
Moore
to
provide
an
update
on
the
grantees
for
this
year.
Thank.
Q
So
it
is
my
pleasure
to
serve
on
this
committee
with
great
folks
like
Carol
commissioner
Whitesides
commissioner
Beach
Ferrara
who've
really
laid
a
great
groundwork
for
us
just
so
you
all
can
see
on
the
slide
there.
We
have
for
fiscal
year
2023.
After
what
I'm
sure,
commissioner
Whitesides
will
vouch
for
a
very
exhaustive,
rigorous,
time-consuming,
coffee
meeting
process
of
looking
at
all
the
applications.
We
got
a
great
group
of
applicants.
Q
We
had
a
I
think
it's
a
record
number
compared
to
what
we've
had
previous
years,
all
of
which
high
quality
very
diverse,
set
of
folks
here
in
terms
of
where,
in
the
county
they're
located
what
type
of
work
they
do,
how
what
what
demographics
they
serve
and
just
really
it
became
a
challenge
to
figure
out
who
was
doing
the
best
of
the
best.
Because
all
of
the
folks
who
applied
ended
up
putting
forward
these
amazing
applications.
So
you
can
see
some
of
them
there.
Q
A
B
Tech
is
one
of
our
particularly
good
on
Workforce
Development
Asheville
Jewish
Community
Center
Bent
Creek,
Buncombe,
County,
Schools,
Verner
Center
for
early
learning,
I'm,
not
going
to
read
them
all
to
you,
but
you
can
just
see
from
that
across
Buncombe.
County,
we're
hitting
every
part
of
this,
and
the
geography
is
really
key
when
we're
talking
about
how
to
best
serve
the
kids
in
these
first
2000
days,
and
there
is
a
graphic
just
so
you
can
see
all
throughout
Buncombe
County,
so
every
commissioner
District
it's
kind
of
corresponding
there.
Q
Looking
forward
for
funding
funded
projects,
things
that
we
focused
on
and
we're
really
proud
to
highlight
here,
behavioral
health
support,
classroom
supplies
and
Furnishings
teacher
pay
is
always
going
to
be
a
big
one
and
Workforce
Development
seems
to
be
our
Focus.
This
go
around
looking
this
year
at
how
we
grow
that
body
of
Early
Childhood
professionals
who
are
ready
to
step
up
and
help
us
meet
our
goals
as
the
county
as
we're
we're
growing,
as
our
kids
need
to
be
served,
we
need
qualified
professionals
to
do
this
and
it's
not
easy
right
now.
Q
A
lot
of
y'all
are
very
familiar,
certainly
commission's
familiar
with
how
much
our
teachers
are
going
through
at
the
moment,
and
this
is
a
big
part
of
how
we're
offsetting
that,
but
I
think
it's
only
going
to
work
with
continued
investment
and
I'm
grateful
to
serve
on
a
committee
that
we've
looking
forward.
We
we
are
looking
at
investing
further.
Q
It's
not
a
group
of
folks
that
are
going
without
regulation
or
supervision,
they're
just
really
meeting
the
challenge
and
we've
been
very
pleasantly
surprised
with
how
well
almost
all
of
these
groups
are
doing,
and
even
the
areas
where
we
need
to
improve
a
lot
of
it's
around
Staffing
and
figuring
out
how
we
build
that
Workforce
in
an
area
that
we
desperately
need
without
nearly
enough
professionals
to
to
fill
the
void
and
that's
a
national
problem,
not
just
in
Bunker
County.
For
those
who
are
curious.
Grant
reports
are
published
on
our
early
childhood
fund
website.
Q
We
have
a
presentation
coming
up
from
our
bunkum
partnership
for
children,
so
I
might
invite
you
all
to
come
up
soon
and
join
me
for
performance
results.
Fiscal
year,
July,
21,
22,
through
2023,
69
of
all
goals
for
the
projects
were
met
across
22
different
funded
projects.
That
is
a
remarkable
success
rate
for
a
group
of
folks
who
are
challenged
with
not
just
funding,
but
really
retention.
Q
Trying
to
hang
on
to
people
is
already
a
challenge
and
for
almost
70
percent
of
them
to
hit
the
goals
is
no
small
feat,
especially
given
the
rigorous
standards
that
we
set
out
for
them.
Most
difficult
goals
to
attain
this
year
are
involved
enrollment.
That
is
something
we
have
very
little
control
over
as
programs
themselves.
Parents
have
to
enroll
them.
There's
a
myriad
of
challenges
around
what
might
be
a
barrier
to
enrolling
your
child,
some
of
that
being
the
geography
that
we
focus
so
hard
on,
but
good
success
on
goals
related
to
student
achievement.
Q
So
that
means
that
when
our
students
are
participating,
they're
doing
really
well,
the
kids
are
thriving
in
these
programs
and
that's
really
what
we
want
to
see
some
things
we
can't
control,
but
this
is
one
that
we
are
very
proud.
All
of
our
programs
are
we're
doing
fantastic
on
that
examples
of
success.
I
won't
read
them
all
to
you,
but
just
so
you
can
see.
Ywca
is
one
of
our
292
parents
improve
their
education
or
income
status.
Q
That's
amazing
we're
addressing
this
from
a
very
comprehensive
sense.
17
participants
in
the
bilingual
Early
Childhood
Cooperative
Network,
we're
hitting
all
parts
of
our
population
trying
to
be
as
inclusive
as
possible
and
with
the
number
of
Spanish
speakers
in
our
County,
it's
becoming
even
more
critical
that
we
reach
out
and
we
build
those
bridges
so
that
everyone
can
feel
included
in
these
programs.
So
I
think
the
next
slide
is
for
y'all.
P
Going
back
good
evening,
I'm
Amy
Berry
from
Buncombe
partnership
for
children
in
2021,
after
Commissioners
prioritized
Pre-K
expansion
and
the
county
Early
Child
Care,
and
education
and
Development
Fund
identified
NC
Pre-K
as
the
model
to
invest
in
Buncombe.
Partnership
for
children
recommended
six
strategies
to
stabilize
NC
Pre-K
after
covid
and
to
fill
the
gaps
in
state
funding
of
the
program
so
that
the
program
so
that
child
care
centers
are
able
to
offer
NC
Pre-K
and
that
families
are
better
able
to
access
the
program
as
the
executive
director
at
Buncombe
partnership
for
children.
R
So
the
the
first
strategy
that
we
knew
we
had
to
do
was
to
fully
fund
this
program
in
the
fall
of
2021.
When
this
was
identified
as
a
as
a
priority,
we
had
no
child
care
providers
in
Buncombe
County
who
were
ready
or
willing
to
expand
their
NC
Pre-K
slots
or
take
on
NC
Pre-K
as
a
program
largely
because
they
couldn't
hire
and
retain
the
licensed
birth
to
kindergarten
licensed
teachers
that
are
required.
R
We
knew
we
had
to
start
any
kind
of
pilot
work,
any
kind
of
filling
gaps
with
fully
funding
this
program,
so
that
that
it
was
feasible
for
programs
to
offer
it
and
so
we're
the
the
first
priority.
The
first
strategy
was
to
increase
the
slot
reimbursement
rates
and
also
to
provide
funds,
so
that
programs
could
pay
their
more
veteran
teachers
for
those
years
of
valuable
experience
because
of
the
Buncombe
County
investment.
R
R
The
thing
that
excites
me
most,
though,
about
this
slide
in
this
first
year
of
of
progress,
is
that
this
first
year
we
had
four
new
locations.
Four
new
sites
apply
to
the
NC
Pre-K
providers
and
be
approved
that's
two
years
after
nobody
in
the
county
wanted
to
do
it,
and
that
is
all
thanks
to
the
investment
that
you've
made
in
early
childhood
in
the
NC
pre-k
program,
specifically
the
the
next
strategy
that
I
want
to
talk
about.
That
also
launched
last
year,
it's
called
higher
education
supports.
R
This
was
also
in
response
to
our
providers
talking
about
how
hard
it
was
to
identify
and
retain
qualified
teachers.
So,
for
several
years
now,
bunkum
partnership
for
children
has
had
a
Workforce
Development
program
that
focused
on
bringing
new
teachers
into
the
Early
Childhood
field.
But
what
this
money
helped
us
do
was
to
really
focus
on
the
teachers
who
have
been
in
this
field,
who
are
working
full-time
and
want
wanted
to
be.
R
You
know
better
educated,
more
professional
in
their
field.
So
last
year
we
had
26
participants
in
this
program.
The
average
years
of
experience
of
those
participants
was
almost
11
years.
These
are
people
dedicated
to
early
childhood,
but
have
never
been
able
to
complete
degrees,
never
been
able
to
go
to
that
next
level
to
be
and
NC
Pre-K
teacher
and
make
that
higher
salary
and
and
further
their
their
profession.
R
R
The
other
strategy
that
was
kind
of
expanded-
it
was
birthed
a
few
years
earlier,
but
grew
significantly
last
year.
Is
this
coordinated,
Outreach
and
enrollment?
And
this
is
a
strategy
focused
on
helping
families,
navigate
a
really
fractured
system,
especially
families
who
are
eligible
for
NC,
Pre-K
and
or
Head
Start,
a
federal
program
and
a
state
program
that
touched
the
same
families
and
and
kind
of
have
different
different
systems
and
different
eligibility
and
make
life
pretty
confusing
for
some
of
our
families.
R
Most
of
those
were
people
who
prioritized
a
site
that
didn't
actually
meet
the
needs
that
they
stated
somewhere
else
in
their
application,
but
because
we
have
that
bilingual
human
who's.
Looking
at
these
applications
early,
she
could
go
back
to
those
families
and
work
with
them
to
to
say,
like
you've
asked
for
this
Head
Start
site,
but
you
need
after
school
care,
and
that's
not
an
option
is
that.
Is
that
what
you
want?
How
do
we?
How
do
we
make
sure
we're
meeting
your
needs?
R
Families
have
craved
this
kind
of
clarity
and
I
will
say
that
our
our
coordinator
is
so
popular
now
that
she's
getting
calls
for
help
for
other
things.
She's
gotten
families
calling
her
and
saying:
could
you
please
help
my
kindergartner,
enroll
and
all
kinds
of
other
things,
because
families
have
found
her
so
helpful
at
navigating
this
hard
stuff?
R
And
lastly,
this
this
slide
is
about
some
things
that
are
coming
up.
I
know
my
time
is
short,
but
we
are
going
to
be
working
with
10
classrooms
this
year
to
get
to
build
capacity
and
build
quality
so
that
they
are
in
C
Pre-K
ready
in
future
years
as
the
state,
a
lots
more
slots
in
our
community.
Another
way
that
we're
getting
getting
ready
and
expanding
slots
as
as
much
as
we
can
and
the
last
thing
the
strategies.
R
R
Q
M
Q
And
I'd
be
remiss
if
I
did
not
give
a
heartfelt
thank
you
to
our
staff.
That's
here
just
do
amazing
work.
Every
meeting
is
seamless
and
we're
really
able
to
focus
on
the
policy
issues
behind
all
the
things
that
we're
talking
about,
and
that's
thanks
to
our
staff.
So
thank
you
all
you
can
stand
up
if
you
want
hit
recognized.
A
B
Thank
you
Avro.
We
are
so
excited
to
have
another
year
with
an
Americorps
fellow.
We
feel
like
we
were
able
to
create
a
very
successful
year
last
year
for
our
previous
fellow
and
we're
excited
about
the
work
that
Eva's
gonna
do.
Eva
is
a
native
of
Charlotte
North
Carolina
and
a
recent
graduate
from
Appalachian
State,
with
a
bachelor's
of
Science
in
criminal
justice
and
International
Studies,
as
well
as
a
Bachelor
of
Science
in
political
science
International
and
comparative
politics
with
minors
in
judaic,
Holocaust
and
peace
studies.
B
I
I
T
All
right,
thank
you,
Commissioners
for
allowing
me
to
present
some
important
information
this
evening.
I
apologize,
I'm,
not
there
in
person,
but
I
appreciate
the
opportunity
over
Zoom,
so
this
evening,
I'm
going
to
present
some
information
about
how
we
can
all
prepare
for
upcoming
fall
respiratory
virus
season.
T
T
They're
also
looking
at
percent
of
deaths
that
were
coveted
19
by
state
percent
of
emergency
department
visits
diagnosed
with
covid-19
and
percent
positivity
of
covid
nat
tests
by
region
in
the
country
and
the
NAT
tests
are
the
ones
that
you
think
of
when
you
go
to
a
pharmacy
or
your
provider,
and
it
is
then
sent
off
to
a
Laboratory
test
for
testing.
This
is
not
the
home
kits,
and
then
you
can
see
down
here
at
the
bottom
North
Carolina
Department
of
Health
and
Human,
Services
or
ncdhhs.
T
They
now
have
a
respiratory
surveillance,
dashboard,
so
they're
monitoring
all
three
of
the
viruses,
covid-19
flu
and
RSV
they're,
looking
at
emergency
department
visits
for
all
three
of
those
viruses,
they're
looking
at
covid-19
and
flu
Hospital
admissions
and
they're.
Also
looking
at
covid-19
Wastewater
monitoring.
U
T
T
T
T
T
T
And
then
next,
this
is
the
states
North
Carolina's,
covid-19,
Wastewater
monitoring.
So
this
is
for
across
the
state,
and
you
can
see
that
we
have
been
seeing
an
increase
for
a
little
bit
longer
period
of
time
here,
starting
back
in
June
of
2023,
we
start
to
see
that
slow
increase
and
our
Wastewater
monitoring
is
your
usually
that
early
indicator
that
we
might
possibly
be
seeing
a
wave.
You
can
look
back
and
see
where
it
also
increased
over
the
holidays,
which
is
another
time
that
we
typically
see
a
wave,
and
this
is
to
be
expected.
T
But
you
can
see
on
here
the
different
waves
that
do
occur
and
we
do
have
typically
seen
waves
during
the
holiday
season,
so
Christmas
New,
Year's
time
as
well
as
in
the
late
summer.
Early
fall,
we've
typically
seen
another
wave,
but,
as
you
can
also
see
on
here,
the
waves
have
been
getting
a
little
bit
smaller.
So
that's
good
news.
T
So
here
at
Buncombe,
County
HHS,
our
immunization
clinic,
is
open
Monday
through
Friday,
and
we
do
have
all
vaccines
available.
We're
also
utilizing
our
mobile
team
out
in
the
community,
bringing
with
us
covid
vaccine
as
soon
as
we
get
in
our
shipment
of
flu
and
the
new
boat
booster.
Those
will
be
with
our
mobile
team
as
well
as
in
our
clinic
at
40
Cox
avenue.
T
We
also
have
home
kits
available
at
40
Cox
avenue,
as
well
as
with
our
mobile
team
out
in
the
community
and
then,
of
course,
working
with
our
amazing
Communications
team
and
making
sure
that
people
have
access
to
the
education
and
know
what
to
do
if
they
do
test
positive
or
they're
exposed,
and
so,
if
we
were
to
move
to
the
yellow.
This
is
where
we
might
recommend
doing.
T
Screening
testing
in
more
of
our
high-risk
settings,
such
as
congregate,
living
long-term
care
facilities,
would
be
an
example
where
we
might
Implement
screening
testing
and
then,
if
we
were
to
move
to
an
orange
level.
This
is
where
be
working
with
our
Hospital
Partners,
to
make
sure
that
we
have
Staffing
to
care
for
the
people
who
are
in
the
hospital,
because
once
again
you
want
to
remember
these
recommendations
are
based
on
hospital
admission
levels,
and
so
next
these
are
individual
level
prevention
strategies
that
everybody
can
do
for
themselves
and
for
their
family
for
their
neighbors.
T
So,
of
course,
we
want
to
stay
up
to
date
on
our
vaccinations
once
again
maintain
any
ventilation
improvements.
People
have
made
at
home.
You
want
to
avoid
contact
with
people
who
have
suspected
or
confirmed
cocaine,
and
if
you
do
have
confirmed
covid-19
or
suspect
that
you
have
it.
You
want
to
follow
isolation,
recommendations
and
it's
important
that
you
also
follow
masking
recommendations
if
you're
exposed
to
someone
with
covet
19..
This
is
our
best
way
to
reduce
our
community
transmission,
also,
if
you're
at
high
risk
of
getting
very
sick.
T
We
want
you
to
talk
care
provider
about
additional
prevention
actions
that
might
be
beneficial
for
you,
and
so,
if
we
were
to
move
into
a
yellow
level,
if
you
were
at
high
risk
of
getting
sick,
this
is
where
we
might
recommend
that
you
wear
a
high
quality
mask
when
you're,
indoor
and
public
or
if
you
have
a
household
or
social
contact
with
someone
at
high
risk
for
getting
sick.
You
might
want
to
consider
self-testing
to
detect
infection
before
contact
with
the
person
and
also
consider
wearing
a
high
quality
mask
when
indoors
with
them.
T
So,
based
on
all
this
information
and
what
we
know
about
covid-19
influenza
and
RSV
I
really
just
want
to
Circle
back
to
what
action
steps
people
should
take
now
to
prepare
for
the
upcoming
respiratory
virus
season
so
vaccinate.
This
is
one
of
the
easiest
and
best
protection
measures
that
we
have.
We
encourage
everyone
to
catch
up,
be
up
to
date
on
their
covid-19
vaccines.
T
And
then
test
and
treat
so
it's
important
to
have
a
supply
of
covid-19
tests,
which
we
do
have
free
and
available
at
the
Buncombe
County
Health
and
Human
Services
site
at
40,
Cox
avenue.
You
can
walk
in
and
ask
the
greeters
and
they
will
happily
help
you
with
that.
You
can
also
visit
North
Carolina
DHHS
code,
15
home
test
kit
webpage
to
search
for
other
locations
that
may
have
these
tests
near
you.
T
If
you
do
test
positive
for
covid-19
or
you've
been
exposed,
you
must
continue
to
follow
the
CDC
guidelines
for
isolation
and
masking.
Once
again,
this
is
going
to
reduce
our
community
transmission
and
then,
if
you
do
test
positive
for
covid-19
or
the
flu
and
you're
in
a
high-risk
group,
we
want
you
to
contact
your
health
care
provider
who
may
prescribe
medications
to
treat
your
illness
and
then.
Finally,
everyone
can
follow
the
basic
prevention
measures,
such
as
washing
your
hands,
covering
your
nose
and
mouth.
T
A
A
V
So
as
a
reminder
to
everyone
here
and
to
the
public
that
the
American
Rescue
recovered
recovery
funding
is
from
the
American
Rescue
plan
act,
it's
more
specifically
the
coronavirus
state
and
local
fiscal
recovery
funds
provided
direct,
flexible
spending
and
funds
from
U.S
treasury
and
those
funds
are
meant
to
be
used
towards
recovery
from
covid-19
and
its
negative
economic
economic
impacts.
Excuse
me,
Buncombe
County's,
total
allocation
is
just
over
50.7
million
dollars.
V
V
A
bit
of
a
current
project
breakdown
of
those
49
projects,
Buncombe
County,
has
held
two
rfps
processes
and
invited
non-profits,
as
well
as
internal
departments,
to
apply
for
funding
to
lead
projects
out
of
those
49
projects.
35
total
projects
are
led
by
Community,
Partners,
so
non-profits
and
that's
23
of
all
completed
projects,
as
well
as
63
percent
of
all
allocated
funds.
So
far
on
the
county,
department-led
project
side,
14,
total
projects,
43
of
projects
completed
and
37
of
allocated
funds,
thus
far.
V
V
As
far
as
the
amount
remaining,
we
have
a
bit
of
a
breakdown.
So
again
the
total
allocation
is
just
over
50.7
million
dollars
allocated
so
far,
it's
46.3
million
and
some
change.
There
is
a
breakdown
to
the
side
of
when
those
amounts
were
allocated.
We
have
also
received
return
funds
from
four
projects
that
have
unspent
funds.
Totaling,
the
513
923
that
you
see
the
amount
remaining
to
be
allocated
is
just
over
4.4
million.
V
V
The
original
amount
was
based
on
staff's
original
expectation,
understanding
of
programs
from
the
state,
such
as
cab
and
great
Grant,
that
Buncombe
County
could
receive
to
support
the
Broadband
infrastructure
expansion.
Since
then,
staff
has
reassessed
the
project
and
believed
that
all
of
our
original
project
goals
can
still
be
completed
with
this
lesser
amount
by
making
those
two
reductions.
This
brings
the
amount
remaining
up
to
just
over
6.9
million.
V
We
are
then
recommending
that
we
are
to
increase
support
for
the
Ferry
road
infrastructure
project
by
2.2
million
and
then
create
and
find
the
Hayek
shelter
support
project
the
shelter
support
expansion
supports
the
addition
of
43
new
bids
to
our
community's
inventory,
as
well
as
supporting
continue
funding
for
45
bets,
currently
operated
at
Salvation
Army
and
then
based
on
individual
input
from
Commissioners.
It
is
clear
that
the
need
for
housing
and
emergency
shelter
remains
a
top
priority
for
the
board
and
as
a
need
for
the
community.
V
So
as
part
of
the
Hayak
shelter
support,
there's
also
an
interlocal
agreement
for
for
your
consideration,
so
the
homeless
or
excuse
me,
the
high
Excel
support
would
be
875
000..
This
is
the
cost,
is
being
split
equally
between
the
city
of
Asheville
and
Buncombe
County,
the
city
of
Asheville
is
willing
to
administer
the
funds
by
establishing
and
monitoring
contracts
with
shelter
providers
selected
by
hayag,
and
those
three
are
the
Salvation
Army
of
Asheville
and
Buncombe
safe
shelter
and
Haywood
Street
congregation.
S
A
All
right,
anyone
else
have
any
questions
for
Tyler
I'll,
just
add
Tyler.
That
I
appreciate
all
the
work
that
staff
has
done
on
this
and
and
I
do
agree
that,
with
the
Broadband
we've
been
doing
a
great
job
of
leveraging,
and
so
it
looks
like
we'll
be
able
to
meet
those
goals
with,
without
that
additional
funding
and
being
able
to
put
that
into
these
other
high
needs
at
this
time
definitely
seems
to
make
sense
to
me.
I
A
Q
M
U
Q
A
W
This
will
result
in
a
further
appropriate
fund
balance
from
the
general
fund
for
four
million
nine
hundred
twenty
six
thousand
nine
hundred
one
dollars
and
additional
revenue
of
twenty
thousand
two
hundred
eighty
dollars
to
offset
expendures
of
four
million
947
181
dollars.
Additionally
carry
forwards
for
other
funds
include
82
256
dollars
in
the
911
fund.
A
W
So
in
terms
of
adoption
adopting
foster
children,
so
the
state
has
traditionally
provided
adoption
promotion
dollars
based
on
how
many
adoptions
were
made
in
Prior
years
and
that
funding
the
state
says
can
be
rolled
year.
Over
year
we
had
a
mechanism
where
we
would
do
a
care
estimate
balances
at
the
end
of
the
year
and
do
a
carry
for
it
every
year,
and
that
has
not
worked
for
us,
so
we're
moving
it
to
the
multi-year
fund.
W
A
I
I
M
J
F
A
A
So,
okay,
all
right!
Thank
you
very
much
and
a
couple
of
announcements.
We
have
September
19th
at
3
pm
commissioner's
briefing
here
in
this
room
and
on
September
19th
at
5
PM.
The
commissioner's
regular
meeting,
also
here
in
this
room
and
I
believe
Mr
fruit.
Do
we
have
a
reason
for
a
closed
session
this
evening?.
U
We
have
a
need
for
a
motion
to
go
into
closed
session
for
two
matters:
one
pursuant
to
143
318
11
A3,
to
consult
with
attorneys
employed
or
retained
by
the
county
in
order
to
retain
the
attorney-client
privilege
and
second
pursuant
to
143
through
1811
A6.
That's
a
Personnel
matter
to
discuss
conditions
of
appointment
or
initial
employment
of
a
public
officer
or
employee
of
the
county.
We're
seeking
direction
from
the
board
this
evening.
Okay,.