►
Description
This is part 2 of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners' Regular Meeting (November 7, 2017).
A
B
B
So
why
are
we
doing
an
evaluation
in
or
change
now?
After
all,
the
tax
department
has
had
a
track
record
of
success.
However,
many
changes
have
occurred
recently,
Gary
Roberts,
our
tax
director
of
many
years
retired.
The
end
of
June,
our
longtime
collections
manager,
retired
a
few
weeks
after
that
we
implemented
two
major
software
systems
the
past
couple
years
and,
in
addition,
there's
been
a
renewed
focus
on
internal
audit
and
avoiding
potential
conflicts.
B
The
approach
we
are
taking
is
in
three
phases:
phase
one.
We
wanted
to
take
short
term
actions
to
shore
up
our
position
and
lay
the
foundation
for
Phase
two
phase.
One
is
also
what
I
believe
was
your
intent
for
me
in
doing
an
evaluation
and
plan
for
the
tax
department.
It
is
what
we
have
mostly
completed
and
will
be
the
focus
of
our
recommendations.
Later
phase
two
involves
executing
a
long
term
strategic
plan,
as
well
as
involving
input
from
all
department
staff
and
phase.
B
These
phases
are
not
a
once
and
done
kind
of
process.
Instead,
this
is
a
cyclical,
ongoing
process
that
we
believe
will
lead
to
continuous
improvement
where
we
are
constantly
planning
evaluating
and
making
organizational
adjustments
to
meet
the
needs
of
our
board
County
operations
and
the
needs
of
our
constituents
phase.
One
came
with
some
tough
decisions
about
our
organizational
structure.
What
are
the
paths?
What,
over
the
past
several
years
has
been
a
regular
practice
of
having
the
tax,
assessor
and
Tax
Collector
consolidated
under
one
tax
administrator
position?
B
B
That
is
why
we
are
seeing
many
Urban's,
like
Mecklenburg
Wake
and
Orange
County's,
splitting
their
tax
departments
into
two
separate
divisions
for
Buncombe
County.
The
roles
between
assessments
and
collections
have
been
blurred
over
the
years.
We
feel
like
the
time
is
right
now
to
delineate
these
roles
and
to
avoid
potential
future
conflicts.
In
addition
to
the
valuing
real
estate
and
personal
property,
we
are
recommending
the
assessments,
division
would
include
land
records
management
and
the
administration
of
our
exemption
programs
collections
would
manage
our
billing
and
collections
responsibilities.
B
We
believe
this
gives
us
better
segregation
of
duties
and
it
will
mitigate
any
future
risk
during
phase
one
we
advertised
interviewed
and
ultimately
hired
a
collections
manager.
Our
intent
was
to
find
an
applicant
who
would
not
only
be
a
good
fit
for
managing
collections,
but
also
who
would
serve
you
our
board.
As
an
appointed
collector,
we
wanted
someone
who
could
independently
run
the
collections
division
yet
who
could
also
ensure
a
collaborative
relationship
with
the
Assessor
and
his
division?
B
B
In
addition
to
hiring
a
collections
manager,
we
worked
on
developing
a
leadership
structure
for
the
new
division,
one
that
reduced
the
number
of
direct
reports
to
a
reasonable
number
and
formalized
informal
supervisor
relationships.
Ultimately,
we
believe
this
has
helped
better
to
find
career
paths
for
our
many
tax
employees.
B
We
are
currently
in
Phase
two.
This
has
been
exciting
for
me,
as
I
have
had,
as
I
have
had
the
chance
to
meet
and
brainstorm
with
all
of
the
amazing
talent
in
the
assessment
and
collections
divisions,
the
staff
have
owned
this
process
and
are
excited
to
play
a
role
in
shaping
the
future
of
their
respective
divisions.
B
I
want
to
give
Keith
and
Jennifer
credit
as
well
for
understanding
the
importance
of
this
phase
and
what
it
means
for
the
future
success
of
the
organization
we
were
being
thoughtful
during
the
strategic
planning
process,
ensuring
we
are
developing
strong
objectives,
creating
SMART
goals
by
being
smart
about
it.
We
are
developing
goals
that
are
specific,
that
we
can
measure
that
are
achievable
and
relevant,
and,
finally,
that
we
can
put
a
time
period
on
this
process.
This
chain
has
challenged
us,
but
we
know
we
are
developing
better
goals.
B
As
a
result,
we
are
just
now
starting
to
move
into
the
final
phase,
which
is
managing
for
performance.
As
the
organization
becomes
more
sophisticated,
we
do
a
better
job
of
collecting,
analyzing
and
using
information.
This
allows
us
to
make
better
data-driven
decisions
which
ultimately
improves
our
processes
by
providing
better
feedback
and
allowing
us
to
just
adjust
to
changing
needs
and
perpetuating
the
entire
cycle
of
planning,
performing,
measuring
and
adjusting.
B
Finally,
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
board
for
assigning
me
the
responsibility
of
evaluating
the
needs
of
the
tax
department,
while
I
believe
I
am
leaving
the
tax
team
in
a
better
position
for
the
future.
I
am
also
aware
that
this
has
had
a
positive
impact
on
me
as
well.
I've
learned
a
lot.
Most
importantly,
I've
learned
the
tax
team,
a
strong
leadership
and
an
experienced
hard-working
staff
I
believe
together.
B
B
Let's
start
with
Keith
Keith
is
no
stranger
to
you.
He
has
served
in
many
of
the
airship
roles
in
the
tax
department
and
you
have
named
him.
The
interim
tax
director
I
cannot
say
enough
how
impressed
I've
been
with
Keith's
leadership
through
this
transition.
I
again
want
to
thank
him
for
welcomed
me,
welcoming
me
into
the
department
and
helping
me
make
the
tough
decisions
to
recommend
splitting
the
one
department
into
two
divisions.
B
Keith
is
a
pro
having
over
21
years
experience
in
managing
real
estate
assessment
land
records,
reappraisal
and
property
tax
administration.
He
will
serve
the
county
well
as
the
appointed
assessor
as
well
tonight.
I'm
asking
that
you
appoint
Jennifer
Pike
as
the
county's
tax
collector.
You
may
not
know
Jennifer
as
well,
but
I
look
forward
to
you
getting
to
know
her
better
in
the
future.
B
Jennifer
is
no
stranger
to
the
county.
She
has
worked
for
Buncombe
County,
since
2000
I
personally
have
had
the
privilege
of
working
with
her
for
most
of
my
10
years
with
the
county,
she's
smart,
trustworthy
and
a
hard
worker,
so
much
the
hard
worker
that
in
the
next
few
weeks
she
will
be
completing
her
master's
of
Public
Affairs
from
Western
Carolina
University,
while
Jennifer
may
have
fewer
years
experience
in
tax.
B
She
does
have
many
years
of
relevant
collections
experience
with
many
many
years
involved
in
the
finance
department
managing
collections
for
the
occupancy
tax
fund,
as
well
tonight
with
your
appointments,
you
are
also
approving
to
new
job
classifications
and
those
position.
Descriptions
are
attached
in
your
packets.
These
positions
are
your
appointments,
so
you
will
hear
from
Jennifer
and
Keith
regularly
throughout
the
year
as
they
direct
as
they
are
a
direct
responsibility,
as
they
have
a
direct
responsibility
to
you,
the
board.
B
Administratively,
however,
they
will
fall
under
the
leadership
and
supervision
of
County
management
because
of
because
of
its
financial
nature,
the
collections
division
will
fall
under
the
leadership
of
the
chief
financial
officer.
However,
because
it
is
better
to
segregate
these
roles,
the
assessment
division
shall
appropriately
be
located
elsewhere
within
the
organization.
C
Thank
you
Tim
for
those
kind
words.
Mr.
chairman
commissioners,
County
manager,
I
first,
have
to
say
something
personally
before
I'll
digress,
just
a
moment
from
taxes
that
I
think
you,
mr.
Belcher,
for
the
adoption
awareness.
What
most
of
you
are?
Probably
none
of
you
know
about
me
is
I
have
two
adopted
children
who
both
came
from
Mandy
shop
and
I
can
say
enough
good
about
all
the
years
that
I
have
worked
with
DSS,
with
Buncombe
County
through
a
foster
parent
and
through
the
adoption
process
and
I.
Thank
you
for
that
Mandy
understanding.
C
So
a
little
bit
of
state
attacks,
you're
pointing
me
and
you
live
for
as
the
interim
director
and
I
appreciate
your
confidence
and
your
trust
that
you
put
in
me
to
carry
on
that
role
as
Gary
left
for
retirement.
I
assured,
then,
the
county
manager
that
this
would
continue
on
that
we
would
have
no
hiccups.
The
citizens
would
be
served.
This
board
would
be
served
and
I
think
we
have
found
it
to
be
true
that
we
have
continued
on
and
things
are
I
think
great.
Where
are
we
at
now
just
a
little
bit
for
you?
C
We're
finished,
of
course,
the
reappraisal
we
have
left
about.
10
appeals
from
that
reappraisal
process
to
go
to
our
board
of
equalization
review
out
of
over
7,000,
so
I
credit,
a
great
staff,
a
great
trained
staff.
That's
got
us
to
that
point
of
working
with
our
citizens
to
resolve
those
issues
for
them
and
getting
us
to
the
point
that
we
are
at
also
I'm
briefly
just
on
the
collection
side
since
July.
What
we
saw
is
that
we
successfully
got
over
a
hundred
and
thirty
thousand
bills
to
our
citizens
without
any
hiccups
there.
C
We
probably
now
are
somewhere
a
little
over
20
percent
collected
on
that
revenue.
That's
out
there
for
the
county
and
not
the
tympani
pressure
on
us
tonight
with
his
presentation
of
what
did
what
the
collectors
got
to
do
for
him,
but
we're
happy
to
accept
that
that
challenge
and
I
think
Tim's
right
we're
at
a
good
place
for
this
transition
tonight.
I
think
we
have
clearly
discussed
the
reasons
and
why
this
department
should
be
split
between
an
assessor
and
collector
you're.
C
There's
a
couple
brief
little
things
for
you.
I
said
you
have
a
very
well-trained
staff
there
and
you
have.
You
have
a
staff
there
who's
very
concerned
about
the
citizens
of
Occam
County,
and
you
know
that's
the
important
part.
You
know,
I
stopped
them
sometimes
and
I
say.
Let's
stop
and
think
about
why
we're
here,
okay
and
I
remind
them
of
that
sometimes
and
mean
is
that
we
have.
C
Okay,
because
this
shouldn't
happen:
single
elderly
lady,
that's
getting
ready
to
lose
her
home
that
we're
gonna,
sell
on
the
courthouse
steps
and
I
said:
I
will
intervene.
So
I
myself
went
to
her
house
and
knocked
on
her
door
and
talked
to
her.
We
worked
it
out
and
today
she's
still
in
her
house.
Okay,
that's
what
okay!
C
So
you
know,
just
a
few
days
ago,
the
citizen
comes
and
says:
I
want
to
meet
with
you
for
a
few
minutes.
He
and
his
wife.
Probably
seventy
years
old,
never
in
their
life,
has
ever
been
challenged
with
paying
their
tax
bill,
but
he
sit
in
front
of
me
in
tears.
Saying
you
got
to
help
me,
you
got
to
help
me
figure
out
how
to
just
get
through
the
next
few
months
that
you're
not
gonna,
force
collect
on
me.
He
left
there
shook
my
hand
said.
Thank
you,
his
wife
said
thank
you.
C
They
both
left
in
tears,
stopped
and
asked.
Can
we
say
a
prayer
with
you
and
your
staff
before
we
leave?
This
is
the
kind
of
people
that
we
serve,
and
this
is
what
the
job's
all
about
you
know.
I
know
that
we
have
legal
things
that
we
have
to
go
by
every
day
we
have
to
do
law.
You
know
the
law
drives
what
we
do
every
day,
but
with
an
assessor
and
the
collector.
D
Just
one
thing:
Keith,
just
what
you
got
through
sin:
the
older
people
coming
in
and
you're
giving
them
help,
especially
the
lady
on
the
foreclosure,
but
you
have
the
other
people
and
that's
what
I've
been
trying
to
fight
for
since
I've
been
here,
because
the
people
of
Buncombe
County,
the
older
people
they
want
to
keep
what
they
have,
but
I
do
think.
The
staff,
your
staff
and
the
whole
package
that
are
helping
them
be
able
to
stay
in
their
homes.
D
I
know
they're
having
to
make
payments,
but
you
know
we
go
figure
something
out
and
one
thing
that
I'm
trying
to
work
on
with
the
stay
just
get
it
tore.
It's
not
a
$29,000
deal
where
they
can
break,
take
it
up
to
49,
and
then
they
can
get
half
the
rates
of
their
homes.
So
you
know
I
know,
there's
2,500
families
or
elderly
people
here
that
it
stashed
them
and
I
thank
y'all
for
tasking
back
to
help.
So
thank
you.
E
Thank
you,
Tim
chairman
commissioners,
I'm,
very
appreciative
of
the
opportunities
that
lie
ahead
of
me
and
the
challenge
the
challenges
that
will
come.
We
have,
as
Tim
mentioned,
a
track
record
of
success,
and
there
are
a
few
several
prime
reasons
for
that.
We
have
staff
that
is
dedicated
to
what
they
do.
We
have
over
80
years
of
experience
among
fewer
than
12
employees,
not
only
that,
but
they
understand
the
balance
of
their
responsibilities.
E
They're
there
to
do
a
job
they're
there
to
collect
the
taxes,
but
they
also
deliver
the
best
customer
service
they
can
and
they
deliver
it
in
an
understanding,
respectful
and
responsive
way
to
our
citizens.
This
goes
a
long
way.
We
don't
start
the
collection
collection
process
when,
when
it's
January
6th,
we
start
that
process.
When
the
bills
go
out,
we're
reaching
out
to
citizens
we're
trying
to
get
them
set
up
on
a
payment
plan,
we're
working
with
them
on
their
terms
and
to
try
to
prevent
interest,
accrual
or
them
being
late.
E
That's
our
goal-
and
that
has
served
us
very
well
and
that's
something
we
will
continue
to
do.
We're
always
looking
for
way
to
help
the
citizens
get
their
taxes
paid
on
time
and
any
additional
methods
we
can
offer.
As
Tim
mentioned,
I'd
like
to
step
into
Tim
mentioned
we're
heading
into
the
busiest
collection
period,
November
and
East,
November,
December
and
January,
or
when
the
bulk
of
the
taxes
come
in.
We
want
citizens
to
have
a
good
experience
when
they
come
to
see
us.
E
We
welcome
them
to
come,
see
us,
but
I
want
them
to
come
throughout
those
months
so
start
now,
because
we
want
them
to
have
a
good
experience.
I
don't
want
them
to
wait
in
lines.
I,
don't
want
them
to
experience
parking
shortages,
so
if
they
would,
if
they
will
come
on
to
see
us,
it
will
be
a
much
pleasant,
much
more
pleasant
experience
for
them.
Do
you
have
any
questions
for
me.
F
F
I've
had
just
a
couple
comments
for
Tim
and
one
is
they
wish?
There
was
a
lot
of
people
in
the
room.
You
know
we
have.
We
have
said
the
staff
that
you
know
you've
done
a
good
job
on
certain
things,
and
you
know
a
lot
of
that.
You
know
sometimes
we've
said
to
maybe
maybe
we've
said
too
quickly
without
enough
information,
but
great
presentation
tonight,
very
professionally
done.
F
I'm,
certainly
proud
of
the
information
that
I
was
able
to
receive
tonight.
I
think
it
was
delivered.
I
think
we
asked
for
certain
things.
It
was
delivered
back.
I've
also
served
with
MS
Pike
on
the
TDA
that
you
know
she
did
a
fantastic
job
there,
but
I
will
say
this
also
for
the
others
that
come
on
that
board.
They
love
their
financial
people.
They
come
and
provide
the
information,
they
do
a
really
good
job,
but
so
there's
been
some
things
just
when
we
throw
out
there
in
the
future.
You
know
to
think
about.
F
F
Can
we
there
was
a
suggestion
that
was
not
a
bad
one
tonight
about
you,
know
different
ways:
they're
looking
at
vacant
property,
Commissioner
fire,
you
know
brought
something
up
tonight,
and
so,
as
we
move
through
the
next
year,
you
know
I,
don't
like
the
term
out
of
the
box,
but
let's
freely
think
on
how
we
can
truly
benefit
the
citizens
of
Buncombe
County
by
reducing
the
stress
associated
with
there's
a
lot
of
stress
associated
with
this.
We
know
that
at
the
home
and
we're
okay
with
the
stress
up
here,
but
reducing
it
at.
F
B
A
G
Remember
when
the
tax
collector
was
elected,
Miss,
Elizabeth
Taylor
and
she
served
us
well
until
about
the
political
commissioners
got
together
and
run
around
office
literally
run
at
her
office.
Put
her
on
retirement.
This
is
a
shame
and
a
disgrace.
That's
the
accountability
that
we
didn't
have
then
now
appointed
people
I
have
nothing
wrong.
Mr.
Pike
and
this
fella
nothing
they're
good
people,
but
appointed
I
do
no
different
than
appointed
school
board
members
for
the
city,
there's
no
accountability.
G
G
The
problem
I
have
here
is
the
school
of
government
saying,
there's
a
potential
conflict
of
interest.
Where
was
the
law
back
when
they
got
rid
of
the
tax
collector
Miss
Elizabeth
Taylor?
What
was
the
law
then?
And
what
has
changed
I'd
like
for
the
attorney
to
update
us
here
and
give
us
some
real
information
on?
Why
are
we
at
this
appointed
position
now
again,
instead
of
the
political
way
of
electing
the
tax
collector,
which
would
have
been
separate
from
the
tax
assessor?
There
was
a
lot
of
politics
went
on.
G
I
was
right
here,
videoing
and
talking
to
all
these
people
at
the
time,
and
it
was
now
and
dirty.
You
think
2,500
was
the
limit
today.
You
think
how
many
people
has
lost
her
home
and
been
destroyed
in
their
life's
mr.
fry.
You
just
think
about
those
people
20
years
till
now,
look
what
has
happened
and
I
appreciate
you
fighting
for
these
2,500
because
I'm
one
of
them,
you
got
it
and
I'm
gonna
fight
as
long
as
I
can
stand.
So,
let's
have
the
attorney
to
answer
the
questions
here.
G
G
A
Further
discussion,
all
in
favor,
please
say
aye
aye
all
opposed
great.
Thank
you.
I
think
you
both
of
you
for
your
service
to
the
county.
All
right.
We
now
come
to
the
item
that
we
added
to
the
agenda,
which
is
a
resolution
accepting
an
offer
to
purchase
county
properties
located
at
125,
South,
Lexington,
Avenue
and
Michael
frou
will
share
additional
information
about
this
item.
Mr.
H
Chairman
commissioners,
this
is
an
add-on
because
I've
been
working
with
the
proposed
buyers
for
a
couple
weeks
and
it
just
gets
complicated.
When
this
is
one
of
the
few
situations,
we've
used
a
real
estate
agent
and
when
they
were
doing
preliminary
negotiations,
they
didn't
understand
how
the
we
have
to
comply
with
the
statute,
so
they're
making
an
offer
for
the
property.
It's
a
market
offer
of
six
hundred
and
thirteen
thousand
five
hundred
dollars
which
matches
the
assessed
value
from
either
tax
office
and
so
to
proceed
with
that.
H
We
doubt
that
it
will
occur,
but
we
need
to
follow
that
loop,
at
which
point
we
will
sign
the
contract
and
they
hope
to
close
this
by
December
18th,
and
so
that
that's
that's
the
reason
this
is
an
add-on,
so
we
couldn't
get
it
and
we
just
got
this
stuff
in
the
mail
this
morning.
So
happy
that
you
could
add
it
on
here.
If
you
have
any
questions,
I'll
be
glad
to
try
to
answer
all.
A
H
A
H
A
Okay
and
all
up
in
it
up
for
public
comment,
seeing
none
further
discussion,
all
in
favor,
please
say
aye
aye,
all
any
opposed
all
right.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Mr.
Prue,
all
right
we've
got
a
couple
of
board
appointments.
The
first
is
to
the
Health
and
Human
Services
Board.
This
is
the
optometrist
vacancy.
We
have
two
candidates:
Steven
Satterfield
and
Jennifer
Partlow.
The
HHS
committee
by
statute
is
required
to
make
a
recommendation
to
the
County
Commission
on
this
specific
position
they
have.
The
executive
committee
recommends
Jennifer
Partlow,
but
it
is
a
commission
County,
Commission
decision.
E
G
A
A
All
right
there's
a
motion
in
a
second
all
in
favor,
please
say:
aye
aye
all
opposed.
Thank
you
for
being
willing
to
serve
on
the
Civic
Center
Commission.
All
right
I've
got
just
a
couple
of
announcements.
November
9th
there
will
be
an
opioid
town
hall
meeting
at
the
Black
Mountain
library,
from
6
to
8
p.m.
hosted
by
the
district
2
commissioners,
November
10th
County
offices
will
be
closed
for
Veterans
Day
and
on
November
14th
at
12:30
p.m.