Chimney Rock Village public meetings in 2023

Social Services Board on 2023-12-20 4:00 PM

The Social Services Board will discuss the personnel report, budget, financial report, and service report for November 2023. The meeting also includes introduction of a new board member and consideration of officers in January.

• Personnel Report dated 11/12/2023
• Budget Discussion for 12/20/2023
• Financial Report for November 2023
• Service Report for November 2023
• Introduction of new board member

The Social Services Board adopted the agenda and minutes and discussed budget items, personnel, and service reports. No substantive decisions were made regarding policy or funding.

• Adopted the agenda (4-0)
• Approved the meeting minutes (4-0)
• Adjourned the meeting (4-0)
• Discussed budget items and personnel
• Discussed service reports and program updates

Board of Commissioners on 2023-12-04 6:00 PM

The Board of Commissioners will conduct public hearings regarding Fire Protection Service Districts. The agenda includes discussions on budget amendments, property exchanges, and various county policies.

• Public hearing for Fire Protection Service Districts
• Exchange of real estate involving LaBreche Fairgrounds land swap contract
• Resolution to support Farmland Preservation Pilot Program Grant
• Foothills Health District Environmental Health fee schedule changes
• Agreement with Varonis Security Monitoring Software

The Board elected Bryan King as Chairman and Alan Toney as Vice Chairman. They approved resolutions for fire district boundaries, budget amendments, and the bonds of county officials. The Board also authorized the exchange of two properties and appointed members to various boards.

• Elected Bryan King as Chairman (5-0)
• Elected Alan Toney as Vice Chairman (5-0)
• Approved fire protection service district boundaries (5-0)
• Approved fire insurance district boundaries (5-0)
• Approved budget amendments (5-0)
• Approved bonds for county officials (5-0)
• Authorized exchange of two properties (5-0)
• Approved agreement to exchange real property (5-0)

Social Services Board on 2023-11-15 4:00 PM

The Chimney Rock Village Social Services Board will review the October financial and service reports and hold a budget discussion. It will receive updates on social work, economic services, Medicaid expansion, and a Dogwood Health Trust grant notification. The board will also consider a response to Senate Bill 625. No formal decisions are indicated in the agenda.

• Budget Discussion (ID 23-3609)
• Financial Report – October 2023 (ID 23-3610)
• Service Report – October 2023 (ID 23-3611)
• Medicaid Expansion Report – October 2023 (ID 23-3612)
• Dogwood Health Trust Grant Notification (ID 23-3613)

The Social Services Board adopted the meeting agenda and approved the prior meeting's minutes. No public comments were received. The board adjourned the meeting at 4:38 PM.

• Adopted agenda (4-0)
• Approved minutes (4-0)
• Adjourned meeting (4-0)

Board of Commissioners on 2023-11-06 6:00 PM

The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners will consider a Memorandum of Understanding for the Foothills NC Home Consortium to support affordable housing under the HOME Investment Partnership Act. Other new business includes budget amendments, a resolution supporting veterans (Operation Green Light), NC Arts Council subgrant recommendations, an interlocal agreement with Foothills Health District, and a Community Service Block Grant application from Blue Ridge Community Action. The board also will vote on the consent agenda, which includes tax refunds and releases, and enter closed session for attorney-client privilege.

• Foothills NC Home Consortium Memorandum of Understanding for HOME Investment Partnership Act affordable housing
• Budget amendments (ID 23-3602A) for November 2023
• Resolution supporting Operation Green Light for veterans (ID 23-3601B)
• Interlocal Agreement Between Foothills Health District and Rutherford County (ID 23-3596E)
• Blue Ridge Community Action Community Service Block Grant application for 2024-25 (ID 23-3595F)

The Board of Commissioners approved multiple appointments to local commissions and authorized an interlocal agreement regarding animal control services. Additionally, the Board approved budget amendments, a resolution for Operation Green Light, and various arts grant recommendations.

• Approved agenda (5-0)
• Approved consent agenda including tax refunds and releases (5-0)
• Appointed Preston Janco to Historic Preservation Commission through June 30, 2026 (5-0)
• Appointed Gabrielle Isaac to Juvenile Crime Prevention Council through June 30, 2025 (5-0)
• Voted to advertise and make future board/commission appointments at a later meeting (5-0)
• Approved budget amendments (5-0)
• Approved Operation Green Light resolution RES 24-028 (5-0)
• Authorized negotiation of Memorandum of Understanding for Home Investment Partnership Act (5-0)

Board of Commissioners on 2023-10-02 6:00 PM

The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners will review and vote on several financial and policy items. Items include budget amendment documents, an EMS debt reconciliation, and a transit drug‑and‑alcohol policy addendum. The board will also hold public hearings on two grant applications for services to seniors and individuals with disabilities.

• Budget Amendments – October 2023 (ID 23‑3575A)
• Annual EMS Reconciliation of Debt (ID 23‑3571B)
• Transit Drug and Alcohol Policy Addendum effective June 1 2023 (ID 23‑3576D)
• Public Hearing – Grant for Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities (ID 23‑3563A)
• Public Hearing – Grant for Transportation Services (ID 23‑3564B)

The Board approved resolutions for two federal transportation grants totaling $684,724 and reappointed three members to the North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Committee. The Board also appointed a student to the Transit Advisory Board and two individuals to the Planning Commission.

• Approved $145,000 Senior Center transportation grant (5-0)
• Approved $684,724 County Transit grant (5-0)
• Reappointed Johnathan Jones, Gordon Pendarvous, Amy Bridges to Arts Council (5-0)
• Appointed Michael Benfield to Arts Council (5-0)
• Appointed Cedric Banks to Transit Advisory Board (5-0)
• Appointed Birgit Dilgert to Planning Commission (5-0)
• Appointed Thomas Bejma to Planning Commission (5-0)
• Approved Consent Agenda items (5-0)

Social Services Board on 2023-09-20 4:00 PM

The Chimney Rock Village Social Services Board will discuss and potentially adopt the agenda and previous minutes, hear public comments, and review a personnel report. The board will also discuss the budget and financial report for August 2023, and receive service and program updates including a Medicaid expansion report for July–August 2023, the director's annual report for FY 2022–2023, and updates on the DSS House and Adoption Garden.

• Personnel Report - 08/20/2023 (ID 23-3554)
• Budget Discussion and Financial Report - August 2023 (IDs 23-3555, 23-3556)
• Medicaid Expansion Report - July–August 2023 (ID 23-3558)
• DSS Annual Report for FY 2022–2023 (ID 23-3560)
• DSS House Blueprint update (ID 23-3559)

The meeting was largely procedural. The board unanimously adopted the agenda and approved the previous meeting's minutes with a correction. No substantive policy decisions were made; members discussed budget items, personnel updates, and program reports.

• Adopted the agenda (4-0)
• Approved the August 20, 2023 minutes as amended (4-0)

Rutherford County Airport Authority on 2023-09-05 4:00 PM

The Rutherford County Airport Authority meeting on September 5, 2023, consists of routine procedural items including approval of the May 2023 minutes, a director's/financial report for July 2023, and informational updates. Public comments are limited to three minutes. No major decisions or proposals are on the agenda.

• Approval of minutes from May 1, 2023 (ID 23-3484)
• Review of Rutherford County Airport Financial Report for July 2023 (ID 23-3540)
• Informational updates for the Airport Authority Board (ID 23-3541)

Board of Commissioners on 2023-09-05 6:00 PM

The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners will hold a regular meeting with public comments, a consent agenda, and new business. Key items include a change order for the Animal Adoption Center, budget amendments for September 2023, a revision to the SEC Continuous Disclosure Policy, and a contract with Invoice Cloud. The board also will consider appointments to the Airport Appeals Board and the North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Committee.

• Animal Adoption Center update and Change Order No. 1
• Budget amendments for September 2023
• Contract with Invoice Cloud for payment services
• Appointments to Airport Appeals Board and NC Arts Council Grassroots Committee
• Tax refunds and releases for September 2023 (consent agenda)

The Board of Commissioners approved a change order for the Rutherford County Animal Adoption Center and a contract with Invoice Cloud for a new electronic tax payment system. They also approved budget amendments and a policy update for SEC disclosures.

• Approved Animal Adoption Center change order ($416,041) (5-0)
• Approved Invoice Cloud contract for electronic tax payments (5-0)
• Approved September 2023 budget amendments (5-0)
• Approved SEC Continuous Disclosure Policy revision (5-0)
• Appointed 5 members to Airport Appeals Board (5-0)
• Approved agenda and Consent Agenda items (5-0)

Social Services Board on 2023-08-16 4:00 PM

The Chimney Rock Village Social Services Board will meet to discuss and potentially adopt the agenda, minutes, and receive public comments. Key items include a personnel report for July 2023, a budget discussion, a financial report for July 2023, and a service report. The board will also receive program updates on social work, economic services, and the director's annual report, followed by a closed session.

• Personnel Report for July 2023
• Budget Discussion for August 16, 2023
• Financial Report for July 2023
• Service Report for July 2023
• Closed Session

The Social Services Board met to approve the agenda and meeting minutes. The board discussed budget adjustments, personnel changes, and program updates including Medicaid expansion and a new child placement system.

• Approved agenda (3-0)
• Approved meeting minutes (3-0)
• Adjourned meeting (3-0)
• Approved Medicaid expansion recruitment plan
• Approved grant for Dogwood Trust to build house with handicap access

Board of Commissioners on 2023-08-07 6:00 PM

The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners will consider consent agenda items including minutes and tax refunds, approve resolutions honoring Bailey Gillespie and proclaiming Year of the Trails, make appointments to the Airport Appeals Board, receive an update on the 145 College Avenue property, and vote on new business items including project ordinances for ARPA funds, a contract with Green Zone Recycling, a resolution supporting Foothills RPO prioritization, and a resolution declining to acquire surplus school property. The board will also hold a closed session for attorney-client consultation.

• Consent agenda: minutes of July 10 meeting and tax refunds and releases for August 2023
• Resolutions honoring Bailey Gillespie and proclaiming Year of the Trails Special Events Month September 2023
• Appointments to Airport Appeals Board
• Update on 145 College Avenue property
• New business: ARPA project ordinances, contract with Green Zone Recycling, resolution supporting RPO prioritization, and resolution declining to acquire surplus school property

Chairman King presented data showing the Sheriff's Office budget increased by $2.5 million since 2022, surpassing education funding for the first time. He stated that accommodating the requested $1.5 million increase would require raising the tax rate by 1.5 cents.

• Agenda approved (5-0)
• No public comments recorded

Social Services Board on 2023-07-26 4:00 PM

The Social Services Board will review and potentially adopt the agenda and minutes, take public comments, and examine a personnel report and a staff turnover report. They will discuss the budget based on the June 2023 financial report, hear a service report, and receive program updates on social work, economic services, and the director's report covering staffing and annual report. A closed session is also scheduled.

• Personnel Report (ID 23-3518, attachment)
• Staff Turnover Report 2022-2023 (ID 23-3519, attachment)
• Budget Discussion (ID 23-3520, attachment)
• Financial Report June 2023 (ID 23-3521, attachment)
• Service Report June 2023 (ID 23-3522, attachment)

The Board approved the meeting agenda and previous minutes. Members reviewed personnel, turnover, budget, and service reports, and discussed the construction of a county-owned house funded by a Dogwood Trust grant.

• Adopted the agenda (5-0)
• Adopted the minutes (5-0)
• Entered closed session (5-0)

Board of Commissioners on 2023-07-10 6:00 PM

The Board will hold a public hearing to approve the execution and delivery of the contract for acquiring, constructing, and equipping the Board of Education’s Transportation and Maintenance Facility. Other agenda items include routine consent‑agenda approvals, appointments, and several new‑business resolutions such as abandoning Steward Street in Spindale and budget amendments. The meeting also features commissioner reports on Medicaid expansion, tourism development, and public‑safety recognitions.

• Public hearing to approve contract for Board of Education Transportation and Maintenance Facility (approximately $15 million)
• Consent agenda items: minutes from June meetings, tax refunds and releases for July 2023
• Resolution to abandon Steward Street in the Town of Spindale
• Budget amendments for the fiscal year 2023‑2024
• Resolution awarding Lieutenant Todd McDaniel his sidearm and badge

The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $16.1 million project for the Board of Education’s Transportation and Maintenance Facility at the former R-S Middle School site. The board also adopted a resolution authorizing a $15 million installment financing contract with JP Morgan Chase at 3.61% for 10 years, and approved a project ordinance. Additionally, the board approved the consent agenda, appointed voting delegates for the NCACC conference, filled board vacancies, and adopted a resolution for abandonment of Steward Street in Spindale.

• Approved project ordinance for school transportation facility (5-0)
• Adopted resolution for $15M installment financing with JP Morgan at 3.61% for 10 years (5-0)
• Approved consent agenda including minutes and tax refunds (5-0)
• Appointed Commissioner Benfield as voting delegate to NCACC Annual Conference (5-0)
• Appointed Vice Chairman Toney as alternate voting delegate (5-0)
• Appointed Jill Miracle to Transit Advisory Board (5-0)
• Appointed Amy Galla to Workforce Development Board (5-0)
• Approved resolution for abandonment of Steward Street to Town of Spindale (5-0)

Board of Commissioners on 2023-06-29 5:30 PM

The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution to require the Cliffside Sanitary District Board election to be held at the same time and year as county officer elections. No other substantive items are on the agenda.

• Resolution to require Cliffside Sanitary District Board elections to coincide with county officer elections (ID 23-3512A)

The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 23-3512, requiring that elections for the Cliffside Sanitary District Board be held in even-numbered years concurrent with county officer elections. The move aims to avoid extra election costs and address a lack of candidates; no one currently serves on the board. The vote was 4-0 (one commissioner absent).

• Approved agenda (4-0)
• Approved Resolution 23-3512 to align Cliffside Sanitary District elections with county elections (4-0)

Social Services Board on 2023-06-21 4:00 PM

The Rutherford County Social Services Board will consider personnel, budget, and service reports, along with program updates including Medicaid expansion and a potential home on DSS property for children awaiting placement. A closed session is also scheduled.

• Personnel Report dated 05/28/2023
• Budget Discussion and Financial Report for May 2023
• Medicaid Expansion Information Packet
• Licensing requirements for potential home on DSS property to house children awaiting placement
• Performance Improvement Plan and Complaint Form/Process

The board unanimously approved the agenda and prior minutes, then received updates on personnel, budget, services, and programs. No substantive decisions were made; all motions were procedural (agenda, minutes, closed session, adjourn). The board discussed Medicaid expansion staffing costs but took no formal action.

• Approved meeting agenda (5-0)
• Approved prior meeting minutes (5-0)
• Entered closed session (5-0)
• Adjourned (5-0)

Board of Commissioners on 2023-06-08 5:00 PM

The Board of Commissioners will consider adopting the FY23-24 budget ordinance, including the Cliffside Sanitary District proposed budget. This is the primary item of new business at this meeting.

• Adoption of Budget Ordinance for fiscal year 2023-2024 (ID 23-3488A)
• Public hearing notice for Cliffside Sanitary District proposed budget

The Board of Commissioners approved the recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. The budget includes a general fund revenue estimate of $76,968,817 and sets the ad valorem property tax rate at $0.454 per $100 of assessed value.

• Adopted FY 2023-2024 budget (4-1)
• Set ad valorem property tax rate at $0.454 per $100 of assessed value
• Approved agenda (5-0)

Board of Commissioners on 2023-06-05 6:00 PM

The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2023-2024 budget and consider several resolutions, including a financing contract for a school transportation and maintenance facility, animal control facility project bids, and budget amendments. Commissioners will also receive a presentation on Medicaid expansion and make appointments to county boards and commissions.

• Public hearing on the FY2023-2024 budget
• Resolution authorizing negotiation of an installment financing contract for the Board of Education Transportation and Maintenance Facility
• Animal control facility project bids to be considered
• Presentation on Medicaid expansion from the Department of Social Services
• Second amendment to a transportation and disposal agreement with Republic Services

The Board of Commissioners approved the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget, which includes a reduction of the property tax rate from 59.7 to 45.4 cents per $100 of value. The budget maintains funding for the Rutherford County School System and Isothermal Community College.

• Approved agenda (5-0)
• Opened public hearing for FY2024 budget
• Approved FY2024 budget with 14.3-cent tax rate reduction
• Approved $17,655,820 to Rutherford County School System
• Approved $3,622,884 to Isothermal Community College

Board of Commissioners on 2023-05-22 5:00 PM

The Chimney Rock Village Board of Commissioners will conduct a Budget Workshop identified as ID 23‑3465A. No specific budget proposals, contracts, or ordinances are detailed in the agenda.

• Budget Workshop (ID 23‑3465A)

The Board of Commissioners held a special meeting to discuss the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget and Exceptional Children's funding. Commissioner Lovelace advocated for additional funding and lobbying state legislators, while Chairman King noted county obligations. The Board canceled a subsequent budget workshop.

• Agenda approved (5-0)
• Canceled additional budget workshop
• Adjourned (5-0)