# 2025.02.18 (2)Town of Woodfin Town Council Meeting **Body:** Town of Woodfin — Woodfin Town Council **Date:** February 18, 2025 5:12 PM EST (2025-02-18T17:12:19-05:00) **Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179 ## Summary The Woodfin Town Council held a regular meeting on February 18, 2025, focusing on committee appointments, storm recovery updates, and land use reviews. The council unanimously approved the agenda and the consent agenda, which included the approval of minutes from the January 21, 2025, regular and closed session meetings, the January 22, 2025, retreat minutes, and the tax collection report for the period ending December 2024. Additionally, the consent agenda covered the approval of SDR Contract Amendments #001 and #002, as well as an addendum to the Woodfin Tax agreement with Buncombe County. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. The Town Manager provided updates on recovery efforts, noting that stormwater and street repairs are approximately 30-40% complete, with an estimated three weeks remaining to finish, subject to weather conditions. The coffer dam repair is reported to be 80% complete. Debris removal continues with final sweeps underway, and private property debris removal applications are being accepted starting February 19. The Town Manager also discussed a state bridge loan program offering $100 million at 0% interest to assist municipalities with cash flow during FEMA reimbursement delays; current storm-related costs for the town are approximately $5.7 million, and a loan request has been submitted. The council conducted interviews and voted on appointments to two advisory bodies. For the Parks and Greenways Advisory Committee, the council interviewed Adam Smith, Melissa Drennan, and Katie Cox. Following the interviews, Council Member Edgerton moved to approve the appointment of all three candidates, a motion that passed unanimously (5-0). For the Planning Board of Adjustment, the council interviewed Jerry VeHaun. Council Member Edgerton moved to approve his appointment, which was seconded by Council Member Young and passed unanimously (5-0). In land use matters, the council conducted a ministerial review of the preliminary subdivision plat for the High Hopes subdivision, located off Ben Lippen Rd. and Desperate Ln. The proposal involves a 19-lot major subdivision on 2.8 acres. Staff recommended approval with conditions to clarify access and note that the open space tract is not for future construction. Council Member Kahn moved to approve the preliminary plat, finding it complies with all applicable technical requirements. The motion passed unanimously (5-0). The council also discussed the nature of ministerial reviews, noting that they limit council discretion, and sparked conversation about potentially revisiting those standards in the future. The Woodfin Police Department presented its 2024 Annual Report. The report highlighted 7,381 calls for service, with suspicious activity being the most frequent call type. Self-initiated activities accounted for 38% of police work, the crime rate was 11.49, the case clearance rate was 258, and the average response time was 4 minutes and 35 seconds. The report also included updates on traffic stop data, which highlighted a focus on warnings, and ongoing efforts to recruit new officers. Additionally, the Town Manager provided updates on the completion of a streambank restoration project with assistance from NC State and RiverLink, and noted that a Silver Line Park Community Clean-up is scheduled for March 1 and 2. Regarding follow-ups, staff indicated they will continue working with FEMA to expedite reimbursement for storm-related expenses and will finalize and submit the application for the state bridge loan program. Staff also stated they will continue reviewing proposed code updates, including a completed draft of updates to the Flood Ordinance, and plan to present them to the council in March or April. The meeting adjourned at 7:06 pm. ## Agenda - [Consent Agenda- Staff Report](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/22173) - [Approval of the January 21, 2025, regular and closed session meeting minutes.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/22174) - [Approval of the January 22, 2025, retreat minutes.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/22175) - [Approval of the tax collection report for the period ending December 2024. Net Collections Report, NCVTS Finance Report, Vehicle Tax Refunds Pending .](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/19549) - [SDR Contract Amendments: Amendment #001, Amendment #002](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/22176) - [Woodfin Tax agreement with Buncombe County addendum.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/22177) - [Public Comment – The public is invited to attend this meeting in person or view this meeting on YouTube Live:](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/19550) - [Presentations & Reports](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/22178) - [Town Manager Report – Shannon Tuch, Town Manager](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/19551) - [Woodfin Police Department Annual Report – Jacqui Boykin, Woodfin Police Chief](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/19552) - [New Business](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/22179) - [Appointments to the Planning Board of Adjustment and Parks & Greenways Advisory Committee.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/19553) - [Ministerial Review of a major subdivision plat for the High Hopes subdivision located off Ben Lippen Rd. and Desperate Ln. The properties are identified as PINs 9629-65-5672, 9629-65-4520, 9629-65-4447 in the Buncombe County tax record. The property owners are Jan and Reese Lasher, and the applicant is High Hopes of Asheville, LLC. -Staff Report](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179/item/19554) ## Votes - A. Approval of the Agenda Council Member Kahn made a motion to approve the agenda. Council Member Edgerton seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 5-0. — Passed, 5-0 - Council Member Kahn made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Council Member Thornton seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 5-0. — Passed, 5-0 - Council Member Edgerton made a motion to approve the appointment of Jerry VeHaun to the Planning Board of Adjustment. Council Member Young seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 5-0. — Passed, 5-0 - Council Member kahn make a motion to approve the preliminary subdivision plat for 2.8 acres as shown and find that it complies with all applicable technical requirements, subject to the conditions identified by staff. Council Member Thornton seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 5-0. — Passed, 5-0 - Council Member Edgerton made a motion to approve the appointment of all three candidates: Adam Smith, Melissa Drennan, and Katie Cox to the Parks and Greenways Advisory Committee, and amended the rules of procedure or other constraints to allow for the additional candidates to be appointed to the board. Council Member Kahn seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 5-0. — Passed, 5-0 ## Video & Transcript - Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpYF5PtHBs4 - Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/829/segments ## Documents - [presentation_2025-02-18.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179?document=14245) - [agenda_2025-02-18.html](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179?document=14244) - [minutes_2025-02-18.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1179?document=14246) ## Sources - [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpYF5PtHBs4)