# Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Materials

**Body:** Burke County Government — Board of Commissioners
**Date:** January 21, 2025 12:00 AM EST (2025-01-21T00:00:00-05:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341

## Summary

The Burke County Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting on January 21, 2025, in the Comm. Meeting Room in Morganton. The session opened with standard procedural items, including a roll call, an invocation by Commissioner Burns, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Boy Scout Pack 199. The Board expressed gratitude to the scouts and encouraged other community groups to volunteer for future meetings. The agenda was approved with a minor amendment, specifically postponing a presentation from the audit firm to the March meeting due to potential weather concerns. Additionally, the Board approved the meeting minutes from previous sessions held on October 1, October 15, and November 5, 2024.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to operational updates from county leadership. Brent Brinkley, the Airport Administrator for the Foothills Regional Airport Authority, provided a detailed update on the airport’s status. He noted that the facility features a 5,500-foot runway capable of handling aircraft smaller than a Boeing 737 and has secured $6 million in grant funding for new hangars. Brinkley highlighted a waiting list of 90 aircraft for hangar space, the airport’s critical role in disaster relief during Hurricane Helene, and its $25 million economic impact, which supports 125 jobs and generates over $1.5 million in tax revenue. Following this, County Manager Brian Epley presented an update on budget re-engineering strategies, focusing on EMS billing. Epley explained that the transition of EMS billing from an outside company to in-house management has resulted in a projected revenue increase of $6.9 million. He also mentioned that the county is renegotiating hospital contracts to improve revenue generation and control costs amidst potential declines in property and sales tax revenue.

Regarding zoning and planning matters, the Board held a public hearing and approved Zoning Map Amendment ZMA 2024-10, which rezoned two parcels on Liberty Church Road from General Business to Residential 3. The Board also approved a text amendment, ZTA 2024-03, allowing for temporary dwellings, RVs, and campers during emergencies or construction periods, aligning with the county’s strategic land use plan. The Board unanimously approved a consent agenda that included the adoption of the annual code of ethics, various committee appointments, a resolution on behalf of the City of Morganton, approval of a jail medical plan, and collection and refund reports from the Tax Department.

Public comment was limited to a statement from Christy Gupton, a candidate for the Burke County Public Health Advisory Board. Gupton expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to speak and outlined her healthcare expertise, stating her intention to share this knowledge during future meetings. No specific responses from Board members to her comments were recorded in the summary. The meeting concluded with remarks from Commissioners Burns, Byrne, and Stratton, who thanked supporters, highlighted the YMCA’s fundraising campaign, and commended the Planning Board. County Manager Epley announced that a citizen’s application to the Eastern section of the Planning Board would appear on the February agenda.

The Board entered a closed session to discuss personnel matters, resulting in the approval of a personnel agreement. The meeting was adjourned with the next regular meeting scheduled for February 14, 2025. No other specific follow-up actions or commitments from staff or members were explicitly agreed upon during this session beyond the scheduling of future agenda items.

## Agenda

- [CALL TO ORDER](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11040)
- [INVOCATION](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11041)
- [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11042)
- [APPROVAL OF AGENDA](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11043)
- [APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11044)
- [PRESENTATIONS](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11045)
- [SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARINGS](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11046)
- [INFORMAL PUBLIC COMMENTS](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11047)
- [CONSENT AGENDA](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11048)
- [ITEMS FOR DECISION](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11049)
- [REPORTS AND COMMENTS](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11050)
- [VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11051)
- [CLOSED SESSION](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11052)
- [RECESS](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341/item/11053)

## Votes

- To approve the agenda as amended, with the addition of a storm update from County Manager Epley. — Passed, 4-0
- CONSENT AGENDA — Passed, 4-0
- To approve the minutes of the July 16, 2024 (regular) meeting as written. — Passed, 4-0
- To award the bid to Beam Construction Company, Inc. in the amount of $13,504,000 for the construction of a new EMS Headquarters and a new Animal Shelter including Alternates 2: $130,000 - Emergency Radio Responder; Alternate 3: $0.00 - Fire-Lite Fire Alarm; and Alternate 5: $28,000 - Stonehard Flooring.  Further, to approve the related construction contract, subject to review and / or revision by the County Attorney and to authorize the Chairman to execute the contract on behalf of the Board. — Passed, 4-0

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://youtu.be/hvMzlYSVCuk?si=UnYjyXKSKgoqF8Rp
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/982/segments
- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3bEiOkC0GU
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/999/segments

## Documents

- [agenda_packet_2025-01-21.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1341?document=2649)

## Sources

- [CivicClerk](https://burkeconc.portal.civicclerk.com/#!/events/847)