# Board of Commissioners Pre-Agenda Meeting **Body:** Burke County Government — Board of Commissioners **Date:** May 4, 2026 3:00 PM EDT (2026-05-04T15:00:00-04:00) **Location:** COMMISSIONERS' MEETING ROOM, 110 N. Green Street, Entrance E, Morganton, NC, 28655 **Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504 ## Summary The Burke County Board of Commissioners held a pre-agenda meeting on May 4, 2026, to review items scheduled for consideration at a subsequent regular meeting. Although the official chair was delayed, a temporary presiding officer led the session to ensure proceedings continued. The Board approved an amended agenda, which removed routine insurance renewal items handled through the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Risk Pool. Attendees were reminded to silence mobile devices and use microphones for public comments. During the recognition and presentations segment, the Board honored two retiring Sheriff’s Department deputies by awarding them their service sidearms and badges. Lieutenant Clint Level was presented with an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Sheriff's Education and Training Standards Division. The Board also announced plans to formally recognize the United Way of Burke County for its 70th anniversary at a future meeting. Additionally, Tanya Stevenson from the Burke County Chamber of Commerce presented on the inaugural "Big Challenge," a community service initiative involving projects such as a storybook trail and ramp construction. Awards for these efforts will be presented at a business after-hours event on May 5th. The Board approved several items included in the consent agenda. These included financial updates from the Burke County Public Schools, the Tourism Development Authority, and Western Piedmont Community College, all of which reported stable or slightly improved financial positions. The Board approved the annual plan for the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, the Public School Building Capital Funds request, and Budget Amendments 30 and 31, which allocate funds for kitchen equipment and disaster recovery for social services. Several appointments and reappointments to advisory committees, including the Adult Care and Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee and the Local Emergency Planning Committee, were also approved. Commissioner Barry emphasized the importance of recognizing and supporting social workers during Social Work Appreciation Month, and the Board acknowledged the challenges and uncertainties facing the county due to state funding decisions. The Board expressed appreciation for the dedication of the Clerk to the Board and Deputy Clerk. Two public hearings regarding the Chestnut Springs zoning map amendment and the Valdez Bluffs development agreement were scheduled for a future meeting. The Board will also consider the recommended budget for 2026-2027 at a meeting in two weeks. No specific follow-up actions were explicitly agreed to by members or staff during this pre-agenda meeting beyond the scheduled future hearings and budget consideration. The public is invited to attend the Liberty Tree dedication on May 5th and the National Tourism Week open house on May 10th. The next steps involve the Board holding public hearings for the zoning and development items and considering the FY 26-27 budget in the coming weeks. ## Agenda - [CALL TO ORDER](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/628) - [APPROVAL OF AGENDA](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/629) - [PRESENTATIONS](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/630) - [Sheriff – Resolution Authorizing Sale of County-Issued Service Side Arm and Badge and Presentation of Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/631) - [BOC - Recognition of the United Way of Burke County on Its 70-Year Anniversary](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/632) - [BCCC - Recognition of Winners from the BIG Challenge](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/633) - [SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARINGS](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/634) - [CD - ZMA 2026-01, 3637 Miller Bridge Road, Connelly Springs, NC - Zoning Map Amendment & Public Hearing at 6:00 p.m.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/635) - [CM - Valdese Bluffs Development Agreement Public Hearing at 6:00 p.m.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/636) - [CONSENT AGENDA](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/637) - [BDI - Economic Development Update](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/638) - [BCPS - Presentation of Financial Data for the Period Ending March 31, 2026](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/639) - [TDA - Financial Update for the Period Ending March 31, 2026](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/640) - [WPCC - Presentation of Financial Data for the Period Ending March 31, 2026](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/641) - [JCPC - Annual Plan FY27](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/642) - [Clerk - Appointments to the Adult Care & Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/643) - [Clerk - Appointment & Removal from the Child Protection & Child Fatality Prevention Team](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/644) - [Clerk - Reappointments to the East Burke Senior Center Advisory Council](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/645) - [CM - Approval of Audit Contract for FY27](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/646) - [CM - Applications for Public School Building Capital Funds](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/647) - [CM - Lease for Adult Corrections](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/648) - [CM - Approval of Budget Amendment No. 30 - $369,328](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/649) - [CM - Approval of Budget Amendment No. 31 - $20,000](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/650) - [ITEMS FOR DECISION](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/651) - [Clerk - Appointments, Reappointments, and Removals to the LEPC](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/652) - [CM - General Liability/Worker's Comp Insurance Renewal (Place Holder)](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/653) - [CM - Consideration of a Resolution Adopting a Policy on Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB)](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/654) - [CM - Presentation of Recommended Budget for FY 26-27 and Scheduling of Public Hearing (Place Holder)](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/655) - [Tax - Tax Collection Report for Period Ending April 30, 2026 (Place Holder)](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/656) - [Tax - Tax Release and Refund Report for Period Ending April 30, 2026 (Place Holder)](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/657) - [REPORTS AND COMMENTS](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/658) - [OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/659) - [ACTION ITEMS](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/660) - [BOC - Appointment of Clerk to the Board](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/661) - [DSS - Departmental Update for the Period Ending February 28, 2026](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/662) - [ADJOURN](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504/item/663) ## Video & Transcript - Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKUd57XsFJM&t=2862s - Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/1895/segments ## Documents - [agenda_2026-05-04.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504?document=6773) - [agenda_packet_2026-05-04.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1504?document=6774) ## Sources - [CivicClerk](https://burkeconc.portal.civicclerk.com/#!/events/967)