Town Council Regular Meeting - April 28 2025

The Town Council of Weaverville held its regular meeting on April 28, 2025, to review routine administrative items, discuss ongoing municipal projects, and address specific policy and development matters. The Council approved the meeting agenda as written and confirmed that no members had conflicts of interest regarding the items on the docket. The primary focus of the session was the approval of the consent agenda, which included several financial reports, budget amendments, and operational extensions, followed by discussions on community recovery efforts and local infrastructure.

Key decisions made during the meeting included the unanimous approval of the consent agenda, which encompassed the monthly tax report showing 99.01% collection, various budget amendments for personnel and legal services, and the extension of the tax collection agreement with Buncombe County through June 30, 2028. The Council also approved a one-year water commitment extension for a 50-unit townhouse project at 6 Pleasant Grove Road and authorized a minor modification to the AdventHealth project, specifically reducing the number of retaining walls from seven to four. Additionally, the Council unanimously passed an amended non-discrimination ordinance prohibiting discrimination in employment and public accommodations, setting its effective date for May 1, 2025. A public hearing for proposed amendments to conditional district procedures was scheduled for May 19, 2025.

Significant discussions centered on the Helene recovery efforts and local development. Rachel Sawyer from Buncombe County provided an update on recovery operations, emphasizing the importance of public participation in the "Envision Buncombe" community engagement survey to inform long-term planning. Regarding local infrastructure, the Council discussed the potential acceptance of roads within the Northridge Farms development. The Council agreed to table a final decision on accepting Northridge Commons Parkway and Northcrest Road into the public street system pending further information. Furthermore, the Council addressed stormwater maintenance for the Maple Trace subdivision, agreeing to have the Public Works Department complete pipe flushing and charge the Homeowners Association for the associated costs, with a revised resolution to be presented in the following month.

The Town Manager’s report provided updates on various departmental activities, including the Fire Department’s receipt of a $35,154.18 grant for a Swiftwater rescue boat and the Police Department’s commendation for record-keeping during a training audit. Other updates included the swearing-in of Michael Hunter as the new Fire Chief, ongoing discussions with the Reems Creek Fire Department, and progress on the Water Wheel restoration, which faces permitting delays. The Council also noted that bids are being solicited for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Resiliency Project and that traffic will soon shift to a new I-26 bridge. No public comments were submitted during the meeting.

Follow-up actions explicitly agreed to at this meeting include the Town Manager’s plan to provide a more detailed discussion on the FY26 budget during the May 13 budget workshop. The Public Works Department has agreed to complete the stormwater pipe flushing for Maple Trace and charge the HOA, with a revised resolution to be brought back next month. The Council also set a public hearing for May 19 to discuss the conditional district code amendments. The next scheduled meetings include a Planning Board meeting on May 6, a budget workshop and public hearing on May 13, and the regular Town Council meeting on May 19, with town offices closed on Memorial Day, May 26.