Board of Commissioners Briefing

Meeting Overview The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners held its Regular Meeting on July 21, 2026, presided over by an Acting Chair due to the absence of the Vice Chair. The agenda included the approval of the Consent Agenda, the adoption of the Air Quality Code, public hearings for Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) applications, the adoption of an E911 Addressing Ordinance, several budget amendments, and board appointments. The meeting concluded with a moment of silence requested by Commissioner Griffin to honor community members who have recently passed away.

Key Decisions and Votes The Board took several significant actions during the meeting. First, the Board voted to amend and approve the Consent Agenda, which included correcting a typo in a resolution’s expenditure figure from $150,000 to $3.6 million and appointing Commissioner Wells as a voting delegate and Commissioner Horton as an alternate for the NCAACC conference. The Board unanimously voted to adopt the Buncombe County Air Quality Code, effective July 24, 2026, finalizing the transition of the program under the Board’s governance. Additionally, the Board authorized staff to submit two proposed applications for the Commercial District Revitalization CDBG-DR Helene Recovery Grant Program before the August 4th deadline. The Board also approved text amendments to the E911 Addressing Ordinance to improve emergency response times and approved several budget amendments, including an $802,275 grant for streambank stabilization and $12,036,686 in projects for Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools. Finally, the Board voted to appoint or reappoint members to various advisory committees, including the Affordable Housing, General Obligation Bond Oversight, Early Childhood Education, and Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian committees.

Discussion Highlights Staff presented details on the Air Quality Code, explaining that the update places the program under the Board’s governance to finalize the transition from the previous Air Quality Board to the new Air Quality Division. Regarding the CDBG-DR applications, staff outlined two projects: a sidewalk construction project along Highway 70 in Swannanoa and a cleanup initiative for unincorporated commercial districts. Commissioner Griffin asked for clarification on the geographic scope of the non-sidewalk application, and staff confirmed the mapping covers all unincorporated commercial corridors, focusing on areas like Swannanoa, Barnardsville, Lester, and Fairview. On the E911 Addressing Ordinance, Commissioner Griffin inquired about the fairness analysis and process simplification; staff confirmed the ordinance includes a fairness analysis and simplifies requirements to potentially speed up Certificate of Occupancy issuance. Regarding the School Capital Fund, Commissioner Griffin asked about the fund’s health, and staff noted that the balance is being watched closely, with current projects funded through a mix of debt service and pay-go methods.

Community Input Three community members provided public comment on the CDBG-DR applications. Anne Babcock, Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, spoke in support of a Parks and Recreation Month Proclamation, highlighting the importance of parks for health and economic vitality. Carol Groban emphasized the critical need for sidewalks on US 70 in Swannanoa, citing safety concerns for pedestrians with strollers and wheelchairs, and noted the psychological importance of cleaning up storm debris to restore community hope. Megan, a representative of FANS, supported the sidewalk project, noting that many residents lack reliable transportation and are forced to walk on dangerous roads to access essential services. Matt Barker, Board Chair of FANS, spoke emotionally about the importance of these investments to signal that Swannanoa is worth investing in post-Helene, thanking the county for stepping up.

Follow-ups and Impact Commissioner Griffin requested the name of the interim Director of Health and Human Services following the retirement of Phillip Hardin; the Acting Chair stated this information would be reported after the meeting. The decisions made at this meeting have direct implications for public safety and community recovery. The adoption of the E911 Addressing Ordinance aims to improve emergency response times by clarifying address requirements and prohibiting objectionable street names. The authorization of the CDBG-DR applications supports physical infrastructure improvements, such as new sidewalks in Swannanoa, and addresses unresolved storm damage in unincorporated areas, which community members highlighted as vital for both economic recovery and psychological well-being following Tropical Storm Helene. The approval of school capital projects and stream stabilization grants further demonstrates the Board’s commitment to maintaining essential public services and infrastructure.