Buncombe County Air Quality Advisory Council Meeting

Meeting Overview and Organizational Transition

The Buncombe County Air Quality Advisory Council convened on August 6, 2026, to formalize its transition from an interlocal agreement with the City of Asheville to an independent county entity. Staff member Ashley confirmed that July 24 marked the official start of the county’s independent air quality operations, following the required 30-day notice period to terminate the previous agreement. The primary focus of the meeting was finalizing this structural shift, which included adopting new bylaws, handling federal grant novations, and establishing the council’s governance framework. The council unanimously approved the agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting held on June 24, 2026.

Key Decisions and Governance

The council took several significant actions to establish its operational identity. Joel was elected as temporary chair for the duration of the meeting. Subsequently, the council adopted the bylaws for the Buncombe County Air Quality Advisory Council, with a motion to correct all references from "board" to "council" to ensure consistency. Leadership was solidified with the election of Gary Wisnett as the permanent Chair and Ned Gutman as Vice Chair. Additionally, the council adopted a revised meeting schedule, setting future meetings for the fourth Tuesday or Thursday of alternating months, specifically targeting September 22 and November 24 at 3:30 PM, subject to potential changes due to conflicts with other county meetings.

Discussion Highlights: Grants, Monitoring, and Legal Context

Staff provided critical updates on operational and legal matters. Regarding federal grants, staff explained that while Buncombe County remains the fiscal agent, the council is actively managing the "novation" process to transfer grants 103 and 105 to the county’s unique identifier. On monitoring infrastructure, staff reported that the E-Tech monitoring site is undergoing construction, with a concrete pad being poured and a building expected to arrive by mid-August. Staff also noted that no sequences or violations had been recorded since the last report. Legally, staff highlighted that a U.S. Court of Appeals decision on June 26 and a subsequent District Court ruling on July 17 rejected EPA efforts to delay air quality standards, with potential appeals to the Supreme Court still possible. Staff also announced that Hannah Rhodes will be taking maternity leave starting in early September.

Community Input and Recognition

The meeting included a dedicated segment for recognizing community contributions. Presenters Ashley and Keith highlighted the "Western North Carolina Postal Lean Air Quality Particulate Monitoring Project," awarding certificates to participants including various libraries, fire departments, and local organizations such as ArtSpace and the Charter School. The council also formally recognized long-serving members of the previous advisory committee, including Keith Hamburger, Caitlin Cook, and others, for their work on the Clean Air Excellence Awards and the Low Cost Air Quality Center Program. No specific public comments from residents were recorded in the summary, though the recognition of these community partners served as a key point of engagement.

Follow-ups and Next Steps

Several administrative tasks were assigned to staff to finalize the council’s establishment. Staff agreed to finalize and send conflict of interest disclosure forms to council members for signature, with a preference for wet-ink signatures scanned back, though electronic options remain under discussion. Staff will also update the new board member orientation document to reflect the advisory council structure. Furthermore, staff committed to continuing the grant novation process with the county’s grants department to close out old reports and apply for new funding. The council agreed to keep the tentative meeting schedule of September 22 and November 24, acknowledging that dates may shift due to external conflicts.