August Regular Meeting

Burke County Board of Commissioners – August 6, 2026 Meeting Recap

The Burke County Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting on August 6, 2026, with all members present, noting that Vice Chair Smith is currently on medical leave. The Board began by approving the August agenda and the minutes from previous sessions, including the June 1 pre-agenda, June 15 regular meeting, July 20 regular meeting, and the July 27 Board of Health meeting. The Board also formally declared September 2026 as National Recovery Month in Burke County and designated September 12–26, 2026, as NCDOT Litter Sweep Week, supporting local efforts to address substance use awareness and community cleanliness.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on economic development and child welfare reforms. The Board unanimously approved an economic development incentive package for "Project Arlington," a proposal to incentivize a $15 million investment by a four-generation family-owned manufacturing company. This agreement, passed by a 4-0 vote, offers 50% of taxes paid on net new taxable investment (approximately $7 million) for a four-year term. County Manager Brian Barbour noted that a company with a $100 million tax value is equivalent to 16,000 homes, helping to alleviate the tax burden for other taxpayers without demanding increased governmental services. Commissioner Stroud expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, "This is good news. This is stuff we can get excited about... We're starting a culture where things are getting better."

Regarding child welfare, the Board approved a contract with Black Mountain Children’s Home to pursue a "vertical integration" project aimed at addressing root causes of foster care entry, such as poverty and substance use. The initiative involves partnering with clinical provider Anuvia to increase licensed foster homes and provide real-time clinical services. DSS Director Corey Fisher-Wellman described the partnership as a "transformational" way to impact children and families, noting the current system's difficulty where children often remain in temporary buildings for extended periods. Commissioner Berry highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that Burke County had children staying overnight in the DSS building for over 100 days this year, while Chairman Britton remarked that the problem is "as complex and difficult as Helene ever dared to be."

The Board also addressed several operational and administrative matters. A budget amendment was approved to move $68,000 from capital reserves for a new Kubota lawnmower and parking lot improvements at Re Park. The Board selected six applicants for the Fall 2026 Citizens Academy class, granting residency waivers if necessary, and voted to keep the application portal open until the September pre-agenda to target 20 slots. Additionally, the Board accepted reports on tax collections, releases, and refunds for the period ending July 31, 2026, and authorized the collection of delinquent taxes. The Board entered closed session to discuss litigation, economic development, contractual matters, and personnel, but no actions were taken during that session.

Public comments included testimony from Dorian Kershner of Burke Recovery, who presented the National Recovery Month proclamation, and Dr. Welch, who spoke during the Project Arlington hearing about the importance of advanced manufacturing jobs for workforce development. Commissioner Stroud urged the community and churches to collectively address the needs of children, stating, "If we don't have that value [kids], well, we're taking care of the least of these."

Looking ahead, several follow-up actions were identified. Tax Administrator Travis Isaacs indicated that the outline for the schedule of values will likely be presented to the task force in September, with a Board review scheduled for October. County Manager Barbour confirmed that the Citizens Academy application portal will remain open until the September pre-agenda meeting. DSS Director Corey Fisher-Wellman noted that the PATH NC statewide data system will go live for all child welfare programs on September 8, 2026, requiring staff to rebuild all open cases in the new system. Finally, the agreement with Black Mountain Children’s Home remains subject to final review by the County Attorney before execution.