# Town Council Meeting

**Body:** Town of Black Mountain — Town Council
**Date:** September 14, 2026 6:00 PM EDT (2026-09-14T18:00:00-04:00)
**Location:** Town Hall Council Chambers, 160 Midland Ave, Black Mountain, NC, 28711

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3041

## Summary

**Town of Black Mountain Regular Town Council Meeting Recap**
**Date:** September 14, 2026
**Presiding:** Mayor Sobel

The Town of Black Mountain held its Regular Town Council Meeting on September 14, 2026, presided over by Mayor Sobel. The session began with ceremonial recognitions, including the presentation of the Citizen of Valor Award to Andrew Colores, Philip Whiting, Christian Maloney, and James Thompson for their actions during an active shooter incident at the Trailhead Restaurant on July 2, 2026. Additionally, a proclamation was read declaring September 25, 2026, as Dolly Parton 925 Recognition Day, highlighting the philanthropy of Dolly Parton and the impact of the Imagination Library on local children. The meeting also featured reports from advisory committees and updates on various infrastructure projects.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on public safety infrastructure and regulatory updates. The Council reviewed a two-phase plan from the Bear Wise Advisory Committee to achieve Bear Wise recognition, which includes addressing nuisance feeding and exploring bear-resistant sanitation guidelines. Regarding public safety facilities, the Council voted to authorize the Town Manager to hire a structural engineer, with a cost cap of $10,000, to assess the condition of the public safety building. The Council also approved an agreement with McGill Associates for design and engineering services for a water resilience project funded by a $5 million state grant. Furthermore, the Council approved amendments to Chapter 48, shifting stormwater service charge billing responsibility from the water bill customer to the property owner, and authorized a $50 increase in Lakeview Clubhouse rental fees to cover increased cleaning costs.

Debate was particularly intense regarding updates to the Stormwater and Floodplain Ordinances. The Council voted to approve amendments to Chapter 2 (Flood Damage Prevention) but made specific decisions to reject recommendations from the Planning Board. The Council voted to keep the freeboard requirement at two feet, rather than increasing it to four feet, and retained the allowance for using fill to elevate structures in floodplains. During this discussion, Mayor Sobel commented, "I think that’s right. Mother Nature has taken care of that many times in depositing dirt... We built on top of it." The Council also voted to table the public hearings for the Bear Wise text amendment (Chapter 6) and the Phase 2 Stormwater Ordinance (Chapter 8) to the October regular meeting for further review.

Public comments highlighted several community concerns and administrative issues. Larry Boone raised safety concerns regarding high speeds on a state road near his home, prompting the Mayor to suggest contacting the State DOT. Cheryl Milton questioned the Town’s financial accountability regarding a $340,000 payment to an unlicensed contractor for water line work, noting a licensed bid was significantly lower. The Mayor stated, "This is being looked into." Other residents, including Teresa Watson and John Richardson, criticized the Council’s stewardship and requested prioritized funding for EMS services and an independent review of the Planning Department’s record-keeping. Shane Lunsford appealed a legal abatement order regarding shipping containers, stating he had arranged for their removal.

Several follow-up actions were agreed upon by staff and council members. The Police Chief agreed to look into potential solutions for parking issues around the Post Office on Richardson Boulevard, including monitoring traffic and exploring angled parking options. The Mayor confirmed that the water line contract issues raised by Cheryl Milton are being looked into. The Town Manager was authorized to secure a structural engineering firm for the public safety building assessment and to execute the agreement with McGill Associates for the water resilience project. Staff also agreed to investigate why the fire station has lower water pressure than expected and to check on the status of FEMA buyout properties regarding potential greenway access under the railroad truss.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43A-mLtNDi0
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2113/segments

## Documents

- [agenda_packet_2026-09-14.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3041?document=13171)
- [agenda_2026-09-14.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3041?document=13170)
- [agenda_2026-09-14.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3041?document=13242)
- [agenda_packet_2026-09-14.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3041?document=13243)

## Sources

- [CivicClerk](https://blackmountainnc.portal.civicclerk.com/#!/events/902)
- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43A-mLtNDi0)