Town Council Meeting

Town Council Meeting Recap: October 12, 2026

The Town of Black Mountain Town Council convened for a regular meeting on October 12, 2026, presided over by the Mayor. The session addressed a wide range of municipal operations, including infrastructure updates, regulatory amendments, and public safety planning. The Council approved the Consent Agenda, which included the adoption of minutes from previous meetings, the Tax Collector’s report, and various contracts and budget amendments related to disaster relief and stormwater design. Additionally, the Council approved resolutions supporting the pursuit of grant funding for a new Public Safety Facility and authorizing the temporary closure of Honeycutt Street to facilitate the use of temporary facilities for Fire and Police departments.

Key discussions centered on the Hilltop Road Reconstruction Project, staff provided an update noting that construction began in September 2026 with an anticipated completion by the end of the year. The project, funded through the FEMA Public Assistance Program, has faced engineering hurdles, including land acquisition to avoid a large retention wall, and involves extensive administrative processing. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the status of the current Public Safety Building. The Mayor disputed claims that the building is "condemned," arguing it is merely "unsafe" due to cosmetic issues like a leaking roof and settling floors. The Mayor stated, "The building is not condemned... It is an architect, not a structural engineer... The building has never been condemned," and argued that repairs could be completed for under $500,000, whereas building a new facility would require significant tax increases. Council Member Ryan Harris and the Town Manager clarified that while the town is pursuing grant funding for a new facility on North Fork Road, this does not preclude repairing the current building.

The Council held public hearings on two ordinances. The Bear Wise Ordinance was approved as presented, aligning with State Wildlife Resources Commission recommendations to address bears as a public nuisance, including penalties for attracting them via bird feeders. Violations are handled by Buncombe County Animal Control. Council Member Ryan Harris requested the county’s fee schedule before voting but stated he was satisfied with the available information. Regarding the Stormwater Ordinance, the Council approved the main amendments but tabled Section 6, which covers enforcement and penalties, for further review. The Mayor expressed frustration that the town lacks strong enforcement teeth regarding the bear ordinance but acknowledged it as a necessary first step.

Public comments included criticism of Public Works management by Cheryl Nelson, who alleged mishandling of resources and rising taxes. Jim Boyer of Givens Highland Farms announced that his company is extending office space leases to the Town’s Public Safety Departments for two additional months at no cost and donating a building for potential Fire Department relocation. John Richardson spoke about business losses due to planning issues and criticized the Council’s approach to litigation. Shane Lunsford raised concerns about internal communication failures and public records requests regarding his property. Charlotte and Kirsten Hall of the Bear Wise Advisory Council urged the passage of the bear ordinance, noting local regulations are needed despite existing county emergency rules. The Mayor used his time to defend his tenure and reiterate that the Public Safety Building can be repaired for significantly less than the cost of a new one, stating, "Our citizens can't afford a $25 million building... If you were to build that, means your taxes would double."

Follow-up actions agreed to during the meeting include Council Member Ryan Harris receiving the county’s fee schedule for the Bear Wise Ordinance from staff. The Mayor directed Interim Town Manager Richard Hicks to follow up on Shane Lunsford’s public records request and copy the Mayor on the notification. Staff agreed to bring back Section 6 of the Stormwater Ordinance for further discussion at a later date. The Town Manager confirmed that a structural engineer is being hired to assess the current Public Safety building, though the Mayor expressed skepticism about the timeline and necessity. The Council also scheduled a public hearing for November 9, 2026, regarding text amendments to Chapter 4 (Zoning).