September 10, 2026 Special Council Meeting

Meeting Overview The Town of Black Mountain Special Council convened on September 10, 2026, to review the agenda for the upcoming Monday night session and address several administrative and planning matters. The meeting focused on preparing for public hearings, managing grant funds, and discussing infrastructure needs. Council members reviewed staff summaries regarding the Public Safety Building, stormwater billing changes, and various capital projects. The session concluded with the approval of the meeting agenda and several resolutions, while deferring more complex policy discussions to future sessions.

Key Decisions and Votes The Council took several affirmative actions during the meeting. A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda for the upcoming Monday meeting, specifically removing the presentation on the Equivalent Residential Unit (E/R/U) stormwater rate change and the discussion on flock cameras from the immediate schedule. The Council also approved a resolution designating four new bank accounts with the North Carolina Capital Management Trust (NCCMT) as official depositories for public funds related to OSBM grants, a measure intended to properly segregate grant funds and interest. Additionally, the Council endorsed a grant application for the debris removal and demolition of the flood-damaged golf maintenance building. Finally, the Council approved a grant agreement with NC Commerce for the Downtown Stormwater project on Sutton Avenue and passed a capital project ordinance to manage the associated funds, ensuring they are not tied to a single fiscal year.

Discussion Highlights Significant discussion centered on the condition and future of the Public Safety Building. Council members debated the high cost of repairing the existing structure, estimated between $1–2 million, versus the potential $20–25 million cost of a new facility. One Council Member noted the uncertainty of the repair process, stating, "If you spend that money and you decide you can't use that building... you're... We're still trying to find one right now," referring to the pending structural engineer’s assessment. Regarding stormwater billing, Staff presented a proposal to shift business billing from a flat fee to an E/R/U model, which could double bills for large commercial properties. A Council Member argued against immediate action, stating, "If we take this off the agenda and just plan a work on it after the election... it's a huge change... definitely workshop material." Staff also explained the administrative process for grant management, noting, "The easiest way we found to segregate those funds is to open bank accounts and put them in those bank accounts."

Community Input Public input was represented through citizen requests and internal council concerns regarding community relations. A citizen requested a resolution recognizing September 25 as Dolly Parton Day, noting its national significance and alignment with the local Tailgate Market. Council members agreed to add this to the agenda, with one member agreeing to provide the resolution language by Monday morning. Regarding business relations, a Council Member raised concerns about a Business Stabilization Ordinance received from the Chamber of Commerce, noting that business owners feel unheard. Another member agreed that while the specific proposal might not be adopted, a forum to listen to business concerns is necessary. A Council Member agreed to have Ken or Cheryl from the Chamber of Commerce reach out directly to discuss these concerns, aiming to improve communication with the business community.

Follow-ups and Next Steps Several action items were identified for future meetings. Staff will obtain a structural engineer’s assessment of the Public Safety Building’s roof and drains to determine if repairs are viable, with Council members requesting clarity on whether this information would be available by the next meeting. The E/R/U stormwater rate change was removed from the current agenda, with Council members agreeing to schedule a workshop after the election to study its impact and educate the public. The discussion on flock cameras was moved to the October meeting to allow time for the Police Chief to prepare a presentation. Additionally, the Council agreed to include the Dolly Parton Day resolution in the upcoming agenda and to facilitate direct engagement with the Chamber of Commerce to address business community concerns.