Town Council Workshop 10/13/2026

Town Council Workshop Recap: October 13, 2026

The Town of Weaverville Town Council held a workshop on October 13, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM to review several operational and community development initiatives. The session focused on updates from town staff regarding the Fire Department, the Merchants Alley Task Force, and outreach efforts to major local employers. While the agenda included these items, the Council adjusted the discussion order to prioritize community engagement and operational updates. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was made and seconded by Council members, though no specific names were recorded in the transcript for the mover or seconder.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Fire Department’s current status. Town Manager Harris provided an update noting the hiring of Fire Chief John Coffey, who is set to begin next week. Harris explained that this appointment was made to avoid delaying the hiring of a qualified candidate through a new recruitment process. The department currently maintains five vacancies but has successfully maintained an ISO rating of 2/10. Additionally, the town has received a new engine, with heavy rescue trucks pending delivery. Council members received this update without formal vote, focusing instead on the operational improvements and staffing progress.

Discussions regarding Merchants Alley and Florida Avenue generated considerable debate among Council members. Staff proposed forming a task force to address parking and safety, including the potential hiring of a paid facilitator, Sherry Adams. Several Council members expressed skepticism about this expense, with one member stating, "I don't want to pay her... We don't need to become Asheville and hire committees and place town money." The scope of the task force was also debated; while one member argued for including Florida Avenue due to its impact on traffic flow, another Council member clarified that the town should not look into closing Florida Avenue permanently at this time, limiting efforts to parking compliance in Merchants Alley. Council members emphasized that the Town Council retains final authority, noting, "We're not in charge. They're not in charge. We're in charge."

Regarding Florida Avenue, Council members discussed the history of the "social district" and the temporary closures used for events. One member warned against permanent closure, citing the potential anger of major taxpayers like Mr. Shepard and Mr. Akinara, who have invested millions in the town. Another member summarized the Council’s stance, recommending that the town focus on Merchants Alley first before considering any changes to Florida Avenue. No formal votes were taken on these issues, and the Council did not authorize the hiring of a facilitator or define the final scope of the task force during this workshop.

The meeting also included updates on Top Taxpayer Outreach, where Council members reported on their efforts to build relationships with major local employers, including Conrad Industries, AB Emblem, Lowe’s, and AdventHealth. Specific follow-up actions were agreed upon by individual members: one member offered to take over outreach to Lowe’s due to an existing relationship with the manager, while another committed to attending a community luncheon on October 21st at Brixton Church for updates on the new hospital. Other members confirmed ongoing contact with Buncombe County Schools leadership and the Hawk Club.

No formal public comments were recorded in the transcript beyond general remarks made before the meeting officially began. The primary outcomes of the session were informational, with no binding decisions or votes enacted. The Council agreed to a series of informal follow-ups, including Manager Harris providing the list of task force members to the Council and staff following up with Sherry Adams regarding her availability. Individual Council members also agreed to specific outreach tasks, such as meeting with business owners and connecting with school officials regarding the Ball Creek property. The meeting adjourned without further action, leaving the task force formation and Florida Avenue study as pending discussions for future consideration.