Two weeks after adopting a countywide strategic plan, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a separate document to guide recovery from Hurricane Helene. The board also committed “to maximizing funding and resources for the successful implementation of recovery projects,” although it set no projected cost for the work.
The 205-page recovery plan covers each of Buncombe’s six municipalities, along with unincorporated areas. County government is responsible for 31 of the 114 listed projects, the same number as the city of Asheville. (Asheville City Council unanimously approved its own portion of the plan during its Tuesday meeting, while the Weaverville Town Council signed off on its 14 projects Monday.)
Kevin Madsen, the county’s recently appointed Helene Recovery Officer, said the document dovetailed well with the community focus areas flagged by the broader strategic plan. The plurality of recovery projects support public safety, with growth and development and community health the next biggest priorities.
Examples of those public safety initiatives include purchasing heavy equipment for disaster response, constructing a new Emergency Operations Center, and creating wildfire protection plans for each of the Buncombe’s 19 fire districts. Madsen particularly highlighted the potential for “resilience hubs,” existing county facilities like libraries and that could be upgraded with features like renewable energy and water hookups to serve the community during crisis.
Board Chair Amanda Edwards shared her enthusiasm for the plan’s public safety emphasis. “I’m excited about our long-term focus on resiliency as well as preparedness, but also what this means for the future of Buncombe County as we prepare not for if, but when we have the next disaster,” she said.
With the document now approved, Maden’s office will work to quantify timelines and costs for each project. The current plan only classifies projects on three criteria: duration (short-, medium- or long-term), cost, and complexity (both scored as low, medium or high).
Buncombe spokesperson Lillian Govus clarified that low-cost projects were projected at less than $1 million and high-cost work at $10 million or more. Short-term efforts are expected to take 1-2 years, while long-term initiatives will take at least 5 years. She noted that the county continues to seek funding from state, federal, and nonprofit sources to support its recovery.
Other tidbits
- The board approved over $3.6 million for six park and greenway projects from the $30 million Open Space Bond voters approved in 2022. The largest single allocation, about $2.1 million, supports Riverside Park in Woodfin. Other awards include $326,174 for the Hominy Creek Greenway Trail and $150,000 for a river trail at Warren Wilson College. Although the volunteer Passive Recreation Lands Subcommittee had also suggested spending $750,000 to acquire 33 acres for the Enka Heritage Trail, county staff recommended against that purchase, with Director of Strategic Partnerships Rachael Sawyer saying the trail project “is not in a strong status at this time.”
- At a briefing prior to Tuesday’s meeting, Edwards read a statement about possible federal immigration enforcement in Asheville that she said had been jointly approved by all commissioners and Asheville City Council members. The language affirmed that local law enforcement agencies “do not participate in [Immigrations and Customs Enforcement] or [Customs and Border Protection] operations” and asked residents wishing to protest federal actions “do so peacefully.” Commissioners did not discuss a proposal, floated Monday by Council member Kim Roney and other community leaders, to prohibit federal officers from using city property for civil immigration enforcement. Supporters of that proposal include Drew Reisinger, the county’s register of deeds, who called the joint statement “milquetoast” in a post on the Asheville Politics Facebook group.
- Commissioners began their planning for the fiscal year 2027 budget cycle before Tuesday’s meeting with a Nov. 13 retreat. Budget Director John Hudson’s presentation mentioned several potential new costs, including development of the Deaverview Mountain park, updated security for Buncombe facilities, and a resumption of the Strategic Partnership Grants to nonprofits that the county put on hold this year. The next budget work session takes place Tuesday, March 24.
- Raleigh-based John R. McAdams Company received a roughly $159,000 contract for engineering and design at the storm-damaged Hominy Creek River Park in West Asheville. The company’s work is expected to finish in July, but the county hasn’t yet established a timeline for construction.
- The county accepted a number of small Helene-related grants. The state Department of Health and Human Services provided $150,000 for Buncombe’s child welfare program; the Dogwood Health Trust offered $101,300 to cover expenses for Federal Emergency Management Agency grantwriting; and the state Wildlife Resources Commission awarded $10,000 toward the Swannanoa Small Area and Resilience Plan.
Every first and third Tuesday, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meets at 200 College St., Room 326, in downtown Asheville, beginning at 5 p.m. The next meeting will take place Tuesday, Dec. 2. See the full recording and agenda of the Nov. 18 meeting.
