At Tuesday’s meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners made a decision several members called forced: they moved forward with a $301,543 school consolidation feasibility study between Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools.
The state legislature required the county to conduct the study as a result of House Bill 142, but the General Assembly did not provide funds for the study. The county opted to serve as the lead agency on the study in October.
“Why aren’t they paying for it? We didn’t request it. The people of Buncombe County didn’t request this. So if they’re going to mandate it, why can’t they pay for it? Are we gonna send them the bill?” Commissioner Al Whitesides inquired.
County manager Avril Pinder said the county reached out to the state about funds to no avail. “We reached out, they said to talk to the delegation more formally and advocate,” she said.
Commissioners voted 5-1 to approve the measure with Whitesides as the lone vote against the measure. Member Jasmine Beach-Ferrara was absent.
“I don't like the way that they've mandated it and didn't give us the money to do it,” Whitesides said.
The nine-month contract was awarded to the Charlotte-based Prismatic Services, Inc. Seven vendors submitted proposals, ranging from $57,000 to $1.5 million, through a bidding process issued in December 2023.
Prismatic consultants will work with a 24-member project team, including representatives of county government and both school systems. A parent, student, teacher, principal and other administrative staff will also be part of the team. Prismatic will submit its final report in December 2024, according to the proposal.
While he agreed that the mandate should have been funded, Commission Chair Brownie Newman offered optimism about the process.
“I do think this is an important question and I do think this process, even though I kind of don't like where it originated from, I'm really hopeful that it does allow our community to step back and look at this,” he said. “The funding of public education is the single largest county core service investment we make every year.”
Newman said commissioners would push back if the state tried to force a merger the local community did not support, pledging to “fight it 100%.”
The law requires the county to share results and recommendations with the General Assembly no later than February 2025.
Waste Pro pleads for another chance, but county moves forward with another contractor
Waste Pro, the contractor who has collected the county’s trash and recycling since 2009, made one last push to renew the contract, but commissioners were unconvinced, voting unanimously to begin negotiations with a new prospective firm that won out in the bidding process, FCC Environmental Services.
The county opened bidding on the contract in November after commissioners declined a contract extension and rate increase with Waste Pro. At the time, Waste Pro blamed “market conditions” as the reason for the rate hikes and said “costs have increased tremendously” especially for trucks, fuel, and labor.
Seven employees of Waste Pro spoke during the public comment period of Tuesday’s meeting, citing the difficulties a new contractor may face.
“Routes are intense, especially one-way roads,” Waste Pro employee Will Wallace said. He continued, speaking about his personal commitment to the job. “I'm not just a trash man, I don't just dump the can. I know the customer, and I know their preferences.”
Commission members voted unanimously to move forward with FCC Environmental Services. The Waste Pro contract expires at the end of 2024.
Other tidbits
- Commissioners approved the issuance of $23.5 million in Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds for Lakeshore Villas, a new 120-unit affordable housing development off Hendersonville Rd. The money comes from the Asheville Housing Authority so the county is not responsible for providing the financing from its budget. The units are required to be deeded as affordable for 30 years. The project, developed by Mountain Housing Opportunities, will include three buildings of one-, two- and three- bedroom apartments. Construction is expected to start in May and conclude in November 2025.
- A $500,000 allocation for the A-B Tech Master Plan was also approved by commissioners. The money, as proposed, will support the development of a 10-year master plan that includes an updated facilities assessment and the expansion of the school’s programming at its Woodfin and Enka campuses. Edwards, who serves as executive director of the A-B Tech Foundation, voted in favor of the measure. She told BPR in a text message that her vote on the topic is not a conflict of interest "because there is no financial benefit to me." She added, "I explored this very carefully before filing to run in 2018."
- Commissioners passed a new Buncombe County employee policy which included a new bilingual pay stipend and changed part of the leave policy.
Every first and third Tuesday, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meets at 200 College Street, Room 326 in downtown Asheville beginning at 5 p.m. See the full recording and agenda of the March 19 meeting.
