At last night’s Buncombe County Commissioners meeting, community members spoke out against the county’s decision to shut down French Broad Outfitters’ (FBO) Hominy Creek location.
The popular river bar and recreation space has leased the outpost perched along Asheville’s French Broad River since 2018. The spot is known for its live music, riverside beach and dog-friendly ambiance.
“FBO is my favorite place for outdoor fun and socializing. I am devastated just by thinking it may no longer be available,” resident Roberta Synall shared during public comment. “Changing it would be a travesty,” she added.
“FBO is my favorite place for outdoor fun and socializing. I am devastated just by thinking it may no longer be available,” resident Roberta Synall shared during public comment. “Changing it would be a travesty,” she added.
Resident Nick Rutherford said he only recently discovered the outpost on a group bike ride, but he hoped the county can find a way to keep it around.
“It's better than any public dog park in town for a place to bring your dog and hang out – especially in the heat like this. There's access to shade. There's access to water,” he said. “I haven't met a single person that has a bad thing to say about it.”
In late May, Ashevegas reported that Buncombe County would end its licensing agreement with FBO in October, when its season ended. The county attributed the decision to a recently rediscovered conservation easement, written in 2006, that forbids any commercial activity on the land. The easement, granted to Riverlink, had somehow gone unnoticed for 18 years – until now.
Since then, more than 1,800 people have signed a petition to “Save French Broad Outfitters (FBO) at Hominy Creek!”
County spokesperson Lillian Govus said the easement is “legally binding” and that the county has no alternate course of action. The outpost’s last day is expected to be October 15.
Commissioners take a stand against private school vouchers
In a unanimous vote, commissioners passed a resolution urging state lawmakers to oppose private school vouchers. The move came in response to a proposed state bill that would expand the private school voucher program by $500 million.
The measure closely resembles the action called for by Governor Roy Cooper and Democratic state leaders.
The increased focus on funding private school vouchers could lead to a $5.5 million loss for Buncombe County Schools, commissioner Terri Wells shared.
“Those school vouchers redirect state dollars that are allocated for our public education. And that would then be used to subsidize tuition at private schools, no matter how wealthy the family is,” she added.
State funds are provided on a per pupil basis.
Commissioner Amanda Edwards said she takes issue with “the lack of accountability that private schools have.”
“Teachers do not have to be certified. They do not have to maintain a certification like our public school teachers have to. They don't have to provide transportation. They don't have to provide meals,” she said.
The resolution asks the General Assembly to prioritize public schools by:
- Substantially increasing teacher salaries
- Allocating significant funding toward early childhood education, quality childcare, and pre-kindergarten programs
- Placing a moratorium on taxpayer-funded private school vouchers until public schools are fully funded
Other local government bodies across the state, including the Buncombe County School Board, have passed similar measures.
Money moves
- Commissioners approved $3.8 million in contracts to relocate the 911 Backup Center from its current location in the municipal building to 35 Woodfin.
- More opioid settlement money is on its way to Buncombe. A state lawsuit with Kroger has yielded a settlement of $1.2 billion for distribution across the state. The total sum will be announced later this year and will be distributed over a 10-year period.
- The commissioners voted to accept a $265,000 grant from the NC Department of Public Safety to expand staffing for the county’s Medication Assisted Treatment program in the Buncombe County Detention Center.
- The City of Asheville will receive $1.3 million in federal transit funding from the county. The county was unable to use the funds before they were set to expire due to existing FTA CARES and ARPA funding that needed to be expended first.
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 July 16 meeting.
