Last night, Asheville City Council met for the first time since Hurricane Helene – and the storm dominated the agenda.
Debris management was top of mind for residents and city leaders. The city is dealing with 3 million cubic yards – or about 70,000 truck loads – of trees, vegetation, metal, dirt and construction material, according to city officials.
Last night, council voted to make Enka Commerce Park its main debris processing site as part of a 10-item consent agenda.
City leaders originally announced two debris sites near public housing neighborhoods in West Asheville: Roger Farmer Park and 65 Ford Street. Both were within half a mile of Deaverview Apartments, a 160-unit development in West Asheville.
Members of the public rallied against putting debris sites near low-income neighborhoods and called for environmental and social justice.
After some public criticism, city officials walked back the decision and paused those operations.
Nonetheless, more than a dozen residents protested outside the City Council meeting on Tuesday. J.C. Cobb, a resident of Eastmoor, one of the neighborhoods originally targeted for debris processing, said he was worried about debris in close proximity to his children.
“I am very, very concerned about anything that is going to be brought over there which could adversely affect us as residents in that area,” he said.
At a briefing earlier this week City Manager Debra Campbell said there is still a possibility of “reactivating” one site near public housing in the future if needed.
The city is undertaking “security and site prep measures such as fencing and access for heavy machinery,” she said but stressed that the site would only be used “if needed.”
Council members unanimously passed a resolution authorizing a lease agreement with a private company for a temporary debris processing site at 264 and 274 Enka Heritage Parkway.
The city will lease the 24 acre property for a mixed debris processing site for $3,500 per acre per month, or 84,000 per month for a 6-month period. There is an option to extend if needed.
At the Wednesday joint briefing, City Manager Debra Campbell also asked members of the public to contact the city if they have a four to six acre parcel of land that might be used for debris processing.
$3 million in housing relief
Council approved more than $3 million for various housing relief initiatives. The relief will be targeted for households at or below 80% of Area Median Income, with a priority for those below 60% AMI and households damaged by Hurricane Helene.
Here’s where the money is going:
- $2.46 million for rental assistance and home repair for low-income residents
- $1 million for down payment assistance and homeowners
Other tidbits
- Council members approved about $100,000 for the replacement of the chilled water pump at Harrah’s Cherokee Center. The work is included in the HVAC upgrades project which is partially funded from a grant from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s (BCTDA) Legacy Investment fund.
- Council also passed a budget amendment for $11 million in the City’s Special Revenue Fund and $25.1 million in the City’s Water Capital Improvement Fund. Both are funded with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursements.
- The meeting concluded at 5:50 p.m. (as previously announced) in order for leaders and residents to attend the Buncombe County/Asheville candlelight vigil in Pack Square.
Every second and fourth Tuesday, Asheville City Council meets at the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of City Hall, 70 Court Plaza beginning at 5:00 p.m. See the full recording of the Oct. 22 meeting and the agenda.
The next City Council meeting will not be held Nov. 5 because of the election. Council will meet on Nov. 12.
