[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6123938,"mediaKeyId","2686995-8f57d8bbe7be242f3f1fbbbad27cf0af","parentId",2686995,"title","Commissioners approve grant resolutions, adopt tax‑audit and foreclosure policies and authorize nuisance‑abatement litigation","audioSeconds",1292,"startMs",4684000,"endMs",5976000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2686995-8f57d8bbe7be242f3f1fbbbad27cf0af&start=4684&end=5976","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2686995-8f57d8bbe7be242f3f1fbbbad27cf0af/thumbnail_4684000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6123938/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-approve-grant-resolutions-adopt-taxaudit-and-foreclosure-policies-and-authorize-nuisanceabatement-litigation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123938-4a6fe30ec792fd8998a1072ba9caf603/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181370&Signature=SMQ1AkYFs5~9CIuQmUMma1GwiSpfGXuuTkGoyihQx3imbVj3NFL2vGPrMCuDnHhqgmqN8oMK2qfOUlAaq9NRAfSNxVlEWxMqTtqxHeM2-n0z88Ae3rZXlY8ha9rXOLEJybtL5JqUDgvvhYTbA-gJOrgtdjBfEKNOYnF9BMolQV7b3G6JudQ8D5QrMgvDsqlHuKBNLFbLUAFxRx39t0SBDpOT1kOUNI1wBTOdgM3-l-yU0l~ly0XyQOmf8vcJ-XELCPHMk5LrUnyjiKKIjY60JYa4iciLuJIh-0khB0-8t~xYkhFxd~Noanhtqj656Lq3wiHsuPvMEx5-OHF4-vrutA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Burke County, NC","date","2025-03-18T14:02:55Z","article","The Burke County Board of Commissioners on March 17 approved a package of resolutions and policies intended to advance water/sewer planning, replace water meters, tighten tax administration and address a persistent nuisance property.

Votes at a glance (final outcomes)
- Resolution 2025‑12 (AIA water/sewer study appropriation, $492,500): adopted, 5–0.
- Resolution 2025‑13 (DEQ/Clean Water drinking trust fund grant / ARPA allocation for water‑meter replacement, $1,118,247): adopted, 5–0.
- Resolution 2025‑08, 2025‑07, 2025‑09 (personal property tax audit policy; present‑use value review policy; tax‑foreclosure and collection policy): adopted, 5–0 collectively.
- Resolution 2025‑14 (authorize county attorney to initiate nuisance abatement suit regarding property at 1937 Highway 64): adopted, 5–0.
- Consent agenda and routine donations (including $500 from Morganton High School Wildcat Alumni Association): approved, 5–0.

Grants and capital projects
The board formally accepted a $492,500 appropriation from the North Carolina General Assembly administered through the state’s Department of Environmental Quality to fund an AIA water/sewer study; the state retained a small administrative fee. County staff said the study has been underway and the resolution formalizes drawdown procedures required for audit compliance.

Separately, commissioners approved a larger $1,118,247 grant from the clean water/drinking water trust fund to support a countywide water‑meter replacement project. County staff said the meter replacement is funded through two grants (the DEQ grant is the larger) and that the project will help address a portion of meter infrastructure failures; staff also explained the county repositioned an earlier DEQ allocation so higher‑priority mitigation projects such as Indian Hills pump‑station elevation could pursue FEMA hazard‑mitigation funding.

Changes to tax administration
County management presented three new, interrelated tax policies to formalize review and collection processes:
- Business personal property audits: staff proposed using a third‑party review consultant to inspect business personal‑property accounts. The proposed program targets accounts with value over $50,000 (about 875 accounts countywide) on an eight‑year cycle and a smaller random review (1%) of accounts under $50,000, producing roughly 109 large‑account reviews and ~40 smaller reviews annually. The county said the approach seeks to improve valuation accuracy, capture construction‑in‑progress reporting and align with the state Machinery Act requirements.
- Present‑use value reviews: present‑use (agriculture, horticulture, forestry) reviews would be conducted every four years to align with the county’s revaluation cycle, though staff noted state statute requires revalidation every eight years; the four‑year approach was proposed to increase accuracy.
- Tax‑foreclosure and collection policy: staff proposed an escalated, predictable collection ladder (wage/bank garnishment, state setoff, lien attachments) and a threshold to avoid sending small or recent delinquencies to outside counsel; the draft sets a de‑minimis guideline that accounts with under $500 or less than 12 months outstanding would not be forwarded to tax‑foreclosure counsel.

County Attorney and sheriff: nuisance abatement
The board also adopted a resolution authorizing the county attorney to file suit to abate a nuisance at 1937 Highway 64 after sheriff's office and Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) investigations. The sheriff described repeated calls for service to that address over several years — including an overdose death and more than 20 calls for service — and said a search warrant executed Feb. 1 led to the removal of more than 20 people from multiple structures on the property. County Attorney (referred to in the meeting as Mr. Hall) said the resolution authorizes filing suit so the county can seek orders requiring the owner to remedy the nuisance, restrict access, or, if necessary, sell or transfer the property; contract details and enforcement options may be discussed further in closed session.

How the board voted
All items presented under these decision points and the consent agenda were adopted by recorded unanimous voice/hand vote: five in favor, zero opposed. Multiple motions in the minutes are recorded generically (e.g., “Mister chairman, I make a motion to adopt resolution number 2025‑12”) and the clerk recorded outcomes consistently as 5–0.

Why this matters
Together the actions fund immediate water‑infrastructure work, set new standards for tax auditing and collections intended to improve fairness and revenue accuracy, and give the county an explicit legal path to abate a property described by law‑enforcement as a public‑safety nuisance. The tax policies in particular change how and how often businesses and present‑use parcels are reviewed, which could affect assessed values and future collections.

Ending note
Board members and staff said they would implement the new policies administratively and bring contract or extension requests (for debris contracts or AIA/DEQ projects) back to the board for final approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 17, 2025 Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Burke County Board of Commissioners on March 17 approved a package of resolutions and policies intended to advance water/sewer planning, replace water meters, tighten tax administration and address a persistent nuisance property.","taxTitle","Burke County, North Carolina","taxId",51046,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6123943,"Burke County recognizes EMS ‘lifesavers,’ highlights STEMI program and field cardiac care",1100,2107000,3207000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2686995-8f57d8bbe7be242f3f1fbbbad27cf0af&start=2107&end=3207","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2686995-8f57d8bbe7be242f3f1fbbbad27cf0af/thumbnail_2107000.jpg","/articles/6123943/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-recognizes-EMS-lifesavers-highlights-STEMI-program-and-field-cardiac-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123943-7102c72c98a6978d31ad4e2882d24a3a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181370&Signature=VXleg8VRIUQ8kds1hT5o6WQCMRbaL7AO000fTYNbm-bZD10OdXHV4vnyAScTCmarSCGBn1vwR1B9S1Yq2VoIa8ZcaKho6WGHRUfrMRSt3pgk~LLemEIkRf9bwwVG8AIQ61XaGU~f9mJgSm5aG5YENp715ycYXKj5r6JLauVHK8ZkNhH9Klo7hWB4ztKS2630~eLnnBXKs396sqYomIUE39ui8ZCF34spn36X0MgVRVyYGcAnlN2M72TcwJIaZVctQW2jFWvWn3AGtPOnB2gLbrN5~FOmJkZdxubC5i~bXhWjW-YN882EPeSgSvx9f7mO1CiT8~6trj5CI9XuFwOKpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","James Robinson, director of Burke County Emergency Services, and partners on March 17 recognized multiple crews, first responders and an unidentified bystander for out‑of‑hospital lifesaving interventions and described the county’s STEMI (ST‑elevation myocardial infarction) coordination with local hospitals.

Robinson described three recent cardiac‑arrest events with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC): a Dec. 6 cardiac arrest at a shopping center in which an unidentified nurse began CPR before EMS arrival and the patient later received a stent at Fry hospital; a Jan. 28 cardiac arrest that began after a patient entered a car and went into arrest; and a Feb. 5 cardiac arrest in which Morganton Department of Public Safety personnel initiated CPR. Robinson said at least one of the three patients made a full neurological recovery and that others lived at least 48 hours post‑arrest — a common threshold for classifying a field event as a lifesaving ROSC.

The presentation also recognized several other responses, including five out‑of‑hospital deliveries reported after the storm and a March response in which a county EMT named Kamani stopped for an unconscious driver, activated 911 and helped save the individual who later made a full recovery at UNC Blue Ridge.

Fry Hospital’s STEMI coordinator, April Traxler, told commissioners the county’s field‑to‑hospital cardiac protocols are a model of coordinated care and urged continuing investment in equipment and training. “When your team's coming in the door, they push a button, and they're already seeing what's going on with their patient,” Traxler said, citing the county’s adoption of 12‑lead EKGs and prehospital STEMI alerts that streamline getting patients to definitive care.

Why this matters: Early CPR, rapid defibrillation and field recognition of STEMI reduce time to reperfusion and improve survival for people having major heart attacks. Robinson and Traxler stressed that equipment — such as automated CPR devices — and ongoing training are critical to sustaining outcomes and recommended continued budget support for EMS capabilities.

People and recognitions named
- James Robinson, Burke County EMS Director (presenter)
- April Traxler, STEMI coordinator, Fry Hospital (speaker)
- Named first responders and EMS crew members acknowledged in the meeting: Wes Taylor (rescue squad), Cam Harden, James Deal, Stephanie Smith (student), Zach Williams (lieutenant/training sergeant), Adam Rawls, Heaven Henning, and others named in the transcript. Several Morganton Department of Public Safety and sheriff’s department personnel were recognized (some were on shift and could not attend).

Commission response
Commissioners praised EMS personnel and their families. The board did not take formal action on the recognitions; the presentation served as public acknowledgment and to underline training and equipment priorities in upcoming budget discussions.

Ending note
Speakers asked the public to recognize bystanders who perform CPR and highlighted public CPR training offered countywide. Traxler asked commissioners to consider the clinical value of devices and training when setting EMS budgets.","County EMS Director James Robinson and Fry Hospital STEMI coordinator April Traxler recognized EMS responders, first responders and bystanders for multiple out‑of‑hospital cardiac saves, several ROSC events and field childbirths. Officials used the presentation to underscore training, equipment needs and regional STEMI coordination.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6123950,"Burke County seeks Army Corps help for waterway debris; manager outlines debris-removal progress",1224,302000,1526000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2686995-8f57d8bbe7be242f3f1fbbbad27cf0af&start=302&end=1526","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2686995-8f57d8bbe7be242f3f1fbbbad27cf0af/thumbnail_302000.jpg","/articles/6123950/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-seeks-Army-Corps-help-for-waterway-debris-manager-outlines-debris-removal-progress","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123950-02e69823a8f89c4ca3fc62683de87213/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181370&Signature=MRD6-cfKMNvS2bkFBlL3tTjZ4xk-ohobdQmIcOA4z8zBpsqKDUf5QBWaNQYfElfFgO6tsYd1Unv4Fwz1grbQvbTLYCPE5DFcWMKcyatZdL4kyA8zkYP-v-c-wOtsSesWGCimXqj-0OQl~7Xtd3mWgYW5J0FBlyNRCJj6UM4AFtx5Tp7l01wcDxx7YFcZkipNWJ6wdQyzobjAG1Jfg4HSqi2TzDrqWT46J7mJt90EELkbCkEF0G6yUl~MhfIX8BIJAA773SykqtbCld92ptQLl7Rs0gepsmGReFLcH657IOPyV1UFGCLG4hE9jQlg5MJ1kKWD-zjnuLJQ2-TbTWSZkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Manager Brian Eppley told the Burke County Board of Commissioners on March 17 that county-led debris collection after the storm has collected about 270,000 cubic yards of material and that staff has asked the state to request a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mission assignment to remove debris from navigable waterways inside county borders.

The request to the State Department of Emergency Management followed board direction given March 3. Eppley said the corps would be a “turnkey operation” with permitting expertise for navigable waterways and that pairing Corps work with private-property debris removal makes logistical sense because many waterway access points cross private land and require right-of-entry approvals.

Eppley told commissioners Burke County has used four FEMA-permitted debris sites, including a recently critical impervious site at 211 East Fleming, and currently has about 20 trucks running on collection routes. He said contractors and monitors (DebrisTech and SDR) have helped hit federal deadlines and that county staff are preparing for a likely short extension of the current debris contracts, which expire late March. “As of today, we have about 20 trucks running today. We've collected about 270,000 cubic yards,” Eppley said.

Why this matters: debris in streams raises flood risk and threatens bridges, utilities and roads; federal reimbursement is contingent on strict documentation; and clearing waterways is costly and administratively complex. Eppley said the county is focused on avoiding local cost exposure while operating within FEMA’s timelines and documentation rules.

Key details from the presentation
- FEMA applications and temporary housing: More than 13,000 Burke County residents applied for FEMA individual assistance; roughly 3,500 needed additional help at a local disaster recovery center; about 7,700 people registered for housing assistance. Eppley said 24 homeowners reported destroyed residences and roughly 18 destroyed rental units; nine families remained in hotels at the time of the March 17 meeting.
- Debris collection and sites: County staff used four FEMA‑permitted temporary debris sites. Eppley said chipping/grinding capacity runs about 3,500 cubic yards per day and that collection density has fallen as crews move from high-volume corridors into more dispersed, gated communities that require signed right-of-entry agreements with homeowners’ associations.
- Contract timing and reimbursement: Eppley said the federal administration provided a 180‑day reimbursement window; the county is aiming to complete right-of-way collection inside that period to avoid local costs. He said the SDR/DebrisTech contracts expire in late March and staff are preparing a short extension to finish remaining addresses called into the debris hotline.
- Waterway cleanup options: The manager described two options considered by staff: continue private‑contractor removal (quicker mobilization; county administrative responsibility) or seek an Army Corps mission assignment (no direct county cost but subject to state and federal mission approval). The board directed staff to pursue the Corps request; county staff submitted the request through the state portal (WebEFC) and were awaiting individual review because requests filed after Feb. 28 require extra approval steps.
- Private‑property debris and home mitigation: Eppley said the county has 18 properties that applied for the state home‑mitigation block grant; 15 of those applications are concentrated in three neighborhoods and most applicants were pursuing acquisition; two applicants sought elevation of their homes. He emphasized that acquisitions require board approval because properties removed from the tax rolls impose a permanent change in county tax base.
- Damage and tax impairment estimate: Eppley said preliminary damage assessments point to an estimated residential tax impairment of roughly $5–$6 million and commercial impairment of $20–$25 million; he said public‑assistance billing stood at about $5.1 million at the time of the briefing and could grow 15–20% as remaining debris reduction is documented.

Questions and next steps
Commissioners asked whether the Corps deployment would cover the entire Catawba River system; Eppley said the mission request covered navigable waterways inside Burke County (county border to border) and that the Corps typically focuses on areas of public‑infrastructure risk such as bridges and water intakes. He said staff will continue daily contact with state emergency officials and expects to update the board when the mission assignment is issued.

Commission action
The board voted unanimously, 5–0, to accept the disaster recovery update as presented and to continue staff direction already given to pursue waterway debris collection through the Army Corps mission request and to seek a short contract extension for right‑of‑way debris work if needed.

Ending note
Eppley emphasized the documentation intensity required for federal reimbursement — down to serial numbers and hours of use for generators — and thanked county staff and volunteers for sustained effort through the recovery period.","County Manager Brian Eppley told commissioners on March 17 that Burke County has collected roughly 270,000 cubic yards of storm debris, is likely to seek short contract extensions for private contractors and has requested a mission assignment from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to clear waterways and adjoining private-property access points.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6123932,"Advocates ask commissioners to support Browder House clubhouse for serious mental illness",333,3317000,3650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2686995-8f57d8bbe7be242f3f1fbbbad27cf0af&start=3317&end=3650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2686995-8f57d8bbe7be242f3f1fbbbad27cf0af/thumbnail_3317000.jpg","/articles/6123932/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Advocates-ask-commissioners-to-support-Browder-House-clubhouse-for-serious-mental-illness","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123932-23a821f688818a6539a45a6c5471f365/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181370&Signature=kdDh2mKRYpB4EPb01RukzWL-ZgXPevRQgGCxzlii3GyIC9bWXh95vqox-m0iBoteS~bb5TLsRVdwxqoAACUQvGgrNl8HH3zmk-cDGlK1laUd2iKyNgxK5aWs5XPLcps02iNfvgjfvQtjczyrYRuGP3Npj1oL78DoJGsQcmK-TbTAaQtCy0nX-O3WUo6QAUdOqwOdf5NWoW-6u5WEhWd45uhjaoiGg17SwGNP~jQ8W6MIB-pYjYOKLO2x5b-IgqlfxLepqHBoJC~kcrNzIgrLyZskXrZ9jt5MN0q8cPwQg7Xd8o2fhM0Dg8-HGXnMRFPXsNcEgWdW-5QrdthNNc7~eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the March 17 informal public comment period, Sherry McGinsey asked Burke County commissioners to support Browder House, a local nonprofit implementing the clubhouse model for people with severe and persistent mental illness.

McGinsey said Browder House now meets nonprofit status and licensing requirements, has a board of directors and an executive director (named in her remarks as Steven Salvamutu), and is serving roughly 15 members with additional referrals waiting. She described the clubhouse model as a “gold standard” of community psychosocial rehabilitation that reduces hospitalization, stabilizes housing and increases rates of permanent employment.

McGinsey asked for county assistance identifying steady funding sources and urged commissioners to visit other clubhouses. She emphasized the staffing requirement built into licensing — generally one staff member per eight members — and said the organization faces a temporary cash‑flow gap while new members engage and billing channels are established through partners behavioral health and local LME providers.

Why this matters: Browder House’s proponents say the clubhouse model provides long‑term, community‑based supports for people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other serious conditions and can reduce downstream costs to emergency services and inpatient care. McGinsey requested recommendations from the board for funding and partnership opportunities.

Board response
Chair and commissioners thanked McGinsey for the presentation; no formal board action or funding commitment was taken during the March 17 meeting. McGinsey said she would provide further data to commissioners upon request.

Ending note
Browder House leaders asked county staff or commissioners to visit existing clubhouses and consider partnership or seed funding options that would stabilize operations while the organization grows.","Sherry McGinsey told commissioners that Browder House, a clubhouse model program for people with severe and persistent mental illness, is operating as a nonprofit in Burke County, serving about 15 members and seeking steady funding and community referrals to expand services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve grant resolutions, adopt tax‑audit and foreclosure policies and authorize nuisance‑abatement litigation

Burke County recognizes EMS ‘lifesavers,’ highlights STEMI program and field cardiac care

Burke County seeks Army Corps help for waterway debris; manager outlines debris-removal progress

Advocates ask commissioners to support Browder House clubhouse for serious mental illness