[{"_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",6580486,"mediaKeyId","3080101-f7afe8015375c1134beca88160ebb97d","parentId",3080101,"title","Commissioners approve 0.0284‑cent increase in Salem Fire tax after debate; motion passes 4‑1","audioSeconds",3119,"startMs",3200000,"endMs",6319000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080101-f7afe8015375c1134beca88160ebb97d&start=3200&end=6319","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080101-f7afe8015375c1134beca88160ebb97d/thumbnail_3200000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6580486/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-approve-00284cent-increase-in-Salem-Fire-tax-after-debate-motion-passes-41","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580486-14bfd78b2c564bd95a6fb9317aad6550/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180219&Signature=I3UC8kZei~tXGfg9EQX9I5DV1ODgkstJT-WvIVd-ccn8apBRTYbMuy9Y-QOUnhSA3V5JLcvG46OK8AwbEg7S0Civ7dsIMnECTKPpvr0xqxt6kntLzaMRtd0FQH5ZPdyyNIiyjjRNefo-UuUcQpleItFefoX7Otmbs9gbmG4Q-XwtIzHwQzeZfOKyWOge0YD96B1DwpL011ReCs6G3sENdKh5bohShUXtmtAUv~wnqUJpAx5tba9jsXXkOYfhm833Rj7Vmr-jEln0MO9opPSxOdugk7gkjfAyOyFP4vykYIkGcESz4W3guCIirU4r2VMJnpNORtjCBUsIKGMlaHNQ-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Burke County, NC","date","2025-04-22T12:54:57.807Z","article","Burke County commissioners voted 4-1 April 21 to direct the county manager to include a 0.0284‑cent increase in the proposed FY 2025‑26 fire tax rate for the Salem Fire & Rescue Protection Association Inc.

Salem Fire and Rescue leaders told the board the department seeks the increase to purchase a fire truck and pay down costs associated with a new station. The chief (identified in the meeting as Chief Autry) said the department aims to lower its Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating from a split 5/9E toward a class 4; ISO ratings can affect homeowners’ insurance premiums and are influenced by available training, equipment, staffing and water‑delivery capacity.

During the presentation the chief explained the department has applied for every relevant grant, has saved money over several years and currently holds about $550,000 in a certificate of deposit that is earmarked for building and apparatus costs. He said the department has spent about $1 million of previously saved funds and that some remaining funds will be used to pay down the new station mortgage and serve as a down payment on a new truck.

Commissioners asked staff and the chief detailed questions about grant prospects, potential regional purchasing cooperatives for apparatus, and whether the tax increase could be timed around an upcoming revaluation. Several commissioners voiced support, saying public safety funding yields direct community value; one commissioner emphasized personal experience with volunteer departments and pledged support.

The final motion directed county staff to include the specified increase in the Salem Fire tax district rate for the manager’s proposed FY 2025‑26 budget and additionally requested county staff proactively engage with fire service providers countywide as part of ongoing budgeting and service planning. The motion passed 4-1.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 21, 2025 Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","After discussion about insurance‑rating benefits and department reserves, the board directed the manager to include a 0.0284‑cent increase in the Salem Fire & Rescue tax rate for FY 2025‑26. The motion passed 4‑1.","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},6580490,"Burke County awards $751,736 water‑meter purchase and $175,625 installation contracts, funded by state grants",657,4566000,5223000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080101-f7afe8015375c1134beca88160ebb97d&start=4566&end=5223","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080101-f7afe8015375c1134beca88160ebb97d/thumbnail_4566000.jpg","/articles/6580490/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-awards-751736-watermeter-purchase-and-175625-installation-contracts-funded-by-state-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580490-dd7b13363e7572beb374aa43a1c4630d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180219&Signature=Veoera5jmoG9apeb4O9ItHBHOXKDDBAJYpmEcnE0~QB1nk0ChCbvsseWdFautBcdkkJYIUNo~Til4tQ4wda788rjbZgeEmujhOCmrrx0SIDbwhbSh9pJd2JlS-VIsBk15KGsqJUTrBAKZC052xeU5kjsYbwUJqzUND7QFM65I6FoY54GEKbPbnr7SdlldZMc1GppFdBQC5J6fRMKWbt71aHQrT9mHo~Igzg6UcP2NijbHLig9vu9ke6Uh3iNjDzy4wbWXB0g3mEWlCFsmbLkTTDW4zM9z3YwmzZ88qM3dUCV99w8txrlnp017G96ny16QPEoY9n60HISKHWR~ErFOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Burke County commissioners on April 21 approved contracts to replace the county’s residential water meters, awarding the meter purchase to Core & Main and installation services to RTS Water Solutions. The two low bids together cover the purchase and installation of roughly 2,240 meters across the county’s three systems.

Mark Delha, the county’s general services director, told the board the project ‘‘will constitute a complete replacement of all of Burke County's residential customer water meters.’’ He said county systems total about 103 miles of water line and roughly 2,000 customers on the principal Burke South system, plus smaller systems elsewhere.

The county received multiple bids: Core & Main submitted the low bid to supply Neptune T-10 meters and associated hardware for $576,110.50, and RTS (via Envirocore/RTS Water Solutions) submitted the low installation bid for $175,625.92. Commissioners approved both awards; the combined award total reported in staff materials was $751,736.42 for the combined purchase and installation line items, and the agenda motion listed the separate contract amounts.

Delha said the Neptune T-10 meters store 96 days of hourly usage history and generate flags for leaks, backflow and tampering; the meters come with a 10-year replacement warranty. He described three reading technologies and explained that automatic meter reading (AMR) drive-by technology is appropriate for Burke County’s terrain.

The project carries a 150-day contractor performance timeline and a $250-per-day penalty for failure to complete on schedule. Delha said the county received a total of $1.3 million in state grant funds (a 2021 grant of about $1.1 million and an additional $200,000 in 2023) to pay for the project. Staff said remaining grant funds will be held for other water/sewer needs.

Commissioners discussed expected operational benefits: improved meter accuracy, better detection of leaks and backflow, and a reduction in unmetered/unaccounted-for water. Staff told the board that aging meters (12–15 years old in many cases) lose accuracy and battery capacity, contributing to measurement loss. The county will work with vendors to track installation progress and maintain records; the contractor will provide photographic and data verification for each installed meter.","The board approved purchase and installation contracts to replace roughly 2,240 residential water meters across three county systems. Total low bids were $751,736.42 for meters (Core & Main) and $175,625.92 for installation (RTS Water Solutions); funding comes from $1.3 million in state grants previously awarded.",{"_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},6580495,"Commissioners approve Ashton Drive rezoning despite neighborhood opposition",1439,2101000,3540000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080101-f7afe8015375c1134beca88160ebb97d&start=2101&end=3540","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080101-f7afe8015375c1134beca88160ebb97d/thumbnail_2101000.jpg","/articles/6580495/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-approve-Ashton-Drive-rezoning-despite-neighborhood-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580495-b60fba88ea6efb1cd86315c9a18f2bbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180219&Signature=fyARoQMd60nCoZvZub9ESd8t~zUAwS66Zemn547UM6Y62iR3lcIpvwXEXaKsTLL5uXjLgO0LkJOmkkaRwRmxsg7ZN9~ULm3p~YFmSSrD1noVWCMi9YSRCNV5ws--HYEHGEJlsBfb~ez69H9-XSYjPWuAlsj2pmNJDe6SC9Jfoq6d7tisHbFnSI8~6cCE5jfdrbhSw6WJT9zZOOdrKff2NTG9H9pzv0gS2rCWAprD5GB6cpO4y~VRk2yIZhgg6lpkQKpPnvErpLAsm52NKUPBsWELjVhKLLYaMkWSXfqXnJx2-yg4G2SV-b5yxlbyt2lbQv8b3PgNkY685TnXL1MHrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burke County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 April 21 to rezone a 1.15-acre parcel on Ashton Drive from R-2 (residential) to general business (GB), allowing Evans Construction to use the tract for equipment parking and related operations.

Deputy county manager and planning director Alan Glines told the board the parcel sits adjacent to Evans Construction’s long‑established site and that the county’s strategic land-use plan supports limited commercial expansion to help local businesses. He also described a required 10‑foot planted perimeter buffer to separate commercial activity from adjacent residences if the rezoning is approved.

The application drew opposition from nearby resident Terry Swanson, who said the surrounding area is ‘‘nothing but houses’’ and warned that trucks entering and exiting the site could endanger children and erode the neighborhood’s residential character. ‘‘Please protect the community and let it grow as a community, not as a business,’’ she told commissioners.

Mickey Evans, representing Evans Construction, said the company has been at the current location for 55 years and that the parcel change would not increase traffic. ‘‘We are requesting to rezone the property we purchased next to us to park just to park our equipment,’’ Evans said, adding he collected petitions and signatures from neighboring property owners, including several who support the rezoning.

The county planning board considered the application at its February meeting and issued a negative recommendation, 6-1, citing a neighbor’s concerns. Commissioners considered those objections during the public hearing but concluded the rezoning was appropriate; the board’s motion finding the request ‘‘reasonable and in the public interest’’ passed 5-0.

The approved rezoning requires the applicant to provide the county’s perimeter landscape buffer—typically a 10‑foot strip planted with evergreens—to mitigate impacts on adjoining residential lots. Planning staff said the buffer must be maintained on the rezoned parcel.

Commissioners and staff discussed options such as conditional zoning to limit hours or uses, but the motion adopted was a straight rezoning with buffer requirements; planning staff will implement the ordinance and monitor compliance.","The board voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 2025-04 to rezone 1.15 acres on Ashton Drive from R-2 to general business for Evans Construction. The planning board had given a negative recommendation (6-1) after a nearby resident objected to commercial expansion into a residential area.",{"_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},6580500,"Burke County rezones 2907 N.C. 18 S. from residential to general business",205,1871000,2076000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080101-f7afe8015375c1134beca88160ebb97d&start=1871&end=2076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080101-f7afe8015375c1134beca88160ebb97d/thumbnail_1871000.jpg","/articles/6580500/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-rezones-2907-NC-18-S-from-residential-to-general-business","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580500-d5322ad9ac2c39316cd491737292f1a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180219&Signature=fxmaVAK4IsOz2Km2GquOosHoqleqFBEAah489Uy1I~KcqGLR9k-bQgXjksCyKgAusCEOHfk1Pg87kn6WGI5UpsI9~JZk6YyR8b2gLj1A7P9CsbDweMISqbKHDj4hqQ~B~E-SHJE4hkn5nXRGkmwibJyWfSWF-HfYPC6JQ7u84N4SFTMtAuKmpEASgMTrCTkCBosMsNb9niG-b-JCtzBYOyY8nrpzxO9kIXTHzgsUtIcwkV2Fjo0hDEgDMMxineRjlXrf7A7CE00kf249JevZ4GEBu9nsaDEE2UGShrKuof4ej7evLcivYT5qTx6WLD8UeNOuJwGJZ5YqxWNPlzu~5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burke County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to rezone a 0.27-acre parcel at 2907 North Carolina 18 South from R-2 residential to general business and to update the county's future land-use map accordingly.

Planning staff said the parcel has been used commercially for years and that rezoning would align the property's zoning with its present use. Alan Glines, Burke County deputy county manager and planning director, told commissioners the parcel is a small ‘‘0.27 acre’’ tract in an area that already contains industrial and commercial properties and that the county’s strategic land-use plan supports commercial infill.

‘‘We received a request from Ryan Honeycutt … to rezone his property at 2907 North Carolina 18 South,’’ Glines said during the public hearing. He noted the planning board reviewed the request at its February meeting and recommended approval by a 7-0 vote. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.

Commissioners adopted ordinance 2025-03 as presented. The motion found the request ‘‘reasonable and in the public interest because the Blueprint Burke strategic land-use plan acknowledges and supports the development of local businesses, and the building was constructed for commercial use and rezoning will align the use with proper zoning.’’ The motion passed without recorded dissents.

The rezoning changes both the zoning map and the parcel’s designation on the county future land-use map to general business. The planning director said that, if approved, the future-land-use designation would reflect the commercial character already present on the site.

The rezoning was presented and decided during the public hearing portion of the April 21 meeting; the planning board review and applicant materials are recorded in the county planning files.

For now, county staff will implement the ordinance and update zoning and future land-use maps as directed by the board.","The Burke County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 2025-03 to rezone a 0.27-acre parcel at 2907 N.C. 18 S. from R-2 (residential) to GB (general business); the planning board had recommended approval 7-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve 0.0284‑cent increase in Salem Fire tax after debate; motion passes 4‑1

Burke County awards $751,736 water‑meter purchase and $175,625 installation contracts, funded by state grants

Commissioners approve Ashton Drive rezoning despite neighborhood opposition

Burke County rezones 2907 N.C. 18 S. from residential to general business