[{"_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",6235315,"mediaKeyId","3405375-a118c1bcfcc55f0950d4ea9944937a33","parentId",3405375,"title","Burke County commissioners oppose state bills they say could weaken local control and strain first responders","audioSeconds",536,"startMs",2444000,"endMs",2980000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3405375-a118c1bcfcc55f0950d4ea9944937a33&start=2444&end=2980","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3405375-a118c1bcfcc55f0950d4ea9944937a33/thumbnail_2444000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6235315/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-commissioners-oppose-state-bills-they-say-could-weaken-local-control-and-strain-first-responders","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235315-5dfbacfef834fe9fef89cbfdf43533a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204869&Signature=SXn9ChG8zh-45CTAd6gg9FUse5yNnrarzYj5hhfGn67Zd9o7dSSnXCZw9IkI7ti2z7rJCb7URQa6R4f9Cp4RgT63XZ2Wkob1AMX5kaivDNQca~CsyRpGAcYbQD2i4S4wRRvf~u7w6y80dbjAZwuezOZcPiUFD68jSFdGRQw02NRUJXG~MZHkhWUDMe-JMU5xyObrwGn5BOulsGX87Jri-ct83TnfV0RGUG9M73VQU7Ftxf9mE51ItJA0URuljKCeGdbl3Q81~KIbuACT0gkQC4K7RTlCjiQKEDtn94U9gbvrdJlmzICbz2hTWuIEQj2X3liaE9pyEP0-dct19m1OcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Burke County, NC","date","2025-05-20T15:47:59.37Z","article","The Burke County Board of Commissioners adopted two resolutions opposing certain provisions of pending state legislation that county officials said could burden volunteer first responders and curtail local planning authority. Both resolutions passed unanimously (5-0).

Commissioner Burns introduced a resolution opposing specific provisions of House Bill 675, which staff summarized as a proposal that would require all emergency medical personnel — including volunteers affiliated with local fire departments — to obtain National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The resolution (recorded as resolution number 2025Dash18 in meeting materials) called on the General Assembly to provide exemptions or alternate pathways to avoid adverse impacts on rural volunteer EMS coverage.

Commissioner Bluntz presented a separate resolution opposing House Bill 765, which the county described as containing multiple changes to planning and zoning procedures and as a bill that could preempt local land-use authority; the board adopted resolution number 2025Dash19 5-0. Staff told the board many counties across the state are passing similar resolutions to oppose HB 765 in its current form.

During informal public comments earlier in the meeting, resident Anne Moncrief raised concerns about cryptocurrency-mining operations and urged the commissioners to “consider strengthening countywide zoning and noise ordinances to protect citizens and the environment.” Moncrief referenced several state-level measures in her remarks, including a House bill she identified as \"House Bill 920\" and Senate proposals (she mentioned Senate Bill 774 and Senate Bill 382) and asked the board to retain local authority to restrict or regulate mining operations that produce persistent noise and heavy electricity demand.

The board took the staff-recommended motions to adopt both resolutions; both votes were unanimous. Commissioners and staff noted they will continue to monitor state legislation and that the county association of commissioners is tracking bills that would change the distribution of sales-tax revenues or other state actions affecting county finances and authority.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 19, 2025 Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board adopted two resolutions opposing House Bill 675 (EMS certification requirement) and House Bill 765 (preemption of local planning and zoning authority). During public comment a resident urged the board to strengthen countywide zoning and noise rules to address concerns about cryptocurrency-mining operations.","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},6235320,"Burke County manager proposes $116.2 million budget for 2025–26; public hearing set for June 16",4331,4121000,8452000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3405375-a118c1bcfcc55f0950d4ea9944937a33&start=4121&end=8452","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3405375-a118c1bcfcc55f0950d4ea9944937a33/thumbnail_4121000.jpg","/articles/6235320/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-manager-proposes-1162-million-budget-for-202526-public-hearing-set-for-June-16","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235320-3fe7d852dd45ef9e6c10e58489d4c05d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204869&Signature=HDpc-nYeRJwvaNdrFQgSXCvh-Xaz7bQxTScDskJJtHxRU7XWkthHW~JG7ShQnTpdTNVrXWwKXbG7lJaKcV24A8B4wC2bJJlEfEJwq0kkh~A87Pq0mx9o-mC9sOi2o5E1kPFnzDomGeMjOJ9NWdGxaDpXI2Vu-t1TuYTkmHtlhalYCzf6pKSiOM-Q8zQ3DW~86Osb7zzY~y0agAQzY8Y0eQrIL34DI7mfZ0X0QKS2ADsK-o67oNBQRbfQyuYY2T7kS~JebGkf200NKVORQHsmvg0NC5AjuAViIP-Z7fkcm-FB7JYXVdYyN085HUr7hp2k4MkjgbC-7rm15iegO04poQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Burke County Manager (Mister Mander) presented a recommended general-fund budget for fiscal year 2025–26 totaling about $116,200,000, a 2.8% increase over the current year, and proposed a recommended property-tax rate of 55.5 cents. The commissioners acknowledged receipt of the manager’s recommendation and unanimously set a public hearing for 6 p.m. Monday, June 16; both motions passed 5-0.

The manager and staff framed the budget as “capitalizing on prior-year investments” and emphasized priorities the board identified at a March strategic planning session: public safety, housing and economic development, education and community partnerships, and fiscal stewardship. The manager described the budget as balanced and recession-ready and highlighted continued commitments to the capital improvement plan and the public-safety strategic plan.

Key figures and proposals presented in the meeting packet and staff remarks include:
- Total recommended revenue: about $116.2 million (+2.8%).
- Recommended tax rate: 55.5¢ (presentation recommended to the board for public hearing).
- Revenue dependency on property tax: ~53% of total revenue.
- EMS-billing collections budgeted around $6.1 million in total collections for next year.
- Property-tax base growth projected at about 1.96% (added value ≈ $212 million; revenue change ≈ $600,000).
- Recommended 2.25% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for employees plus performance pay and continued benefit investments; employee health-insurance employer contribution budgeted to increase (presented as a ~6% insurance renewal for the county plan).
- A proposed increase in the municipal household solid-waste fee from $88 to $92 (driven by vendor rate increases) and a proposed increase in the county water/sewer flat-fee from $25 to $30 per month.

The manager also reviewed fiscal metrics (fund-balance policy goal of 25%), capital projects in design or construction (including EMS headquarters, animal services building, and courthouse improvements), and continuing work on water/sewer expansion and housing studies. He said the budget book will be posted online and distributed at public locations ahead of the June 16 hearing.

Next steps: the board set the public hearing for June 16 at 6 p.m. and directed staff to publish the recommended budget and materials; subsequent budget work sessions and formal adoption will follow the public hearing period.","County manager released a recommended $116.2 million general fund budget (2.8% growth), recommended a tax rate of 55.5 cents, and the board voted 5-0 to acknowledge receipt and set a June 16 public hearing.",{"_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},6235326,"Burke County partners with state to speed private-property and waterway debris removal after storm",1005,3000000,4005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3405375-a118c1bcfcc55f0950d4ea9944937a33&start=3000&end=4005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3405375-a118c1bcfcc55f0950d4ea9944937a33/thumbnail_3000000.jpg","/articles/6235326/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-partners-with-state-to-speed-private-property-and-waterway-debris-removal-after-storm","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235326-7f8f16217c471de46379e89c4678febc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204869&Signature=IRxxT6lOeVbEC4H0WczOQCKwm7tvK4p9I5l8pcRwqcwqSWGhbWLJes7Bim71vAFNdHpb3LZl6eVJT-g5I7skIl7Kul~h9sPJA5c9x3~JXel2cDjpSfcLNNkFh3n6GpeHxUSlXuf90EKXXdom2g7GCYs-TYoNUqBQlPH8wJh4ayfq8aXIKY~IIvyjb9PrE6k~Fa5ZhLf8BmvBptfsXzb1sg9KO9XdcW-PguixW2XeN6oLAn9-KHRPRVAPzjJtNH-6m0srJYeaksoHRfN-vqyl4x771eG7Jf3iwEATC9PZxoZp1H8tT559IQWItLt9VYUMo51SB5CJORJsWmfJ1qivXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Burke County commissioners voted 5-0 to authorize a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the North Carolina Department of Emergency Management to accelerate removal of private-property, commercial and waterway debris from hurricane recovery operations.

County Manager (Mister Mander) told the board the county has already collected roughly 328,000 cubic yards of debris from rights-of-way under a separate contract and has used three temporary debris sites, two of which are in the process of closure. He said 18 hazard-mitigation applications are active, that no Burke County households remain in temporary housing, and that property owners returned nearly 695 impairment forms that yielded about $36,000,000 in estimated property-value impairment tied to the storm.

The manager said private-property debris removal (PPDR) and waterway debris removal carry greater regulatory complexity and higher cost and reimbursement risk than right-of-way collection, and that the MOA with the state would shift project-management, permitting, and some liability away from the county. He noted the county had already engaged Southern Debris Removal (SDR) and subcontracted teams from the Wright Group to perform much of the boots-on-the-ground work.

Joe Stanton, assistant director of North Carolina Emergency Management, said the state is prepared to move “as soon as possible.” He told commissioners, “Our goal is to get this debris removed as fast as possible,” adding the state works closely with FEMA and the federal coordinating office.

Staff also reported a drone survey of the Catawba River corridor by monitoring contractor Debris Tech that produced an estimated waterway-cleanup figure (the contractor’s estimate shown in staff materials was about $876,000 for the surveyed stretch). Staff recommended the MOA because it would allow mobilization without additional county project-management exposure.

Action taken: Commissioner Trout moved to approve the MOA and authorize the chairman to execute a final version after county-attorney review; the motion passed 5-0. Staff will return final executed agreements and monitor closeout of the county’s temporary debris sites.","The commissioners approved a memorandum of agreement with North Carolina Emergency Management to have the state assist with private-property, commercial and waterway debris removal as part of Hurricane Lien recovery; the board cited cost and liability considerations and voted 5-0.",{"_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},6235331,"Burke County adopts zoning changes to ease housing, approves rezoning on US 64",563,1288000,1851000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3405375-a118c1bcfcc55f0950d4ea9944937a33&start=1288&end=1851","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3405375-a118c1bcfcc55f0950d4ea9944937a33/thumbnail_1288000.jpg","/articles/6235331/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-adopts-zoning-changes-to-ease-housing-approves-rezoning-on-US-64","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235331-be7c8872b5872cd22a417ff5901c402e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204869&Signature=IrqHR-gMkC7CuyfkIqjOj~t9vIPJ6QyjTPcD94KBzgyQPhoInM8fuM8JD~LvrLHqNniIFaynsSvwTw5twp8Mx41i8-hg5CuyLNbY1LkmFhIrq7FZqzBVI8dfFJDOYDpPf-HoUWG443SCD1qfxXkujwebEbQosLdYoaeVMPqlI1BhbP5lWvb3FlI8Crm0FFdeNQZebs8q65mvZKiHjIzzvpvkLuM5FaD8u3pAvfxXrQoEAvG8Bvu7xIX9w9ZxqsTzKUX6obhuzRQgI8~214bYf6cIN3QvghC9q09yZc8zyqzswWpqOmNWRFnEYsV3Ft6EeOF1brNyJyOuCcabDbB2Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burke County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to adopt a zoning text amendment to streamline site-plan standards and relax minimum lot-size and frontage rules, and separately voted 5-0 to rezone about 4.5 acres along U.S. 64 from Residential-3 (R-3) to Residential Mixed Use (RMU) for a local home builder.

County planning director and deputy county manager Alan Glines told commissioners the code changes would allow smaller lots where public sewer is available, reduce a universal 100-foot frontage requirement to a 70-foot standard (with flag-lot and cul-de-sac options), and consolidate repeated site-plan language to Article 7. The board adopted ordinance number 2025-dash-06 to enact the text amendment after the planning board recommended approval 6-0.

The rezoning request (ordinance number 2025-dash-o5; ZMA 2025-o3) covers a 23-acre tract on U.S. 64 in Morganton Township; the applicants, Brian and Robin Smith, asked to rezone roughly 4.5 acres at the front of the parcel to RMU so the owner — a custom home builder — could expand on-site equipment and vehicle maintenance for his business. Brian Smith spoke at the public hearing: “I built this building a couple of years ago ... I needed a place to store my my my equipment, my skid steer, track hose, stuff like that,” and said he had since had other builders inquire about equipment repair services the site could host.

Glines said the parcel sits along a state highway where mixed uses already exist and the county’s Blueprint Burke strategic plan supports small business development along major corridors. The planning board reviewed the case in March; one neighbor spoke in favor and the planning board recommended approval 6-0. The commissioners found the rezoning “reasonable and in the public interest” and said it would be consistent with the mixed-use character along U.S. 64.

Discussion vs. decision: commissioners heard staff and applicant testimony during the public hearing and then took formal action on two distinct items: a text-amendment ordinance (ZTA 2025-01) and a map-amendment ordinance for the Smith parcel. Both formal motions passed by recorded voice vote 5-0. No conditions or amendments to the rezoning were recorded in the motion.

Background and next steps: the text amendment revises lot-size tables to account for availability of public water and sewer (smallest lots proposed where both utilities exist), lowers standard frontage requirements, and removes redundant graphics. The adopted changes aim to make infill and small-scale housing development more feasible; staff said additional subdivision and cluster-development refinements remain under consideration and will return to the board later this year.

The rezoned portion of the Smith parcel will be reflected on the county zoning map and in the future land-use map adjustment approved by the board. The county clerk recorded both ordinances in the meeting packet.","The Burke County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a zoning text amendment that reduces minimum lot sizes and eases frontage requirements to encourage housing development, and approved a rezoning for a Morganton-area property to allow expanded mixed use and small-scale business activity along U.S. 64.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Burke County commissioners oppose state bills they say could weaken local control and strain first responders

Burke County manager proposes $116.2 million budget for 2025–26; public hearing set for June 16

Burke County partners with state to speed private-property and waterway debris removal after storm

Burke County adopts zoning changes to ease housing, approves rezoning on US 64