[{"_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",6212306,"mediaKeyId","3685712-bc1ee5b7a7709483c6021cd32033ab74","parentId",3685712,"title","Water resources warn temporary pretreatment systems must remain as reservoirs shed sediment after storm Helene","audioSeconds",443,"startMs",3481000,"endMs",3924000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685712-bc1ee5b7a7709483c6021cd32033ab74&start=3481&end=3924","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685712-bc1ee5b7a7709483c6021cd32033ab74/thumbnail_3481000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6212306/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Water-resources-warn-temporary-pretreatment-systems-must-remain-as-reservoirs-shed-sediment-after-storm-Helene","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212306-3787ce513be05714db5c2a4e80ef06f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197346&Signature=mfVEp3Swaspe54yMigW-m4bSe9dkkPdFn4yw4uzdRqFYTXUwDoGipYzL3B9jM2oH3QPW-zmI0sF3zHeS~FbJMapD-y2LEF9WRc8OvfyddsPIQejhvyWL0oV7yGl1Aq-~JH6-Mcu6TpmH99ZxMG9aU6gxVbHYM2ZitS6T0K0cv0lglcgSNEADX9kpYivrVhEhp6WJS6Ouxh3PKYqEd2gTZlG7knlNw1-KVpGABW-fYxs-veF4DetZgk4yQIPzEJH4QXku~~-05d0fCBYO6ry8HPqqHrITp3SQjzxF0jH2dKY2SZkeF4MmQxszf~YlczHvDYvhwST78MrJnkd1ayrfWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Asheville City, NC","date","2025-06-06T04:22:59Z","article","City water resources staff told Asheville City Council June 5 that temporary pretreatment systems installed after Tropical Storm Helene remain necessary to protect the water treatment plants at North Fork and DeBruel, and that the city faces elevated sediment and turbidity risks until permanent solutions are built.

Clay Chandler, water resources staff, said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed temporary pretreatment systems to reduce turbidity at both North Fork and DeBruel and that “these temporary systems provide a critical layer of resilience at both of the treatment facilities.” Chandler said the Corps’ original lease was extended 90 days and that the lease termination is now set for early August.

Chandler reviewed engineering analysis showing large canopy losses in the two watersheds. He said North Fork experienced about a 15% canopy loss and that the watershed could see roughly a 20‑times increase in sediment entering the reservoir during the first year after the storm (dropping to about four times in the second year, absent further storm events). He said DeBruel experienced roughly a 35% canopy loss and that its watershed could see up to a 50‑times increase in sediment the first year (dropping to nine times the second year if no additional events occur). Chandler said recorded turbidity values immediately after Helene reached roughly 90 NTU at North Fork and approached 500 NTU at Beech Tree in some areas, compared with normal readings of about 0.1–0.5 NTU.

Chandler said that if the DAF pretreatment systems become unavailable and the city must shut down existing filtration systems to avoid damage, the temporary units would have to meet 100% of customer demand. He warned that without those units, “80% of the water system — basically everything north of the Blue Ridge Parkway — will begin to lose service within 24 hours,” and that North Fork could be forced to send highly chlorinated raw water into the distribution system, requiring a boil‑water notice.

Chandler said staff planned to post a request for proposals to assume management of the DAF units and would continue coordinating with FEMA and state partners to seek funding and to design and build permanent pretreatment systems. He said both the temporary and proposed permanent system projects have been submitted to FEMA for review as potential Public Assistance reimbursements.

Council members thanked staff for the update. Council member Rodney (full name not specified on the record) said he looked forward to “good news on approval of a permanent solution,” and several council members expressed appreciation for the Corps’ work and for staff efforts to stabilize service.

City staff said they would continue to press federal and state partners on funding and to pursue a local procurement path for continued operation of the temporary systems until permanent treatment is delivered.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Agenda Briefing – June 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City water resources staff told Asheville City Council June 5 that temporary dissolved air flotation (DAF) pretreatment systems installed after Tropical Storm Helene remain necessary to protect the water treatment plants at North Fork and DeBruel, and that the city faces elevated sediment and turbidity risks until permanent solutions are built.","taxTitle","Asheville City, Buncombe County, North Carolina","taxId",3915,"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},6212301,"Council briefing flags $6 million increase to Hagerty Consulting contract for storm recovery; staff expects FEMA reimbursement",103,708000,811000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685712-bc1ee5b7a7709483c6021cd32033ab74&start=708&end=811","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685712-bc1ee5b7a7709483c6021cd32033ab74/thumbnail_708000.jpg","/articles/6212301/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Council-briefing-flags-6-million-increase-to-Hagerty-Consulting-contract-for-storm-recovery-staff-expects-FEMA-reimbursement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212301-afbc1a6b34293e52cd88f10d8abd062f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197346&Signature=RUDae20tz~ZXoUAep99J0NORgsTe7wtsrQsTNJbG6e-vXetkHfBTrznBIsxbyWAMpD6rgbWHkVNn9lbXWCR5dIlyobKFWd5eANLkG5LwOpX1D8MhoZHhKDNDOV8UqDyfV~r3Zqytn4SIO1~c4MNX798wabjpYISa7qk0OFtyz360BDismUxz9DDcb2CTj64mBaBzxSs1HOgTSLpMpZq4ujSGVXkK2P6PHtBVEt45vAfZ7umKm-rFkovVs0inTd2tj~wTcDPdzTZkJtMr3OqN3fnq9ACeU0kgNEhgvecyUaucOmrbJ2wtBX6qQabCIC5fMQvRqIZHhxy7NOtaVvDkRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","As part of the June 10 consent agenda briefing, city staff told Asheville City Council June 5 that the manager will seek an amendment to the city’s contract with Hagerty Consulting to add just over $6 million, bringing the contract to a total not‑to‑exceed amount of $12,800,000.

Assistant City Manager Ben Woody described Hagerty’s role since the storm, saying the firm has supported recovery management, helped develop the CDBG‑DR action plan, overseen storm debris efforts, and provided technical assistance on federal programs including FEMA Public Assistance. Woody said staff expect approximately 90% of the amended contract expense to be reimbursed through FEMA and CDBG‑DR funding.

Woody told the council the amendment “brings the contract to a total not to exceed amount of $12,800,000” and listed accomplishments staff attribute to the consultant’s work on recovery coordination and maximizing access to federal reimbursement. The item is listed as consent item J on the June 10 business meeting agenda; staff said it would be available for council action as a routine consent matter.

No council vote was taken at the agenda briefing. Staff said cost‑recovery and reimbursement remain subject to federal approval processes and that detailed documentation of reimbursable work will accompany the amendment on the consent agenda.","As part of the June 10 consent agenda briefing, city staff told Asheville City Council June 5 that the manager will seek an amendment to the city’s contract with Hagerty Consulting to add just over $6 million, bringing the contract to a total not‑to‑exceed amount of $12,800,000.",{"_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},6212296,"Asheville to host Urban Land Institute technical assistance panel to advise long‑term recovery and river corridor resilience",273,4091000,4364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685712-bc1ee5b7a7709483c6021cd32033ab74&start=4091&end=4364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685712-bc1ee5b7a7709483c6021cd32033ab74/thumbnail_4091000.jpg","/articles/6212296/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Asheville-to-host-Urban-Land-Institute-technical-assistance-panel-to-advise-longterm-recovery-and-river-corridor-resilience","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212296-e7c07029aad6bf79e26da8a5f14024c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197346&Signature=ATWnBuJNqa95mb2ZpOrTYj3u4yto1RS0t86DOoF2~gppw2bis2fP6nyhJnDEwm6TemI8tT2JrOJ8Psttzlo23JgkCQc-Uc3~DnXRYs1XkUD~7RgfSunBbLxYE6D0r36CsvQ-Y-uvykduhgyiyV0YXwP7pvp9T2PynVZj--hpE~Gm6DDbG4h5TZwHpJc8TN68zyReHG-~2nAv~bhYAMBNpyTyRrCFBeno1Nif8Djsh6wh4~zjdcoxYM6oF092qstRvSR~WuYohP1ONzivm3aCP1NYd5oWXn9fMpCBmdVFyL-dX2V973ApHlbPzX4kcX6aNMHe-xc4RtbwTfnVMpxhqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Asheville will host a week‑long technical assistance panel from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to advise long‑term recovery planning and river‑corridor revitalization, city staff told council June 5.

Assistant City Manager Ben Woody said the Charlotte ULI chapter is sponsoring the panel and the National ULI Advisory Service will bring national experts on disaster recovery funding, urban design, infill development, climate adaptation and hazard resilience. Woody said the panel will help align recovery work with economic mobility, workforce adaptability and business diversification in flood‑affected corridors.

Woody said the panel typically meets for a week in person, conducts public engagement and stakeholder meetings, and concludes with a public presentation and a published set of recommendations. He said staff expect a public presentation on Friday, Aug. 1, and that the panel’s findings will produce a document Asheville can use to guide recovery and policy decisions. Steph Munson Dahl, planning director, said she was impressed with ULI’s commitment to inclusive engagement and the national experts recruited for the panel.

Woody and Deborah Campbell said the panel’s recommendations will inform the city’s long‑term recovery plan, complement interjurisdictional recovery coordination across Buncombe County, and provide guidance for future use of city tools, funding and policies. Staff said they will publish more details on engagement events and panel membership as the schedule is finalized and thanked the Charlotte chapter for sponsoring the panel recruitment.

The council did not take action at the briefing. Staff said the panel will hold public engagement events while on‑site and will present findings to the public at the conclusion of the week‑long visit.","The City of Asheville will host a week‑long technical assistance panel from the Urban Land Institute to advise long‑term recovery planning and river‑corridor revitalization, city staff told council June 5.",{"_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},6212310,"Asheville staff present FY2025–26 budget with 3.26‑cent tax‑rate increase; council signals plan to add three firefighter trainees using fund balance",2258,1170000,3428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685712-bc1ee5b7a7709483c6021cd32033ab74&start=1170&end=3428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685712-bc1ee5b7a7709483c6021cd32033ab74/thumbnail_1170000.jpg","/articles/6212310/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Asheville-staff-present-FY202526-budget-with-326cent-taxrate-increase-council-signals-plan-to-add-three-firefighter-trainees-using-fund-balance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212310-f1cb1ec7260cf233d938cfec86656797/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197346&Signature=LLXIYTJGOyW-0EKBMkWvwFagvyqoIq1yxtDUVmVVmlN-zGPkWt3LShyM9XpEnrI~pRNmspqbdtbr9-1LpeK3uAt-tz5Vh4fKAutkqWh0xcXoqQ2UbT9-xquYTc04ky~zZ5mbdgLWiBj-zImjQ~4VoutftHXypnmzyQPsJEgHvHW4iKhcMZUSMctEDzxo7Rv9FBcjat2ZehhLo6hJVViD7dDxh3VvHs~Sm0pAK3RHGshTmgK9gSBucrU1mcwbzjlGIrzZLoBxUmAO6r0sRnKtFp452snJNc8ciB-JohJwSSnqsltOQSm5VQpyd-MWwAEGONO3wCYAub~eTH9E6Iq0eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget June 5 that would raise the property tax rate by 3.26 cents and preserve a 15% fund‑balance policy target, while including pay adjustments and one‑time and ongoing investments across city services.

Tony McDowell, city staff, told the council “the budget is balanced with a 3.26 property tax rate increase,” and said the proposed total budget across all funds is roughly $256 million, about a 2.1% increase over the current year. McDowell said the general fund component increases by about $2.9 million, or 1.6%.

The budget would maintain a 15% fund balance target, fund a mix of recovery and capital spending, and include a compensation package that staff said provides a 3% increase for employees on the general pay plan and a set flat increase for employees earning below the city median. McDowell also said police staff receiving compression adjustments average about a 6.5% increase and that the fire pay plan would receive a 3% increase.

Council members pressed staff on one discrete funding decision: two proposals to add three firefighter trainees who would begin mid‑year in January 2026. City staff presented two funding options for the roughly $155,000 next‑year cost (about a half‑year of salary and equipment) — (A) reduce the sustainability department budget by that amount or (B) use general‑fund balance to cover the first‑year cost. Staff estimated the full recurring cost after training at about $248,000 annually.

Mayor Esther Manheimer said she supported option B, drawing council discussion toward maintaining the sustainability program’s work while still adding the firefighter positions. Vice Mayor Antoinette Mosley, Council member Beau Hess and others verbally supported using fund balance in the “margin of error,” and Council member Kim Roney said she could support option B because the projected fund balance would be about 14.9%.

City staff cautioned that using fund balance is a one‑time source. McDowell said the projected drop to about 14.9% could require future adjustments if additional revenue does not materialize, and warned that restored funding or future revenue could change outcomes.

Council did not take a formal vote June 5. Staff said they would present the budget adoption ordinance on the council agenda for June 10 with the proposed adjustment to add the three firefighter trainees funded from fund balance so the council can take formal action then.

Council members also asked for additional informational detail before Tuesday’s vote. Council member Kim Roney requested clearer documentation of the revenue streams and recent settlement proceeds that influenced the budget and asked when closed‑session minutes related to those matters would be public. City Attorney Brad Branham told the council that, because the settlement terms had been finalized and satisfied, he would consider those closed‑session minutes public record immediately if requested.

The manager’s recommended budget also incorporates roughly $5 million in general‑fund reductions, use of targeted fund balances in enterprise funds, and a $5 million FEMA Community Disaster Loan to help close the FY26 gap while limiting the property tax impact for homeowners to staff estimates of about $114 a year (about $9.51 per month) for the average Asheville homeowner. Staff listed ongoing investments in recovery, capital projects, water system work and housing programs in the proposed plan.

Staff requested council direction to bring the budget with the firefighter funding adjustment forward for adoption on June 10.","City staff presented a balanced FY2025–26 budget that includes a 3.26‑cent property tax‑rate increase, pay adjustments, and two options to fund three firefighter trainees in January 2026. Council members signaled support for using one‑time fund balance to cover the initial cost and asked staff to present the adjustment for adoption on June 10.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Water resources warn temporary pretreatment systems must remain as reservoirs shed sediment after storm Helene

Council briefing flags $6 million increase to Hagerty Consulting contract for storm recovery; staff expects FEMA reimbursement

Asheville to host Urban Land Institute technical assistance panel to advise long‑term recovery and river corridor resilience

Asheville staff present FY2025–26 budget with 3.26‑cent tax‑rate increase; council signals plan to add three firefighter trainees using fund balance