[{"_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",6477780,"mediaKeyId","5711281-5a93dd5c8adc57fdabeca7e06cc7fed0","parentId",5711281,"title","Community Reparations Commission delivers final report; 501(c)(3) formed to pursue implementation","audioSeconds",655,"startMs",868000,"endMs",1523000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711281-5a93dd5c8adc57fdabeca7e06cc7fed0&start=868&end=1523","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711281-5a93dd5c8adc57fdabeca7e06cc7fed0/thumbnail_868000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6477780/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Community-Reparations-Commission-delivers-final-report-501c3-formed-to-pursue-implementation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477780-3e0a984cb1c9cdd7c4d25387296656ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172309&Signature=Zg1patsDS96F5wPoazXTwoJsO9yWxHWKYN6rCj13Ui3XdWCulCTc~Dvi7IUKTFkJYz-1q2EUowXph5yMss-rVm8luuROGEtkO8zKKAJztGGyhBM2HEzio8RXuq8vzm1dZlXd5nbUgGareVS1jNJwtK3YkoU1NeDxznkEMbkH7jygPN7YhCdJWvz58RPoJ7liGW~hp9ZIgGBzyCwBdF2yb5T2XH2nWPwepWmwbBZcSQ1YQgp8Nx-~S4H8u4cIB77h8n~t4OGionhFgvsniwwG5wmRXVy5xrr6xFUm0MTGPpz9VPjghG6-Q1eo10HETkbTn8-QPtjKV1BU-uz7H8vinw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Buncombe County, NC","date","2025-09-03T02:14:49.03Z","article","Dr. Nora Armstrong, Buncombe County's chief equity and human rights officer, and members of the Community Reparations Commission (CRC) presented the commission's final report and a closeout update to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.

Armstrong said the CRC was established by the City of Asheville and the county joined the effort; appointees were selected by Asheville City Council on March 8, 2022, and by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on March 15, 2022. The commission approved 39 recommendations in June 2024 and later requested a six-month extension from the city to complete additional work; Tropical Storm Helene disrupted that timeline and work resumed in March 2025.

Vice Chair Bobette Mays summarized the CRC's recommendations covering criminal justice, economic development, education, health and wellness, and housing. Recommendations described in the presentation include measures to increase minority homeownership and access to affordable housing, grants to legacy neighborhoods and public housing communities, support for black-owned businesses, improved mental-health resources for justice-involved people and law enforcement, and investments in early-childhood education and transportation for expectant mothers.

Mays described creation of a nonprofit corporation to steward implementation work. \"Name that was approved by the CRC: 40 Acres in the Land of the Sky Alliance Community Development Corporation,\" she said. The CRC reported that the nonprofit has been incorporated with the North Carolina Secretary of State, obtained an employer identification number, is drafting bylaws, and will follow with initial board appointments. An application for federal tax-exempt designation was listed as underway (10/23 application date given in the report).

Dwayne Richardson, who said he helped draft the legal framework for the 501(c)(3), described initial fundraising plans that include outreach to local faith institutions, potential private-sector partners and matched-fund programs. Richardson named First Presbyterian Church of Asheville and Truist Bank as potential partners and said the CRC hopes to attract other donors; he also said the CRC plans external fundraising and grant-seeking rather than relying on county funding to support the new nonprofit's start-up.

Chair Dawanna Little (chair) said the CRC's future activity will largely be carried out by the nonprofit and noted the CRC had sought to align recommendations with other local reviews, including the Cease to Harm audit and Asheville's recovery plans. The CRC told commissioners it plans to apply to two existing boards and commissions to stay informed on progress related to CRC recommendations.

Commissioners asked about the cooperative community development proposal (\"gifting land campus for cooperative community development programs\") and about how the nonprofit will be funded. Mays and Richardson said details on partnerships, program design and fundraising are still being developed and that housing and homeownership are early priorities. Armstrong said county staff are finalizing a crosswalk to align CRC recommendations with the county strategic plan and Cease to Harm recommendations to identify overlapping actions and feasible near-term steps.

The CRC said it completed the charge given by Asheville City Council and the county and that dissolution of the County Reparations Committee will take place at the Asheville City Council meeting on Oct. 10, 2025, with a subsequent council meeting to officially dissolve the ad hoc commission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Briefing | Buncombe County Board of Commissioners | September 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dr. Nora Armstrong and leaders of the Community Reparations Commission presented the commission's final report to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and described the formation of a nonprofit to pursue implementation.","taxTitle","Buncombe County, North Carolina","taxId",3914,"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},6477784,"Internal audit recommends tighter procurement-card controls, mandatory justifications in Workday",341,417000,758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711281-5a93dd5c8adc57fdabeca7e06cc7fed0&start=417&end=758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711281-5a93dd5c8adc57fdabeca7e06cc7fed0/thumbnail_417000.jpg","/articles/6477784/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Internal-audit-recommends-tighter-procurement-card-controls-mandatory-justifications-in-Workday","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477784-ee168ef2620edec0a6c8d83cd5c24b1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172309&Signature=A48n9ZbvCq~ZKHd-6mXJEdUduk0OOI~7lrV8Y2H0UycbGkSbJgnYweFtzqG0rhu10CF~in5CRKiT318TqYZILSNakxTQ-DQx85uzj9Yrr1yvj06dT-MClmJCaLuf9yf-h6GpfsR5j73oKBqxKDDrie5Bq4LplOC-1hAcfgu6RHzP6oVax6xeqpVcWHHeoL7AT1MzoitVHXasDvNRuIRmS9eqPMcVB4TCej1toyE02tvSjVOvG52ufbgglDNupJ7wORvjS6BZPIlFv9bZT-WgEQBnRziCEpjbzl11ZKoxmNweW7yf8dvvgkyn4dQRC1Lj4hblwFrjpBEi9OFEPxrsdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rob Hartman of Buncombe County's internal audit office told commissioners the office completed a special project and a dedicated procurement-card audit and identified measures intended to strengthen controls over procurement-card (P-card) use.

Hartman said four recommendations came from the special project, including identification of P-card review chains that currently allow only one reviewer. \"We're asking finance to go in, identify those, and add an extra layer of review to really make sure that we have a good separation of duties,\" Hartman said.

The audit found routine miscoding of meeting food as office supplies. Hartman said budget staff added new account codes so food for meetings can be coded correctly and noted that change took effect with the current budget cycle: \"starting on July 1, this shouldn't be an issue where we have people putting food into office supplies.\" He said finance has notified county staff of the new codes.

Hartman also said finance lacks the staff to review every P-card transaction and currently reviews a random monthly sample of 50 transactions. The audit recommended a risk-based sampling approach. He said turnover in procurement delayed implementation but that finance expects to move to a risk-based sample for October reviews after filling a vacant position.

On training and policy, Hartman said current P-card training is required before issuance and then only at five-year card expiration. \"Best practices in the industry is typically 1 to 2 years,\" he said, and asked finance to reassess frequency. He said HR is drafting clarifications to the county's conflict-of-interest policy to make clearer what must be disclosed; his understanding is HR \"are kind of moving forward with the idea that anything that generates taxable income would need to be disclosed.\"

The audit also recommended storing reimbursement documentation in Workday rather than only in finance department files so proof of reimbursements survives turnover. Hartman said finance is updating Workday so a justification field for all P-card purchases becomes mandatory and that the county would communicate the change in advance. \"They're almost complete with it now. They just need to get some communication out to the county informing them of this. And then once that communication is ready to go, they'll flip the switch in Workday, and this field will become mandatory,\" he said.

Commissioners asked for additional detail on the conflict-of-interest clarifications and about timing of the changes. Hartman said the special project report and the P-card report were distributed to commissioners; he offered to resend copies if needed.

The presentation closed with Hartman inviting questions and indicating deadlines: identification of single-review P-card chains and added reviewer assignments by the end of the calendar year, Workday documentation and justification-field updates to be completed by year-end, and the move to risk-based sampling beginning with October reviews after the procurement vacancy is filled.","Buncombe County internal audit presented two audits — a special project and a procurement-card audit — and recommended added review layers, clearer coding for meeting food, risk-based sampling, more frequent training, clarified conflict-of-interest rules and mandatory justification fields in Workday.",{"_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},6477771,"Commissioners move into closed session to discuss real property negotiations under North Carolina statute",44,3039000,3083000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711281-5a93dd5c8adc57fdabeca7e06cc7fed0&start=3039&end=3083","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711281-5a93dd5c8adc57fdabeca7e06cc7fed0/thumbnail_3039000.jpg","/articles/6477771/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-move-into-closed-session-to-discuss-real-property-negotiations-under-North-Carolina-statute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477771-ae7d97b095e8868d975091b4925d0a79/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172309&Signature=eas2VZhW8rik1RPKSEgV2BP27FHb9eWALjpb9LWIqjlSLTTKpjFwhIP9Zhm2UFqG~4sY-ia6pXVRFccGY2ZwCVqeC26CwEiDZsRNpXw4w8LR4d8~AKlPriIYpS77DLwpZq3HOQyMtZ-U295XKMfY9Xtq46dttEs1BwTgrfeUYKWaGbyXwDXdpW9a6Eo3xB9ZCPrsQsBQL7AHPu54mSFk4CWDfa5-E2M~G9UiH5qC5eb25bKnSMRXsaXiN5BpHlXsBjJkNxa8q60RD48lUkk4cL9Icu~iI-TyCTHuyx0DXS7BqhjzBHLB9V3VnDzctWbDKCxBphHRkqSl2eZkpFPdNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted to enter a closed session in order to \"establish or instruct the public body staff or negotiating agents concerning the position taken by or on behalf of the public body in negotiating the price and other material terms of a contract or proposed contract for the acquisition[ ] real property by purchase option exchange or lease,\" citing statutory authority.

County staff read the statutory citation as General Statute 143-318.11, subsection (a)(5). A motion was made and seconded; the chair called for a voice vote and the board recessed the briefing and proceeded to closed session. Commissioners then moved to adjourn the briefing meeting prior to convening closed session.

The transcript records the motion and a voice vote in favor; no individual roll-call votes were recorded in the public briefing transcript.","Buncombe County commissioners voted to move into closed session under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(5) to \"establish or instruct\" negotiating positions on the acquisition of real property and then adjourned the briefing meeting before entering closed session.",{"_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},6477776,"Continuum of Care names new board members, wins planning grant for homelessness-prevention pilot",464,2291000,2755000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711281-5a93dd5c8adc57fdabeca7e06cc7fed0&start=2291&end=2755","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711281-5a93dd5c8adc57fdabeca7e06cc7fed0/thumbnail_2291000.jpg","/articles/6477776/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Continuum-of-Care-names-new-board-members-wins-planning-grant-for-homelessness-prevention-pilot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477776-4fa69260cbb2edb5d233184b522c2d9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172309&Signature=KW5qRj6FSpDqxfA0~8HNs4vCxsKvaXZ~v19eNaGE6LQ-K8oIC8lKTwlOEAd2V6Pj4XHX1FAYl8kZPMjUiT63~45omqEpYRCaz4tN8B-SuCDRJN7vcc7Uhk0T1nWGkmIFaDEUCC0Chx9y20xCtZvam8AcLJjsOJkL-bF1wukf17zlNqSVaIGwq3PweTl~fR6-1S~DzxyIr5hPIVIs6R2oRO~6CzHmoHU7FbWtZaFtrf-cZl-v~zrMk859CgD~yuCRyAi3jSH5kSgRw~FWsQkkbTFvN19GA4xkPMCneVRLcNXwXRAPTZ~fJAS0hDn6VWvPoC~snP5zHCLryvOrHaflsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lacey Hoyle presented the quarterly Continuum of Care (CoC) update to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, reporting new board appointments, program activity and funding awards.

Hoyle said the CoC filled several seats: Marcia Mount Shoop (community member seat), Mary Brown (faith community seat, Central United Methodist Church/Church Street Collaborative), Captain Jonathan Brown (public safety seat, Asheville Police Department), Jerry Kivett Kimbrough (VA representative) and Ella Santos (interim HACA representative). The CoC is still recruiting to fill three additional board seats.

Board actions in the past quarter included adoption of initial charter revisions and a membership vote process, a partnership with the downtown YMCA to offer monthly shower access for people experiencing homelessness (with Asheville Fire Department resource engagement staff present to connect users to services), and selection of Goodwill Industries as the CoC's fiscal agent for administering compensation of people with lived experience and supporting certain funding applications.

Hoyle provided Code Purple winter-season metrics: 70 Code Purple nights under the criteria used last year; average nightly use of 48 people and a peak night of 83 people. She said planning for the upcoming Code Purple season is under way and the CoC expects to present an updated manual at its September meeting.

Funding updates included two awards from state disaster-related ESG recapture funds: HelpMate was awarded $75,000 for homelessness prevention; Homeward Bound was awarded $484,500 for prevention, rapid rehousing and HMIS support. Hoyle also described the Right at Home national homelessness-prevention partnership: the CoC applied for and was awarded a $275,000 planning grant to develop a prevention system over the next 6 to 12 months and to prepare an application for possible three-year implementation funding.

Hoyle said the CoC has applied to Dogwood Health Trust for a $270,000 collaboration and innovation grant to develop diversion services and a $35,000 capacity-building grant to support the compensation plan for people with lived experience. She said the CoC's FY25-26 ESG application requests and COC funding committee recommendations were adjusted to reflect agency capacity and needs.

Commissioner Ball asked whether the West Asheville planning subgroup coordinating with city action and recent ordinance/zoning changes; Hoyle said the small planning group includes city representatives and providers and is coordinating with city staff and the Asheville Police Department. Hoyle also reminded commissioners that Commissioner Horton serves as the board's nonvoting liaison and that the next CoC board meeting is Sept. 11 (virtual) with a membership meeting Sept. 25 at Harris Cherokee Center.","Lacey Hoyle updated commissioners on Continuum of Care board appointments, charter revisions, new partnerships (YMCA showers, fire department outreach), selection of Goodwill Industries as fiscal agent, code purple season metrics and a $275,000 planning grant for a Right at Home homelessness-prevention pilot.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Community Reparations Commission delivers final report; 501(c)(3) formed to pursue implementation

Internal audit recommends tighter procurement-card controls, mandatory justifications in Workday

Commissioners move into closed session to discuss real property negotiations under North Carolina statute

Continuum of Care names new board members, wins planning grant for homelessness-prevention pilot