[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6476150,"mediaKeyId","5731321-1d3082d591cb00c6822b328da7ff02ec","parentId",5731321,"title","Black Mountain council adopts resolution marking one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene","audioSeconds",208,"startMs",1085000,"endMs",1293000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731321-1d3082d591cb00c6822b328da7ff02ec&start=1085&end=1293","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731321-1d3082d591cb00c6822b328da7ff02ec/thumbnail_1085000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6476150/Black-Mountain/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Black-Mountain-council-adopts-resolution-marking-one-year-anniversary-of-Hurricane-Helene","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476150-a1039b5ddb31ed1eb0ac1bcc6c3b3c43/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180055&Signature=SCf0CWutxf~PiT1AhifZeH4Pbv2~tZsEMlH3efN6AKiCjCIQ42LDCOvWiaIOD6-2uux7ilKUrNa2bXJDHp4ta21E9j3iaQ8Oi018IryURrvVy9EYQPrkBiNK491l6pXRRxN5JAi06mH2-sE0dJklNDjdyZMgS2HQL4gmonYZr-65EsL1wV9bOver-YN2ZWewzZa~micjUxJ0V7rD8xc7VCWoWWuwwVqISIiv6YYXdUPrQTiTYzCpng2uCmhFOuH7zfwWP9F0NjkYQT1yLIrcf7CfFnjWaWhnG0Ykvb2h6u0cdaiFuGnJ65zDzs8Fl2DkW0uT3NI~C3cNjwy4nH-jxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Black Mountain","date","2025-09-09T01:05:48.7Z","article","The Black Mountain Town Council unanimously adopted Resolution R-25-50 recognizing the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene and honoring residents and volunteers involved in recovery efforts.

Mayor Michael Sogel read the resolution, which notes that on Sept. 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina and caused historic rainfall, flooding and the loss of tree canopy in the region. The resolution “honors and remembers all lives lost during Hurricane Helene and extends its deepest sympathies to their families,” recognizes the role of federal, state and local agencies and volunteers in recovery, and reaffirms the town’s commitment to investing in flood mitigation, stormwater management and resilient infrastructure.

A councilmember moved to adopt the resolution; when the council voted the motion carried unanimously. Council also approved routine consent-agenda items during the meeting and agreed to remove one agenda item (item 9d — a proposed lien abatement related to 141 South Richardson Boulevard) from the evening’s agenda so staff could consult with counsel.

The council also issued a proclamation recognizing the 75th anniversary of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Black Mountain; that proclamation was read and acknowledged without further council action.

These ceremonial recognitions and the resolution were entered into the town’s official records. The hurricane-resolution vote was recorded as unanimous by those present.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Meeting for September 8, 2025 - Town of Black Mountain, NC","oneSentenceSummary","The Town Council unanimously adopted Resolution R-25-50 recognizing the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene and reaffirming commitments to recovery and resilient infrastructure.","taxTitle","Black Mountain, Buncombe County, North Carolina","taxId",60926,"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},6476156,"Residents report persistent low water pressure near Camp Branch after Hurricane Helene; council asks staff to investigate",336,1406000,1742000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731321-1d3082d591cb00c6822b328da7ff02ec&start=1406&end=1742","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731321-1d3082d591cb00c6822b328da7ff02ec/thumbnail_1406000.jpg","/articles/6476156/Black-Mountain/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Residents-report-persistent-low-water-pressure-near-Camp-Branch-after-Hurricane-Helene-council-asks-staff-to-investigate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476156-1b945a8cabbbd0b5a55921ef060c36af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180055&Signature=FxCY9S28eU-zFy9sIcmzx0ygaA6c46GmqqoOqlvf1Yy9mT-3~fZyxtk3UHgTWDhRSTizshZRFc0R8-2JQSXljGst4Isr3v72xKwkmEhyPZ3TeZII7Bzovq85UQl3bfdVdRPfvBMmBRLJxkk-H8u82yzNWdQfgr5VXMlF2TraYecPHcU009ojQd7365qIgnnfd7EHPIMVog8v0Iz84V2Hf6MsUyTD2c3XcfIJJL34T~ASX5atI1cadY4lgQ-t9kGWw0t5YYVnOJ6mNjyyp2w~lpLI~LI1Aem1dgm0HXxkP3yjQqCpkTGc9XDC0idg469aKemGh1lUBmGaWgpnwahBuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents at the meeting described ongoing low water pressure and related infrastructure problems on Camp Branch and neighboring lines following Hurricane Helene, prompting the Town Council to direct staff to investigate.

John Collins, a Camp Branch resident, told the council his property at 82 Camp Branch Road has “been without adequate water pressure since Hurricane Helene,” and that static pressure readings are “4 to 7 PSI” and drop to “3 to 0 PSI” under load. Gary Bartlett, who said he has served the town’s fire service for many years, told the council it took “54 days to get water” restored after the storm and that intermittent pressures now range from about 4 to 10 PSI. Bartlett said the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requires 30 PSI “all over the system,” and that the town has a local policy to provide 20 PSI for customers above 2,550 feet elevation with the expectation that customers install boosters.

Retired water-system professional Mark White corroborated that the pressure drop is systemwide on the south tank feed and suggested the issue could be a malfunctioning booster, add-air tank or altitude valve at the south tank. White urged attention to system survey data and to recent infrastructure damage.

Commenters described operational harms from low pressure—damage to pumps, holding tanks and appliances—and said some properties remain off the town system or on temporary hookups. John Collins said he has paid property taxes for years and expressed frustration that new developments at higher elevations are being provided water while his lots remain without adequate service.

In response, Mayor Michael Sogel told residents, “We will look into this. Feel certain that Josh will get on this and will then let the board know something.” Town staff acknowledged ongoing investigations and noted some system elements (consumer confidence reporting, local watershed plan) remain incomplete and under review.

Council did not adopt a new ordinance or funding authorization at the meeting. Instead the council directed staff to investigate the causes of the pressure loss, report findings and propose corrective steps. That direction was recorded as a staff follow-up rather than a formal motion with a recorded roll-call vote.

Speakers stressed two related points: technical causes require engineering diagnosis (leaks, pump/valve failure, air cavitation), and recovery work since Hurricane Helene has left some system components degraded. Residents asked the council to prioritize water reliability as the town continues storm-recovery and infrastructure repair work.","Camp Branch residents told the council of water pressures falling from around 20 PSI pre-storm to 3–7 PSI under load after Hurricane Helene; the council directed staff to investigate and report back.",{"_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},6476161,"Black Mountain council weighs South Ridgeway one-way plan amid business, safety and enforcement disputes",8316,1784000,10100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731321-1d3082d591cb00c6822b328da7ff02ec&start=1784&end=10100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731321-1d3082d591cb00c6822b328da7ff02ec/thumbnail_1784000.jpg","/articles/6476161/Black-Mountain/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Black-Mountain-council-weighs-South-Ridgeway-one-way-plan-amid-business-safety-and-enforcement-disputes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476161-ae8ad6d5ad3e370f8fcef378720079bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180055&Signature=BDEF5mgXPEV8QWOj3cjfd9LVgTqVa-LUwta-A6VPkB403mt~iltpsjbFRMQp~tvZ7Q6YpojZKuEmtgiMJaypxbCYW1OJm7FhhYuZ2-KMrUEHccVbqVrXfp-iPN5uoEu6OyTedEI4hAYdYRFEev2ki1ZYTqwqzEY7YOrz7MGIylpoEbiunKES6Z23j1E1iO02PmFZ4tE~aqmoVkWmgLpvYx8LlDuwtXC0AmqY-e9wY-RKxhbeCd9vxZkj4E3BpAMfdcSQIKmCV-HKaD3-3aj-o8iy65jHXa9sukhSXbOKFXNMMeXeKmwN5levnoJY6kTKKAL3w55YtQYu3MTw4HsScA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Black Mountain Town Council discussed a staff proposal to convert part of South Ridgeway Avenue and Southern Avenue to one-way traffic and create a pedestrian path, drawing more than an hour of public comment from residents and business owners who alternately urged immediate safety measures and warned the change would shift traffic and harm local businesses.

The proposal, presented as a short-term response to what staff described as “a life health safety issue,” prompted repeated calls for sidewalks, crosswalks and less intrusive fixes. Mayor Michael Sogel read public comment and council members and staff repeatedly emphasized that sidewalks remained the long-term goal while the one-way proposal was intended as an interim solution.

The debate focused on competing priorities: immediate pedestrian safety versus longer-term infrastructure and business impacts. Sydney Joyner, who lives at 120 South Ridgeway Avenue, told the council South Ridgeway is “incredibly unsafe for pedestrians” and urged “action as opposed to inaction.” Several residents and business owners, including Anna Stewart and owners connected to the Bush Farmhouse, said the town’s recent erection of a fence along the pedestrian path made walking more dangerous and harmed local commerce. Stewart said town staff erected a “6 foot tall chain link” fence without notice and without a court order authorizing entry onto private property, and asked the council to reconsider enforcement practices and meet with property owners.

Many commenters recommended alternatives to making the street one-way: moving the fence back to expand the pedestrian corridor, installing temporary speed cushions or bumps, and pursuing a prioritized sidewalk program. Former town planning and public-works speakers and longtime residents urged an impact study before changing traffic patterns that could push additional congestion onto Richardson Boulevard and Broadway and affect school-bus routing.

Town staff said the one-way proposal derives from an earlier traffic study and from an immediate safety assessment. Staff acknowledged the measure would not be the “end game” and said sidewalks and additional improvements would be evaluated once funding and right-of-way issues were resolved. Staff also reported they had initiated contacts with the railroad about right-of-way questions related to potential sidewalk connections.

After extended public comment and council discussion about alternatives — including targeted speed cushions and relocating the fence — a motion was made to decline the resolution to convert South Ridgeway and the relevant segment of Southern Avenue to one-way traffic. The motion to decline was put to a vote and approved by the council.

Councilmembers and members of the public emphasized next steps: staff follow-up on less intrusive measures (moving the fence back where feasible, temporary traffic calming), continued dialogue with affected property owners and businesses, and a prioritized sidewalk plan for future capital funding. Several speakers asked the council to seek input from the railroad and to include a consistent policy for accepting private roads into the town’s maintained network when evaluating long-term sidewalk commitments.

Council members stressed the distinction between emergency or interim safety fixes and capital projects that require funding and right-of-way acquisition. The council did not adopt a final street-design plan; instead it directed staff to return with additional information on alternatives and potential funding pathways.

The fence and enforcement actions that triggered much of the public comment were tabled for separate review; an item about an enforcement action (agenda item 9d) was removed from the evening’s agenda so staff could confer with counsel.

The council’s discussion leaves the immediate pedestrian-safety problem unresolved but sets a path for further study and for low-cost, short-term mitigation while delaying a one-way conversion.","Residents and business owners urged action on pedestrian safety on South Ridgeway Avenue while others warned a one-way conversion would shift congestion and harm small businesses; council discussed alternatives and moved to decline the one-way resolution after debate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Black Mountain council adopts resolution marking one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene

Residents report persistent low water pressure near Camp Branch after Hurricane Helene; council asks staff to investigate

Black Mountain council weighs South Ridgeway one-way plan amid business, safety and enforcement disputes