Haywood County commissioners on Sept. 2 approved, as part of the consent agenda, accepting a Round 3 state bridge loan of $998,885.37 intended to help the county carry disaster-related costs until federal and state reimbursements arrive. The board voted unanimously to adopt the consent agenda, which included the loan item.

The loan, described by county staff as a short-term cash-flow measure for recovery work, carries 0% interest and must be paid in full by June 30, 2030 unless the General Assembly later forgives the balance. "There is no prepayment penalty. The loan has to be paid in full by 06/30/2030. Also, this is 0% interest," Christian, a county staff member who presented the item, told commissioners.

The loan was discussed after a public comment from resident Vicki Rogers, who asked what the money would be used for and expressed concern about the schedule of repayments. "I just want to know what specifically is this money going for?" Rogers said during the public comment period.

County staff said the loan is intended as a bridge for immediate expenses such as debris removal while the county waits for FEMA reimbursements. "We have roughly about $16,000,000 **** ** in debris. So this is for lack of a better term, a bridge loan just to keep that cash flow going," Christian told the board. Staff also said earlier rounds of the state loan required rapid return of reimbursed funds, but this round does not include that five-day repayment clause as long as the loan is paid by the 2030 deadline.

Commissioners and staff also said taking the loan may help in other ways: the town of Waynesville previously received extra points on certain recovery grant applications after taking a bridge loan, and the county expects similar advantages when applying for recovery funding.

The loan was included on the consent agenda; a motion to approve the consent agenda passed unanimously. The agenda item listed the loan as available to be used for eligible disaster-related expenses or to bridge cash flow ahead of FEMA reimbursement. Commissioners did not record separate roll-call votes for the individual consent items.

County officials emphasized the loan is optional and carries no interest, and that the county can repay the principal under the stated schedule if grant or reimbursement forgiveness does not occur.

The board moved on to other business after approving the consent agenda; no separate amendment or further directive on the loan repayment was recorded during the meeting.