Haywood County commissioners on Aug. 18 approved a resolution to lease county property — the former wellness clinic site on Old Asheville Highway — to Mountain Projects Incorporated, a county nonprofit community action agency.

Frank Quinn, county attorney, explained the arrangement: "We're authorized by state law to rent it to them for a nominal sum, in this case a dollar," he said. The document is structured as a five-year lease with a five-year extension, but includes mutual exit clauses: the county may reclaim the site on 120 days' notice if the county needs it, and Mountain Projects can return it with 60 days' notice.

Quinn said the property was advertised in the legal section of the Mountaineer on July 16, 2025 and was posted on the county website as required. Commissioners noted Mountain Projects has served the county for nearly 40 years and that the agency's services "lessen the burdens of government," as described in the board packet.

The board voted unanimously to approve the lease and authorized the county manager and county attorney to execute related documents.