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Commissioners appoint Johnny Carswell to Morganton Board of Adjustment ETJ seat in 3–2 vote; dissent centers on personal grievance
Summary
The Burke County Board of Commissioners voted 3–2 to appoint Johnny Carswell as the regular ETJ member of the Morganton Board of Adjustment and to assign Gene Kirby as the alternate. The vote drew a public expression of personal dissatisfaction from one commissioner about a handshake incident.
The Burke County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 21 appointed Johnny Carswell to the regular extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) seat on the Morganton Board of Adjustment and Gene Kirby to the alternate seat by a 3–2 vote.
Madam Clerk presented two applicants for two three-year terms ending June 3, 2028. Commissioner Randy Burns moved to appoint Johnny Carswell to the regular seat and Gene Kirby to the alternate seat. The motion passed 3–2; the clerk recorded the tally but did not read individual roll-call votes into the public record.
After the vote, Commissioner Stroud publicly expressed displeasure, saying he took personal exception to Carswell not shaking his hand and that the gesture influenced his vote. Vice Chair Mertz and other commissioners responded that the decision was based on experience and qualifications; Mertz said Carswell’s experience in the subject area justified the appointment and that Kirby remained a viable candidate for other boards.
No other public comment was recorded on the appointment. The commission’s action filled two county-appointed seats on the Morganton Board of Adjustment ETJ panel.
