Public commenters urge county help for tiny‑house project and support for independent pharmacies

Three citizens spoke during the informal public‑comment period at the Burke County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday. Two items drew the board’s attention: a dispute over tax‑exemption paperwork tied to a nonprofit tiny‑house project and a request to support independent community pharmacies.

Kimberly Clark, who identified herself as the founder of a local nonprofit, said the organization has had a long dispute with the county over its tax‑exemption request and related legal fees. Clark said the nonprofit had a checkbox on its exemption application for “low‑to‑moderate income housing” tied to a tiny‑house project and asked that the checkbox be recognized as part of the approved exemption. “We would like that as part of the exemption request because that’s what we checked,” Clark said, adding that attorney fees remain outstanding and that she was not consulted when a lawsuit was dismissed.

Marsha Love, a board member with Clark’s nonprofit, described the tax‑exemption approval as “prayers answered” while urging the county to resolve remaining issues quickly so the tiny‑house project can proceed. Love recounted encountering a young hospitalized patient she said might have benefited from services the nonprofit aims to provide and urged faster resolution before the new year’s permitting cycle.

County response and context The speakers asked for a meeting with county staff to resolve questions about the application, the tiny‑house project and outstanding legal‑fee claims. Clark named county staff members she had met with previously, and she asked that the county include the low‑to‑moderate income housing element in the exemption paperwork. The meeting record shows the county attorney is Destin Hall and County Manager Brian Eppley was present; no formal county action on the public comments was taken at the meeting.

Independent pharmacy comments Christy Gupton, speaking separately, urged commissioners to support independent community pharmacies, saying they provide personalized care, same‑day delivery and local coordination with physicians. “Independent pharmacies are more than just a place to pick up medications,” Gupton said. She described independent pharmacies as local partners in crises — citing volunteer efforts after a recent hurricane — and urged initiatives to help keep pharmacy services local and affordable.

Ending The board closed the public‑comment period without taking immediate action; speakers asked for follow‑up meetings with county staff to resolve outstanding matters.