Burke County commissioners hear emergency-response review, approve lake‑lot rezoning and several grants; foster‑care nonprofit urges county support

Burke County commissioners on Monday received a detailed emergency‑services briefing about the county’s response to the July 13 fire at Grace Heights Health and Rehabilitation, heard a public‑transportation update and a request for local support for fare‑free service, and voted 5‑0 to rezone a 4.5‑acre lot at Lake James from conservation to residential R‑1. The board also approved several budget and grant actions, created a task force to advise on the county’s next revaluation cycle, and heard public comment urging quicker action on tax‑exempt status for a local equine therapy nonprofit.

The meeting opened with a presentation from James Robinson, Burke County EMS director, who described the county’s unified response to the Grace Heights fire on July 13 and outlined emergency‑management changes since the county moved emergency management functions from the fire marshal’s office into Emergency Services. Robinson said crews established unified command with the City of Morganton, evacuated residents and set up temporary sheltering at the Foothills Higher Education Center. He told commissioners that 91 residents were moved to the shelter site and that 20 residents required transport to UNC Blue Ridge; all residents were placed in longer‑term solutions by 10 p.m. that night. Robinson said the county used local partners and mutual‑aid units from neighboring counties and that search‑and‑rescue and special‑operations teams responded to multiple incidents countywide the same day.

Robinson gave the commissioners an overview of the county’s emergency‑services organization and training programs, including a paramedic academy run in cooperation with Western Piedmont. He said Burke County meets most North Carolina Emergency Management training standards for special operations but lacks NC Heart Team members locally. Robinson also reported growing search‑and‑rescue call volumes — projecting roughly 200 SARs this year — and estimated overtime and response costs of about $202,000 so far this year for SAR operations; he and county staff said that number may rise toward $300,000 because of higher call volume and operational demands. Robinson also said the county is rolling out geotagged trail markers tied to SAR Topo to speed location of lost hikers and reduce search time.

In related business, the board approved two grant‑funding amendments tied to emergency preparedness and economic development. The board accepted a $177,000 North Carolina public‑safety shelter capacity grant to buy a generator and transfer switch for designated shelters and to add three‑phase power at key shelter locations; commissioners voted to budget the grant. The board also approved accepting a $200,000 building‑reuse grant awarded after a company met…