Buncombe commissioners approve block grant resolution, landfill contract and add support letter for Healthy Opportunities

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners took several formal actions at its July 15 meeting.

Key votes and formal actions

- Home and Community Care Block Grant resolution: The board adopted a resolution to accept and implement recommendations from the Home and Community Care Block Grant steering and advisory committees and to designate Buncombe County as lead agency for the federal block grant. The allocation recommendations followed the committee process; the motion to adopt the resolution was seconded and passed unanimously.

- Construction & Demolition landfill Phase 8 contract: The board authorized execution of a construction contract with Buchanan and Sons Inc. for the Phase 8 expansion of the county’s C&D landfill. The low bid of $2,093,015.93 was recommended. County staff said Phase 8 will cover about 4.7 acres, is planned to begin construction in August 2025, has an estimated seven-month construction schedule and is expected to provide 5–6 years of disposal capacity. Commissioners voted to adopt the resolution authorizing the contract; the motion passed unanimously.

- Healthy Opportunities letter of support: Commissioners approved adding a letter of support for the Healthy Opportunities program to new business earlier in the meeting, then later voted to approve and send the letter to state legislators. The board’s action was unanimous. County staff and commissioners said the program supports food access, housing, transportation and other interventions; local participants said the program directly represents more than $21 million in outlays in Buncombe County and that farm purchases and service provision tie to dozens of local farms and hundreds of jobs.

- Consent agenda and proclamations: The board approved the consent agenda items as presented. Separately, commissioners agreed to move two proclamations (July as Independent Retailer Month and July as Parks and Recreation Month in Buncombe County) to immediately before public comment so those present could receive them; the proclamations were read and accepted.

- Swannanoa steering committee appointments: The board reappointed two members to the Swannanoa steering committee and set a schedule for committee interviews and appointment decisions; commission staff will conduct interviews August 5 and commissioners were asked to submit candidate rankings to the clerk.

The meeting record shows these motions were presented, seconded and approved; roll-call tallies were recorded as unanimous where noted.