Black Mountain staff reports steady progress on recovery; debris removal, FEMA and insurance funds still lag

Town staff provided an update at the April Black Mountain Town Council meeting on recovery from recent storm damage, saying site inspections and grant submissions are advancing but cash-flow challenges, debris removal and insurance payouts continue to limit on-the-ground repairs.

Jessica (staff member) told the council the town expects to complete roughly 83 site inspections as the damage-inventory process winds down this month. Staff captured three additional damages that pushed the town's total closer to about $30,000,000 and said they will resubmit the damage inventory to North Carolina Emergency Management later in the week to support a cash-flow loan review tied to a previously issued $705,000 loan.

The town reported 71 unique private property debris-removal (PPDR) applications; nine demolitions have been approved so far. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has a right-of-way waterways mission that staff said ended on April 1 but will continue to remove debris through April. Town staff said USACE will also remove debris from town bridges under the waterways mission.

Jessica said a temporary facilities plan is scheduled to begin May 9 and that public works and planning staff will relocate to offices at 304 Black Mountain Avenue to support recovery operations. The town is building a dedicated recovery website and tracker (blackmountainrecovery.org) to publish project and finance updates and to clarify town-managed infrastructure recovery versus individual property assistance.

Council members and residents raised continuing concerns about piles of private debris left after storm flooding. In public comment, Alan Green, who said he lives at 0335 Lookout Terrace Road, urged faster pickup of long-standing debris that he described as a safety and health hazard for children and pets.

A coalition of nonprofits led by Operation Blessing described larger volunteer recovery efforts in the valley. Bob Burke of Operation Blessing said the Better Together Coalition planned to repair 150 to 200 homes over one to two years; he also asked the council to consider writing a letter of support on behalf of Felipe Gonzalez, a coalition organizer who staff said faces immigration-related departure after holding a FEMA parole. The council agreed to accept more information and consider assistance.

Council and staff also discussed insurance reimbursements and the town's overall fund balance. Staff said the town has received about $2,216,000 in insurance proceeds to date, including an early lump-sum payment intended to help cash flow. That early payment was parsed by staff as temporary assistance that FEMA and insurance procedures could require to remain tied to specific repairs. Some proceeds cover buildings and equipment; staff said further clarifications with the insurance carrier and with the League of Municipalities remain underway and that more detailed breakouts will be provided at upcoming budget meetings.

Council members asked about the town's reserve levels. Staff said the state minimum is 8 percent but noted Black Mountain had previously maintained a larger reserve target (around 36 percent). Staff warned that reimbursements and federal awards are arriving in stages and that the town faces continuing cash-flow decisions about which operating or capital functions to defer while pursuing later reimbursements.

Officials also discussed the golf course. Staff described a staged reopening that would let players use nine holes while treating the other nine as a driving range; the town hopes for an early May soft launch subject to equipment replacement and procurement timelines. Staff cautioned that procurement constraints and rising equipment prices complicate immediate purchase decisions.

What happens next: staff said they will continue damage-inventory resubmission, coordinate debris lists with the county and USACE contractors, and provide a more detailed insurance and fund-balance report at the next budget workshop.