Macon County commissioners approve series of resolutions, appointments and staff actions; set upset-bid sale for former East Main building

Chairman Young presided over the March 11 meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners, where the board approved a batch of routine and policy items, accepted a $175,000 formal offer on county surplus property subject to an upset‑bid process, and confirmed a new county manager.

The board unanimously approved a list of new and renamed public roads after a brief public hearing and no speakers registered objections. Commissioners also adopted a resolution recognizing April 20–26, 2025, as Macon County Volunteer Week to honor volunteers at the Dorothy R. and John L. Crawford Senior Center. The board voted to accept a formal offer on county property at 651 East Main Street and to place the property into the statutory upset‑bid process rather than hold it for county use.

Why it matters: The actions finalize multiple administrative items the board must address annually—appointments, road records and surplus property—while advancing bigger decisions ahead of the county budget and capital plan. The vote to accept the $175,000 offer moves that property toward sale while retaining the right to accept upset bids; the capital plan discussion earlier in the meeting outlined the county’s multi‑year borrowing and cash needs.

Most important decisions first: The board approved the county manager employment agreement and appointed the new county manager, moved forward with an upset‑bid sale for county surplus property, and accepted a county‑requested NCDOT action to remove a short segment of state maintenance from its log.

Commission actions and appointments were generally unanimous. The board amended Rule 12.3 of its Rules of Procedure to reduce individual public‑comment time from five minutes to three minutes; that change passed with a recorded 4‑0‑1 vote.

The meeting also included formal appointments to advisory boards: the Board of Equalization and Review, the Macon County Public Library Board, the Fontana Regional Library Board and the County Planning Board. The board confirmed reappointment of Abby Braswell as tax administrator as required by state law.

What the board did not do: Commissioners did not adopt a final capital plan; staff presented a department‑request version of the five‑year capital improvement plan for discussion and asked the board for policy guidance on timing and funding priorities.

Votes at a glance

- Road‑name changes (public hearing): Motion to approve list as presented. Mover: Commissioner Antoine; second: Commissioner Sherrill. Outcome: Approved, vote 5–0.

- Resolution: Recognition of Macon County Volunteer Week (Crawford Senior Center volunteers): Mover: Commissioner Antoine; second: Commissioner Shields. Outcome: Adopted, vote 5–0.

- Surplus property (651 E. Main St.): Motion to accept an offer of $175,000 and advertise for upset bids (retain right‑of‑way for greenway; successful bidder to reimburse publication costs). Mover: Commissioner Sherrill; second: Commissioner Bridal. Outcome: Approved, vote 5–0. Clauses discussed: retention of greenway right‑of‑way; purchaser liable for upset‑bid advertising costs.

- Employment agreement: Approval of employment contract for Warren Cave as county manager. Mover: Chairman Young; second: Commissioner Shields. Outcome: Approved, vote 5–0.

- Abandonment: N.C. Department of Transportation request to remove a segment of State Road 1302 (Bird Gap Road) from state maintenance. Mover: Commissioner Breeden; second: Commissioner Shields. Outcome: Approved, vote 5–0. Note: action reflects DOT maintenance status; it is not a county closure of a county road.

- Resolution: Recognize America’s 250th (2026) and establish a county committee to plan events. Mover: Commissioner Shields; second: Commissioner Bridal. Outcome: Approved, vote 5–0.

- Rules change: Amend Rule 12.3 to reduce public‑comment time from five minutes to three minutes. Mover: Commissioner Antoine; second: Commissioner Bridal. Outcome: Approved, recorded 4–0‑1 (one commissioner recorded as abstaining or not voting).

- Consent agenda (routine financial and administrative items): Mover: Commissioner Breeden; second: Commissioner Antoine. Outcome: Approved, vote 5–0.

- Reappointment: Abby Braswell, tax administrator, reappointed pursuant to North Carolina General Statute §105‑294(a). Mover: Commissioner Shields; second: Commissioner Antoine. Outcome: Approved, vote 5–0.

- Appointments: Board of Equalization and Review (five seats) — Christine Flegg, Donald Holland, Richard Leitner, William Trigg Jr. and Dwight Benson were appointed following a board vote and tie‑break procedure. Library Board — Vivian Honey and Kathy Smith appointed. Fontana Regional Library appointment — William McGaha appointed. Planning Board — Mark Hein appointed to the open seat.

Noted remarks and requests

- Several commissioners thanked community groups and federal representatives for helping preserve the Franklin Social Security field office after a threatened closure was reported in local media; commissioners named U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards and U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd among those who assisted.

- Commissioners and staff recognized longtime senior‑center volunteer and county employee Risa (Bridal) Boyce and presented gifts and a proclamation honoring volunteers.

What’s next

County staff will incorporate the board’s feedback into the five‑year capital improvement plan and return with refined funding scenarios and timing. The surplus‑property sale will proceed under the upset‑bid statute; if upset bids are filed the county will publish the new high bid and allow the statutory challenge period.

Sources: meeting transcript, public documents presented at the March 11 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting.