Burke County extends vacate order deadline for Marshallese New Beginning Church to Nov. 14, 2025

The Burke County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 on Monday to amend its April 10, 2025 order to vacate at the Marshallese New Beginning Church, extending the compliance deadline to Nov. 14, 2025, after reviewing documentation submitted by a licensed contractor on behalf of the church.

The board said the extension is contingent on addressing immediate life-safety issues identified by county staff — primarily electrical hazards — and on prioritized inspections and permits so some residents may remain in the building while renovation work proceeds.

Chief Building Inspector Holden told the board he reviewed stamped architectural drawings and documentation submitted by licensed general contractor Kurt Avey and found that the materials "would meet the code and, work to begin with y'all's decision." Holden said plans show separation of the church from an annex building and that a licensed electrician has proposed work that would "make all the other, hazards safe while it's under construction." The county planning director, Alan Glines, and outside counsel Martha Thompson were present for the…