Ashley, the agency director, provided the board an update on post‑Helene demolition work and permitting. She said the office received roughly 150 applications for demolition/asbestos removal as part of FEMA programs and private‑property debris removal but has processed about 42 actual demolitions so far, with others dropping out or completing work outside the program.

Ashley explained a key regulatory point: when demolitions are grouped as part of FEMA work the projects are treated under federal NESHAP (asbestos) regulations, which increases required handling compared with an individual homeowner who demolishes a single residence on their own. “All the FEMA ones are covered under NESHAP regulations,” she said. That federal coverage affects how the program is administered and the protections required during asbestos handling.

Board members raised concerns about demolition work observed in river basin corridors and asked whether those projects had permits. Staff said they hope most were permitted but have not yet conducted door‑to‑door verification for every demolished house; some properties the county listed for demolition were found already torn down when inspectors arrived.

Ashley said the office has exercised enforcement discretion surrounding homeowner hardship: when the county identifies an unpermitted demolition that appears related to storm recovery, staff typically issue notices of violation but may delay or decline fines given the hardship on residents who lost homes. “If we find someone who has torn down a house like that without a permit, we would likely issue a… notice of violation, but not necessarily issue a fine,” she said.

Staff also described workload pressures: processing a large batch of disaster‑related applications strained normal permitting workflows and required temporary redistribution of staff duties. The board heard that some of the FEMA‑related demolition work is being invoiced and processed and that staff are working to close out invoices and permit records.

No formal policy change was adopted; staff will continue processing applications, coordinating with FEMA and contractors, and providing enforcement where required.