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Avery County commissioners approve hurricane recovery, school repair and communications spending; multiple motions pass unanimously
Summary
The Avery County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 3 approved budget amendments and funding to support hurricane recovery, school repairs and a contracted public information service, appointed a parks advisory member, approved a subdivision plat and adopted a veterans proclamation. All votes recorded were unanimous (3-0).
Avery County commissioners voted unanimously at their Nov. 3, 2025 meeting to adopt a series of budget amendments and other routine actions addressing hurricane recovery, school repairs and county communications.
The board approved a $125,000 donation from the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation to repair Little League ballfields damaged by Hurricane Helene and moved a previously awarded $25,000 from the same foundation for Schultz Circle Park into the current fiscal year. The board also approved a $13,500 budget amendment to contract with a private firm, C. Gardner Media and Promotions, to serve as the county’s public information officer for social media, website updates and press releases. The budget motions passed by voice vote; the minutes record the motions as unanimous (3-0).
Finance staff reported a $1,466,954.57 tax collections total for October 2025, which the board approved, and the board adopted a $150,000 pass-through of State funding to the Avery County School System to replace the gym roof at Riverside Elementary School. In a separate resolution under North Carolina General Statutes, the board authorized requesting $47,838.63 from the North Carolina Education Lottery Repair and Renovation Fund to cover painting and electrical work at Avery County High School ($19,500 and $23,305.36, respectively) and floor sealing at Cranberry Middle School ($5,033.27). The board also approved moving $5,777.88 in unspent adoption-incentive funds and $24,592.55 in disaster-related funds for the Department of Social Services into the current fiscal year budget.
Other items approved included the final plat for The Reserve at 1911 (lots specified by staff) after the Planning Board certified compliance with the Subdivision Ordinance, and the appointment of Chad Morgan to the Avery County Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee. The board recorded each motion as carried unanimously by the three members present (Chair Tim Phillips, Vice-Chair Dennis Aldridge and Commissioner Robert Burleson); Commissioners Junior Benfield and Wood Hall Young Jr. were absent.
The board also adopted a proclamation designating Nov. 4 through Veterans Day (Nov. 11, 2025) as "Operation Green Light for Veterans," encouraging residents and businesses to display a green light in recognition of veterans.
The meeting closed with the approval of minutes from Oct. 6, 2025 and setting the next regular meeting for Dec. 1, 2025. The meeting adjourned at 6:21 p.m.
