Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Resolutions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Avery County approves a slate of budget amendments, school grant pass-throughs and surplus-property resolutions
Summary
The Board approved multiple budget amendments including a $510,955 state grant pass-through for Cranberry Middle School HVAC, grants for sheriff victim services and body cameras, a $65,000 USDA Forest Service agreement, and several surplus/property conveyance resolutions (firearms and Axon Tasers). All votes were unanimous (3-0).
Avery County commissioners unanimously approved a series of budget amendments and property resolutions during their Oct. 6 meeting, covering law-enforcement grants, school capital pass-throughs, emergency-management replacements, and several surplus‑property conveyances.
Finance Officer Caleb Hogan presented the budget amendments. The board recognized the third year of an International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) victim services grant totaling $64,083 to fund a victim services position for a third year; adopted a $14,566 Small Rural Tribal Grant to purchase body‑worn cameras; and approved a cooperative law‑enforcement agreement with the USDA Forest Service that provides $65,000 for salary and equipment support. The Department of Social Services received an additional $12,000 for travel; transportation capital was rolled into the FY2025–2026 budget ($57,000); Buildings & Grounds received funds for an emergency generator ($15,150) and paving for the new senior center property ($7,000); the extension office received $9,799 to cover back pay to an extension agent; and emergency management received $7,500 to replace desks and furniture destroyed during last year's flooding.
The board also approved passage of state grant funds to the Avery County School System for a Cranberry Middle School HVAC replacement: $510,955 will flow through the county to the schools. The board additionally authorized reimbursement to the schools for a previously unclaimed High School Kitchen Renovation invoice ($160,132.50).
On property resolutions, the board declared certain sheriff's department shotguns and rifles surplus and authorized private sale to officers who were originally issued the weapons, at minimum prices ($150 per shotgun, $300 per rifle) with publication and a 10‑day waiting period. The board adopted separate resolutions to convey surplus Axon Tasers to nearby governmental units (Mitchell County Sheriff's Office, Town of Spruce Pine Police Department, City of Valdese Police Department) for no consideration and authorized discarding specific Tasers to the Land Harbor Police Department, described in the resolution as a private company police department.
All budget amendments and resolutions passed by unanimous vote of the three members present (Tim Phillips, Dennis Aldridge and Wood Hall Young, Jr.).
