Avery County commissioners adopt hazard-mitigation plan, approve ordinances and multiple budget amendments

Avery County commissioners on April 6 adopted a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan and approved a slate of routine ordinances, contracts and budget amendments intended to keep county programs eligible for state and federal funding.

Cindy, a county staff member who presented the hazard plan, told the board the multi-county plan covers Avery, Mitchell, Yancey and McDowell counties and must be readopted every five years to preserve eligibility for state and federal disaster assistance. "This plan is mandated to ... so we'll be eligible for federal and state funds in case of a disaster," she said. The board approved the resolution by voice vote.

The board also approved an ordinance to align the county's criminal-history record checks with a change in state law cited in the meeting as statute 153A-94.2. Michelle, the county attorney, summarized that the change requires criminal-history checks performed through the SBI for applicants who will work with children and outlined when such checks would be performed; the board approved the ordinance by voice vote.

Commissioners approved a contract with the High Country Council of Governments to administer a CDBG grant for the senior center and accepted an Emergency Management Capacity Building competitive grant for $145,000 to purchase three generators and related installation. The finance officer requested and the board approved the associated budget amendment to record the grant.

The board approved a resolution drafted by county counsel to release lottery funds for architect fees for Avery Middle School schematics and conceptual design totaling $29,800, and approved the corresponding budget amendment. When a board member asked whether work had already been done before the board saw the request, staff acknowledged turnover and said they would improve advance notice; the board approved the amendment but discussion noted the board may withhold payment until invoices and scope are clarified when necessary.

A $340,000 state grant intended to pass through the county to the school system for roof repairs at Freedom Trail and Cranberry Schools was also placed on the agenda and approved by voice vote. Board members discussed that the initial work described in the packet appeared to focus on gym/cafeteria or flat-roof sections rather than full-school roofs, and emphasized requiring contractor invoices and progress documentation before payment (some contracts noted a 50% down-payment requirement).

The parks and recreation department requested a budget amendment to recognize an insurance reimbursement for damage at the county 'dive-in' facility; the library presented a budget increase for replacement of glass damaged by water; both amendments were approved. The county manager reported that all debris projects have been obligated and said the county had received a reimbursement amount read during the meeting as "6.2 2 million" (reported verbatim in the transcript); staff did not provide a corrected figure during the session.

All the items above were adopted by voice vote without recorded roll-call tallies in the meeting transcript. The board also deferred a radio-service agreement for further review after staff said changes were received late and needed more time for review.

The board scheduled a budget workshop for April 30 and set the next monthly meeting for May 4.