Blue Ridge Community College requests $50 million for expansion

Her presentation included Blue Ridge’s Transylvania campus 2025-2026 budget requests from the board at $731,920 for operating and campus security; $196,306 for capital projects and $50.8 million for new campus facilities.

“I do think it’s important that we have a long-term plan and we look forward to the assessment that you have agreed to do,” said Leatherwood.

Commissioner Larry Chapman asked if the estimated price was still viable or if prices had increased.

“I would need some professional advice about what that would cost because we really haven’t gotten far enough down the road where we know exactly what it’s going to cost, the square footage or anything,” answered Leatherwood. “We just haven’t really had that opportunity to get that far. We would need resources to be able to give you a firm number. But, yes, costs are increasing.”

Chapman said: “I assume we haven’t gotten far enough to even consider a location? I know that’s our big problem.”

“Again, we would need your permission to move forward,” said Leatherwood. “I think the ball’s in your court on our next steps.”

This week Axias, Inc. is conducting building site assessments on county buildings including the college campus.

In her update Leatherwood said the new respiratory therapy program has been successful.

Other programs offered will support rebuilding and repairing the county following Hurricane Helene, including its critical programs like Emergency Medical Services classes, public safety training and high school student opportunities.

New this year were guaranteed admission pathways for Blue Ridge students with an associates degree to Appalachian State University, Gardner-Webb University, Lenoir Rhyne University and UNC Asheville.

Continuing partnerships with guaranteed admission pathways include Brevard College, East Carolina University, Fayetteville State University, Lees-McCrae College, Mars Hill University, NC State University, UNC Wilmington, Western Carolina University and Wingate University.

FIRE SERVICE

DISTRICTS

Assistant County Manager David McNeill presented on the county’s eight fire service districts.

A service district is essentially a tax district that provides commissioners an option for collecting taxes to support a specified service.

On Dec. 9, 2024 McNeill said staff presented concerns with the resolutions establishing service districts in Transylvania County as services provided by fire departments contracted by the county have expanded to include rescue and emergency medical services.

Commissioners deliberated the pros and cons of consolidating the eight fire service tax districts into one county tax bracket.

Pros include adjusting the tax rate annually to meet budget needs, less administration costs needed to differentiate the district taxes, and the county can ensure coverage is equitable and standardized.

“Currently all service districts are set at 5.5 cents with the exception of the citizens in the city limits of Brevard now,” said McNeill. “There’s only one district that that 5.5 cents generates enough money to come close to covering that budget. The others are funded from the general fund.”

Municipalities can opt to join in or not, meaning the city of Brevard and town of Rosman can decide if they want to participate.

“I’ve heard from one fire department that it’s the way to go. I’ve heard from a few other ones that absolutely not,” said Commissioner Chase McKelvey. “They’ve worked hard to get where they are. They’ve got the tax base to sustain what they’ve got. They don’t want to supplement somebody else, which I can understand.”

McNeil said, “That really is referencing they’re in a district that has a larger tax base so that generates more revenue for them. But given that the commissioners have moved several years ago to one flat 5.5 cent rate across the board, that really went away, because basically what they’re getting is they’re getting their rate and then the commissioners are supplementing their rate from the general fund in all the districts but one.”

With McKelvey voting against, the board voted 4-1 to hold a public hearing on the matter with a date to be determined.

DEBRIS REMOVAL

Darlene Abbott of Aerostar Environmental, LLC presented on her company’s contract work for debris removal in the county.

The program is designed to speed recovery by helping private property and commercial business owners impacted by disasters, who do not have debris removal insurance, by removing eligible disaster debris or demolishing unsafe, unrecoverable structures on their property.

A Right of Entry form can be completed by residents in person at 221 S. Gaston St. in Brevard, online via the county website or by calling (833) 468-6033.

As of March 21 in Transylvania, 105 forms were initiated, 59 inspections were completed and 25 cases were passed on to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

BURN BAN

A burn ban has been issued for all 100 North Carolina counties due to hazardous forest fire conditions.

The ban prohibits all open burning regardless of whether a permit was previously issued.

Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs.

Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

On March 21 the Transylvania County Fire Marshal issued a ban prohibiting all open burning across Transylvania County within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling.

This includes burning leaves, branches and additional material in recreational fires, bonfires and outdoor fireplaces.

It is illegal to burn trash, lumber, tires, plastics and non-vegetative materials.

This does not apply to grills, barbecues and outdoor cookers. The local ban will remain in effect until further notice.

Questions can be directed to the Fire Marshal’s Office at (828) 884-3108, ext. 3.

OTHER BUSINESS

–County Manager Jaime Laughter attended Monday’s board meeting virtually from Washington, D.C.

“(Laughter’s) been asked to testify (Tuesday) morning at a public hearing before the congressional subcommittee on economic development, public buildings and emergency management that is considering changes to FEMA that would better serve communities,” explained Commission Chair Jason Chappell. “FEMA wants to hear about Transylvania County’s experience, particularly during Hurricane Helene, and get feedback on ways to make more improvements.”

–Commissioners approved the Sheriff’s Office sending 10 school resource officers to the SRO National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada from July 28-Aug. 1.

Transylvania County Sheriff Chuck Owenby was unable to find comparable in-state training for the SROs.

The cost for the Las Vegas trip was estimated at $14,000.

–A Department of Social Services request was granted to have staff overlap to train a new employee for two months, costing $4,253.08.

–As of March 10 the tax collection rate was about 98%.

As of March 12 approximately 1,000 informal appeals over the tax revaluations had been filed, or about 3%. The normal appeal rate is 5%.

–N.C. Rep. Mike Clampitt encouraged citizens to contact his office if they are experiencing issues obtaining a driver’s license or facing other DMV-related challenges.

–Emergency Management Director Kevin Shook was designated as the primary agent and Communications Director Cameron Sexton as the secondary agent for the FEMA Public Assistance Program.

–The board approved a resolution in support of N.C. Senate Bill 248 which gives residents who were adopted access to their birth records through Register of Deeds offices. Currently, if a citizen was adopted a birth certificate is only obtainable from Raleigh at the N.C. Office of Vital Records.

–Lisa Rodke and Ellen O’Brien spoke during public comment about the need for affordable housing within Transylvania County.

–The February 2025 Discovery, Release and Monthly Settlement Report released $1,003.76 and issued refunds totaling $2,165.17.

–April was proclaimed as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

April 7-13 was proclaimed National Public Health Week, and April 13-19 was proclaimed National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.