What do Buncombe’s commissioners want?

At its annual retreat on Tuesday, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners spent a hefty chunk of time going over a “wish list” of items board members felt deserve attention in the coming months, years. It’s an illuminating and long index, and deserves a reprint here.

It does raise the question, though: What do you think the county government’s priorities should be? How does this list match up with the realities facing Buncombe County right now? Let us know.

Note: The list is largely as it appeared in its original form. The items are in no particular order or ranking.

Buncombe County Commissioners “Wish List” from March 13 retreat:

• Bring Courthouse up to standard. What can be done to fully utilize this facility?

• Set up committee to oversee long term maintenance of County Courthouse (include Judges, Clerks, users)

• Regional economic development effort with Henderson & Transylvania Counties (focus on infrastructure to support new and expanding companies—maybe industrial sites, high tech office spaces, etc.)

• Work with Eblen, WCI, MEA and Three Streams Health, along with others to provide better options for small businesses to provide healthcare to their workers

• Extend water and sewer lines to protect water tables and ensure health standards are maintained

• Coliseum—regional effort—Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania Counties—Southeastern effort

• Establish a structure with Buncombe County School Board to plan for future expansion of existing school sites or locations for new schools

• Create settlement of dispute with City of Asheville on water system where city runs water dept. with no differentials, no annexation for water, and all revenues invested in system. In exchange we compensate city for regional expenses that city taxpayers uniquely are forced to bear such as Civic Center, McCormick Field, etc.

• Discuss with public and building community the appropriateness of assessment fees for large developers within zoning structure, avoiding problems of impact fees (ex. Durham County)

• Complete planning and construction on animal shelter, emphasis on spay/neuter policies

• Help sell local agriculture to local restaurants

• System of staff analysis of complicated ordinances before we are asked to vote on them (See Airport Boards, MSD for examples)

• Work with Woodfin and Asheville to develop the riverfront

• A master plan for Riverfront development the entire length of the French Broad River – Work with other counties to extend this greenway across WNC

• Expand parks & greenways

• A master plan for park development including priorities, composition, and types of park (dog park, nature park, mountain bike park, sports parks, trails, etc.)

• A methodical plan for spending at least 1 percent of property tax on (1) conservation easements or (2) parks or (3) greenways (much like Orange County)

• Save money/operate the County more efficiently

• What can we do to take the tax burden off the property owner?

• Create a committee to review and comment on possible application of “best practices” award winner in N.C. and U.S. to Buncombe County

• Continue Farmland preservation efforts

• Work with our Land Conservation Board and Farmland Preservation Board, and perhaps Community Foundation of WNC and Southern Highlands Conservancy to conserve thousands of acres from development with an innovative public/private partnership

• Create best policy of protecting ridge tops and steep slopes from over development

• Continue programs on energy conservation emphasizing alternative energy sources

• Develop conservation education & outreach plans

• Scholarships for the high demand, low enrollment educational programs mentioned by President Bailey

• Opportunities for middle school students considered “at risk for dropping out” with opportunities for 2 years at A-B Tech (work in collaboration with Eblen’s efforts, Sheriff Duncan’s youth summer programs, etc.) tuition free

— Kent Priestley, staff writer