Ban the Box, June-primary budget amendment set to go before Buncombe County Commissioners

Posted on April 15, 2016April 16, 2016 by Dan Hesse

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has a decidedly lighter agenda for its upcoming meeting compared to this month’s previous seven-hour slugfest. There are no public hearings scheduled and the four new business items don’t appear to be inherently contentious in nature when commissioners tackle the agenda on Tuesday, April 19. Among those issues are amending the budget to pay for June’s Congressional primary and consideration of removing the question regarding an candidate’s criminal past on the county’s hiring application.

Health assessment drives solutions

Posted on April 3, 2016April 3, 2016 by Leslie Boyd

A new health assessment for Buncombe County shows an increase in the number of infant deaths, deaths from complications of diabetes and incidences of opiate overdoses. The 2015 Community Health Assessment Report, released last week, also details how to address these and other health problems in the county. The assessment is performed in each county […]

House Bill 2, property reappraisals set to go before Buncombe County Commissioners

Posted on April 3, 2016April 3, 2016 by Dan Hesse

Addressing North Carolina House Bill 2 and consideration of property tax revaluation are among topics the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will discuss during its meeting on Tuesday, April 5.

David Gantt releases timeline, documents on Buncombe-Deschutes negotiations

Posted on March 30, 2016March 30, 2016 by Dan Hesse

In the aftermath of Buncombe County’s two-year effort to convince Orgegon-based Deschutes Brewery to build its East Coast expansion here, some critics have questioned the strategies employed. Buncombe County Commission Chair David Gantt released today (March 30) a timeline of events and supplemental documents correlated to Deschutes’ decision.

Zaniac brings innovative STEM education to Asheville

Posted on March 30, 2016March 28, 2016 by Max Hunt

A recent Forbes magazine article asked whether Asheville could be “an emerging Silicon Valley.” And while some locals might wonder where the jobs that one might expect to come with such a claim are to be found, there’s little debate about the importance of getting young students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — […]

Chemtronics: From chemical weapons to conservation easement

Posted on March 24, 2016June 2, 2016 by Max Hunt

Decades after the furor over a Swannanoa weapons plant introduced many residents to the term “Superfund site,” the focus is shifting toward potential future uses for a portion of the Chemtronics property.

Moretz, Edwards come up big in local Republican primaries; Jones falls short in Lt. Governor bid

Posted on March 16, 2016March 16, 2016 by Max Hunt

In local contests for North Carolina General Assembly seats yesterday, Frank Moretz defeated Bob Chilmonik in the Republican primary for N.C. House District 115, while Chuck Edwards won the Republican nomination for N.C. Senate District 48, defeating Lisa Baldwin and Dennis Justice.

Five Republicans square off in local primary contests

Posted on March 8, 2016March 9, 2016 by Max Hunt

Two hotly contested local races for seats in the N.C. General Assembly feature various Republicans jockeying for a spot on the November ballot. The March 15 primary includes two Republican contenders for the state House’s 115th District and three for the Senate’s 48th District.

Buncombe Commissioners consider moving ahead with property reappraisals

Posted on February 27, 2016February 26, 2016 by Hayley Benton

With a mostly empty agenda, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners should be in for a short meeting on the evening of Tuesday, March 1.

Smoke and mirrors: the death of tobacco in WNC

Posted on February 25, 2016February 22, 2016 by Max Hunt

Few crops have been as central to North Carolina’s economy and culture — or as controversial — as tobacco. Historically, its high market value and the relative ease of growing it made tobacco a staple for many Western North Carolina farmers. As late as 2002, 1,995 mountain farms grew tobacco. The crop’s prevalence, however, was […]

Buncombe Commissioners hear $7.2 million in nonprofit grant requests

Posted on February 16, 2016February 16, 2016 by Hayley Benton

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners heard funding requests from 48 local nonprofits at its Tuesday, Feb. 16 budget workshop — a part of the county’s community funding program.

Local businesses drive Asheville vibe

Posted on February 11, 2016February 11, 2016 by Max Hunt

Walk any downtown Asheville street and you’re likely to encounter some quirky storefronts offering unusual products. Together, these “specialty shops” or boutiques, most of them locally owned businesses, are a key component of the city’s distinctive flavor, attracting thousands of tourists each year and helping fuel the economy.

Buncombe Commissioners discuss county, city school needs

Posted on February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 by Hayley Benton

At the Tuesday, Feb. 2 Buncombe County Commissioners meeting — a meeting that lasted just under an hour, the Board heard from both Buncombe County and Asheville City schools on the needs of their facilities.

Commissioners take a look into Buncombe’s future at retreat

Posted on January 20, 2016January 21, 2016 by Hayley Benton

Prior to the Tuesday, Jan. 19 Buncombe County Commissioners’ retreat, staff in various departments sat down and took a good look at the county’s priorities, coming up with ideas and alternatives of how to accomplish these goals in 2016 (and beyond).

Affordable housing, greenways, living wage to be discussed at Buncombe County retreat

Posted on January 18, 2016January 18, 2016 by Hayley Benton

The agenda for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners’ Tuesday, Jan. 19 retreat reads like a year in review: affordable housing, zoning actions, greenway projects, waste reduction and encouraging employers to pay a living wage.

Letter writer: Asheville and Buncombe County should work to reduce poverty

Posted on January 12, 2016January 12, 2016 by Letters

“The time has come for Asheville and Buncombe County to take advantage of the Invest Health opportunity, take charge and assess the extent of poverty, examine the history behind the concentration of poverty and, most important, to identify and plan for what needs to be done and how to do it.”

Gimme shelter: In wake of 10-year plan to end homelessness, local agencies regroup

Posted on December 16, 2015December 16, 2015 by Max Hunt

Although chronic homelessness has been curtailed substantially since 2005, the combination of a severe economic downturn, an acute shortage of affordable housing and the rising cost of living has hindered the overall progress in eradicating homelessness. Despite those setbacks, partners in the project are forging ahead with new initiatives to combat housing insecurity and ensure that those in need of shelter get it.

Home, sweet home: Mountain Housing Opportunities celebrates The Villas at Fallen Spruce Apartments

Posted on December 4, 2015December 7, 2015 by Max Hunt

In its latest efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing, the nonprofit organization Mountain Housing Opportunities hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gift registry drive Thursday evening at its brand new apartment complex, The Villas at Fallen Spruce Apartments, just off New Leicester Highway. MHO staff, partner organizations, sponsors, local and state government officials were […]

Eyes on the future: Saving WNC’s farms

Posted on November 27, 2015November 24, 2015 by Max Hunt

Robin Reeves is the sixth generation to grow up on her family’s Madison County farm — a lineage that dates back to before the Civil War. Reeves spent much of her youth helping her parents raise cattle, burley tobacco and tomatoes as well as her extended family in Sandy Mush. As an adolescent, she sold […]

Commissioners to vote on fire district changes, tech park

Posted on October 31, 2015October 30, 2015 by Hayley Benton

At the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners’ Tuesday, Nov. 3 meeting, the board will proclaim the month of November Adoption Awareness Month, vote on fire district changes, and discuss a technology park project, a rezoning request and a funding request for Veterans Treatment Court.

Register of Deeds, Buncombe County

Posted on October 25, 2015October 26, 2016 by Dan Hesse

There are two ways to view Xpress‘ Q&A with the candidates: Either click the candidate’s picture to see a text version of their answers or click to expand the grid below. Pat Cothran, Republican Drew Reisinger (I), Democrat

Tag: Buncombe County

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