Buncombe County Commission­ers argue about, hear public input on HB2

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners slogged its way through a more than seven hour meeting while trading barbs en route to approving a resolution that reaffirms the county’s commitment to a workplace supportive of diversity, moving ahead with real estate revaluations, approving a Utility Energy Innovation Task Force and approving minutes from a contentious closed session in March, 2015. The Tuesday, April 5th, marathon meeting highlighted the ideological tension between commissioners and the public as the resolution about the county’s Personnel Ordinance became a proxy for the emotionally charged North Carolina House Bill 2 and showcased emotional pleas from both sides of the issue. Meantime, discussion about the joint task force became symbolic of the commissioners’ divisive thoughts on what constitutes transparent government.