On the agenda: Hendersonville Minutes — Flock camera (Oct 21)

October 21, 2026

MINUTES
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF HENDERSON

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2026

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners met for a regularly scheduled meeting at 9:30
a.m. in the Commissioners' Meeting Room of the Historic Courthouse on Main Street,
Hendersonville.
Present were: Chairman William Lapsley, Vice-Chair J. Michael Edney, Commissioner Rebecca
McCall, Commissioner Jay Egolf, and Commissioner Sheila Franklin; County Manager John
Mitchell, Financial Services Director Samantha Reynolds, County Attorney Russ Burrell, and
Clerk to the Board Denisa Lauffer.
Also present were: Capital Projects Manager Bryan Rhodes, Cooperative Extension Director Dr.
Terry Kelley, Director of Public Health David Jenkins, A/V Technician Oscar Guererra, Director
of Human Resources Karen Ensley, Internal Auditor Natalie Pinto, Planner Paulina Jones, Tax
Assessor Kevin Hensley, Social Services Program Manager - Adult Services Tracy Corn, Social
Media Coordinator Tiffany Lucey, and Finance Director Randal Cox. Deputy Matt Covil provided
security.
CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME
Commissioner Lapsley called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
INVOCATION
John Mitchell provided the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chairman Lapsley led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
RESOLUTIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
2026.112 “We Are Hope” Week in Henderson County
The Board of Commissioners was requested to adopt a resolution, observing November 9 – 13,
2026, as “We Are Hope” Week in Henderson County Public Schools’ middle and high schools.
Commissioner Franklin made a motion to adopt the Resolution, observing November 9 – 13,
2026, as “We Are Hope” Week in Henderson County Public Schools’ middle and high schools.
All voted in favor, and the motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT (Comments are the views and opinions of the speaker)
1. Steven Studebaker, a member of the HCCBG Committee, spoke about the aging population and
the need for a senior center in the County.
2. Julie Huneycutt with Hope Coalition addressed concerns and misinformation regarding Hope
Coalition vending machines located in the county. She provided a handout and samples of the items
available through the machines. Huneycutt clarified that Hope Coalition has never supported providing
clean needles through the machines and emphasized that the organization’s mission is to “meet people
where they are.” Since July, the machines have dispensed 128 doses.
3. Aaron Black addressed concerns regarding the misuse of Flock cameras and urged the Board to review
documented cases of misuse before the topic is discussed at an upcoming meeting.
Approved:

October 21, 2026

2

DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT OF AGENDA
Chairman Lapsley moved to approve the agenda as presented. All voted in favor, and the motion
carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Minutes
Draft minutes were presented for Board review and approval for the following meeting: October 5,
2026
Motion: I move the Board approve the minutes from October 5, 2026.
2026.113 Resolution – Amended Opioid Settlement Fund Expenditure Authorization
At the Board’s April 6, 2026, meeting, the Board authorized a resolution allowing funds for a vehicle
under the strategy of Recovery Support Services. The vehicle was ordered prior to the authorization
deadline of June 30, 2026, but was not charged to the County until August 27, 2026. At the Board’s
June 17, 2026, meeting, the Board approved a resolution representing a continuation of the County’s
Opioid Settlement Strategies through the 2026–2027 Fiscal Year. The cost of the vehicle must be
added to that current Authorization.
The Board was requested to adopt an amendment to the Opioid Settlement Fund Expenditure
Authorization Resolution per the Memorandum of Agreement between the State of North Carolina
and Local Governments on Proceeds Relating to the Settlement of Opioid Litigation, which dictates
the process for drawing from the Special Revenue Fund.
Motion: I move the Board adopt an amendment to the Opioid Settlement Fund Expenditure
Authorization Resolution modifying the amount allotted to the Recovery Support Services Strategy to
accommodate the cost of the vehicle and, therefore, the total amount of the initial appropriation.
2026.114 North Carolina Arts Council Grant Contract
The budget amendment and grant contract for the North Carolina Arts Council's Grassroots Art
Program was presented for the Board’s review and approval. Henderson County is acting as a passthrough entity for these funds, totaling $80,363. With the Board's approval, Henderson County will
accept the grant funds from the North Carolina Arts Council, draft grant contracts for each awardee,
and disburse all grant funds to the organizations selected by the committee. The Grant Administrator
will ensure subgrantees meet North Carolina Arts Council reporting requirements and submit the
grant's final report.
Motion: I move that the Board approve the grant contract with the North Carolina Arts Council for
the Grassroots Art Program and the associated budget amendment as presented.
Facility Use Policy Exemption
The County received an application from Special Needs Sports to use the Historic Courthouse
Courtyard on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. for the Special Needs Craft
Fair.

Approved:

October 21, 2026

3

To allow this use on County grounds, the Board was asked to grant a one-time exemption from
rule #5 of the County Facility Use Policy, which prohibits solicitation on the grounds. If granted,
this exemption would cover the date and time specified on the application and outlined above.
Motion: I move that the Board grant an exemption to the County Facility Use Policy for Special
Needs Sports, allowing for the sale of arts and crafts in the Historic Courthouse Courtyard or
within the Courthouse, if necessary, on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Vendor Contract – Motorola Solutions, Inc.
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office determined that the equipment and services in the
proposed contract represent the best value while providing needed body and other camera
equipment and image storage for the Office. The contract offered by Motorola has been
determined by Sourcewell, a government purchasing cooperative, to provide pricing as good as or
better than (from the County’s perspective) the basic discount contract negotiated by Sourcewell.
The new contract, extending an existing Motorola contract, provides for a total of five years’
service.
Motion: I move that the Board agree to the proposed contract extension, addition, and terms with
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
Construction Manager at Risk Selection – Berkeley Ballpark Project
The Board was requested to approve the selection of Blum as the Construction Manager at Risk
(CMR) for the Berkeley Ballpark Project, per the RFQ selection committee’s recommendation,
and authorize Henderson County staff to proceed with contract negotiations for CMR services on
this project.
The Statements of Qualifications received were from: Blum, Vannoy, Cooper, Ryse, MMTH, and
MB Haynes.
Motion: I move the Board approve the selection of Blum as the Construction Manager at Risk
for the Berkeley Ballpark Project.
Vice-Chair Edney moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. All voted in favor, and the
motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING
Chairman Lapsley made a motion to go into the public Hearing. All voted in favor, and the motion
carried.
2026.115 Public Hearing to Consider Economic Incentives for Project Press
Brittany Brady presented the proposed economic incentives requested for Project Press.
Public Comment: There was none.
Chairman Lapsley made a motion to go out of the public Hearing. All voted in favor, and the
motion carried.
Approved:

October 21, 2026

4

DISCUSSION
Construction Projects Update
Bryan Rhodes and Chris Todd provided the Board with an update on construction projects around
Henderson County.
The construction report provided updates on several ongoing and upcoming projects for Blue
Ridge Community College, Henderson County Public Schools, and Henderson County. Highlights
included progress on the BRCC Facilities Building, with bids received in October and the
Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) expected to be presented to the Board in December. Several
additional BRCC renovation and infrastructure projects are also moving forward.
For Henderson County Public Schools, HVAC controls replacements are underway at multiple
campuses, with completion anticipated by November 18, 2026. The Atkinson Elementary HVAC
replacement project is also moving into the scheduling phase.
County capital projects continue to advance, including the Spartanburg Highway Medical Office
Building, where interior painting has begun, and the Mills River Medical Office Building, which
is scheduled to begin construction in December. The Detention Center and Courthouse projects
are progressing.
Other updates included continued construction at the Berkeley Park Sports Complex, completion
of the complex's restroom facilities, and advancement of the Berkeley Park Baseball Field project.
Planning and design work also continues on accessibility improvements at the Henderson County
Athletics and Activities Center and the new Public Schools Bus Garage, scheduled for completion
in summer 2028.
Henderson County State of Aging
Elizabeth Williams, Executive Director with Mountain Aging Partners, provided the Board with
an update for the State of Aging in Henderson County.
The presentation recognized the community partners serving on the Henderson County Aging
Collaborative (HCAC) Steering Committee. It emphasized the importance of collaboration among
local government, healthcare providers, community organizations, and residents in developing a
stronger plan for aging services in Henderson County. The message highlighted the collaborative
approach of shared planning, shared priorities, and shared responsibility.
Community partners include Henderson County Government, City of Hendersonville, WNC
Source, Four Seasons Hospice, AdventHealth, UNC Health Pardee, Land of Sky Area Agency on
Aging, and community members.
For additional information, contact Elizabeth at the HCAC: [email protected].
Invasive Species in Henderson County
Steve Pettis, Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent for Cooperative Extension, presented
the Board with information on invasive species in Henderson County, including the Joro spider.

Approved:

October 21, 2026

5

Design Agreement – Etowah Sewer Plan Replacement
During the Board’s March 19, 2025, meeting, WithersRavenel, Inc. (WR) was selected as the most
qualified responding firm to perform engineering services for the Etowah Sewer System Treatment
Plant replacement. Subsequently, staff has negotiated a proposed amendment with WR for
$1,603,750. The amendment covers engineering services to design, permit, and bid the
replacement of the wastewater treatment plant. The original agreement was for the preliminary
engineering study WR performed for the plant project.
The updated construction budget is $16,893,800, including a 10% contingency. For evaluation
purposes, the fee proposal is 9.5% of the construction budget, which is within industry benchmarks
for civil projects and, more specifically, wastewater plant projects. This proposal also benchmarks
well with other utility projects by the County and others (see table below). Importantly, the
updated schedule sets project completion at 36 months, consistent with our preliminary estimate.
The schedule for this project is critical to avoid temporary treatment should the current plant fail.
Temporary treatment would cost several million dollars.
The project is partially funded with a $12.7M grant from the Division of Water Infrastructure
(DWI). Grant applications are underway for the remaining funding. The DWI grant will fund this
amendment.
Staff recommended approval of the amendment.

Approved:

October 21, 2026

6

The Board discussed the proposed design agreement with Withers Ravenel for the Etowah Sewer
Plant Replacement Project. Commissioner Lapsley raised concerns regarding the project fees, the
time required to complete the report, and the urgency of addressing the condition of the existing
Etowah Sewer System, which could experience a major failure. He noted that the County paid
$163,000 for the report, which he believed took longer than necessary to complete, and expressed
disappointment that the report had not been revised to incorporate his recommendations.
Commissioner Lapsley requested clarification on several matters before the Board made a
decision. The report assumes construction of a 250,000-gallon-per-day treatment plant, while the
County has approximately $12.7 million available. He questioned how the project would be funded
and whether the engineering fee would be reduced if the Board elected to construct a smaller
facility. The Withers Ravenel engineer explained that the proposed 9.5% design fee was a fixed
fee and that the proposal included some scope reductions. The proposed fee falls within a range of
approximately 8.5% to 11.8% and does not include construction administration, which would be
an additional expense anticipated more than a year later. Marcus Jones noted that excluding
construction administration from the current agreement was not unusual.
The Board also discussed the project schedule and the minimum treatment capacity needed to serve
the existing sewer system. Commissioner McCall asked whether reducing the plant's size would
shorten the design timeline, and the response was that it would not. Mr. Jones explained that a
minimum 125,000-gallon-per-day plant would be needed to serve the system as it exists today,
noting the current moratorium. Given the condition of the existing plant, the Board emphasized
the urgency of beginning the project, with 36 months identified as the best-case timeline for
completion. Commissioner Egolf noted that property acquisition was ongoing, and the Board
discussed value engineering and potential opportunities to reduce the project's scope and cost.
Commissioner Edney emphasized that the proposed fee covered design only, with construction
administration fees to be additional.
Commissioner McCall expressed appreciation to Commissioner Lapsley for his years of expertise
and knowledge and for the significant savings he had helped achieve for taxpayers.
Commissioner McCall moved the Board to authorize the County Engineer to execute the proposed
amendment with WithersRavenel, Inc. for $1,603,750. The motion passed with a 4-1 vote,
Chairman Lapsley was the nay vote.
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Update
Emergency Management Director Jimmy Brissie provided an update on current FEMA Hazard
Mitigation Grant Applications.

Approved:

October 21, 2026

7

Approved:

October 21, 2026

8

NOMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
1. Animal Services Committee – 1 vac.
Vice-Chair Edney nominated Lisa Wiggins for appointment to Seat #2. All voted in favor, and
the motion carried.
2. Cemetery Advisory Committee – 3 vacs.
Chairman Lapsley nominated Thomas Fugate for reappointment to Seat #5, Susan Huff for
reappointment to Seat #6, and David Hill for reappointment to Seat #7. All voted in favor, and
the motion carried.
3. Environmental Advisory Committee – 2 vacs., and Appointment of Chair
Commissioner Franklin moved to nominate Justin Brett Willis for appointment to Seat #2. All
voted in favor, and the motion carried.
4. Fire and Rescue Advisory Board – 1 vac.
Chairman Lapsley moved to nominate Mark Wilson for appointment to Seat #4. All voted in
favor, and the motion carried.
5. Henderson County Board of Health – 1 vac.
No nominations were made, and this item was carried to the next meeting.
6. Hendersonville City Zoning Board of Adjustment – 1 vac.
No nominations were made, and this item was carried to the next meeting.
Approved:

October 21, 2026

9

7. Hickory Nut Gorge Recovery Committee – Appointment of Chairman
Chairman Lapsley moved to nominate Harvey Nix for appointment as Chairman of the Hickory
Nut Gorge Recovery Committee. All voted in favor, and the motion carried.
8. Juvenile Crime Prevention Council – 3 vacs.
Commissioner Franklin moved to nominate Susan Jolley for appointment to Seat #19. All
voted in favor, and the motion carried.
9. Nursing/Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee – 11 vacs.
No nominations were made, and this item was carried to the next meeting.
COMMISSIONER UPDATES
The Board provided no updates.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY REPORT/COUNTY MANAGER’S REPORT
There was no report from the County Manager.
Vice-Chair Edney made the motion to go into Closed Session pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143318.11(a)(3). All voted in favor, and the motion carried.
ADJOURN

______________________________
Denisa A. Lauffer, Clerk to the Board

______________________________
William G. Lapsley, Chairman

Approved: