Catawba County News
BOC Meeting Recap: 7/21/25
Published: July 22, 2025
The July 21, 2025 Board of Commissioners meeting was called to order at 7pm. The agenda for tonight’s meeting can be found at https://bit.ly/3utv5SE.
BOC approved minutes from the Board’s Regular Meeting and Closed Session of June 16, 2025.
Appointments
Chair Isenhower recommends the appointment of Pam Simmons to fill an unexpired term as an Alternate to the Catawba County Planning Board, with a term expiration of December 31, 2026. BOC approved.
Chair Isenhower recommends the reappointment of Austin Allran to the CVCC Board of Trustees for a second term, with a term expiration of June 30, 2029. BOC approved.
Vice-Chair Allran recommends the reappointment of Katherine “Kitty” Barnes to the Catawba County Council for the Arts for a second term, with a term expiration of June 30, 2028. BOC approved.
Commissioner Abernethy recommends the following appointments to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, all with term expirations of June 30, 2027: Ian Bumgarner to a first term; Chrissy Triplett to a first term; LaChauncey Coulter and Kyle Smith to second terms; Mark Bumgarner to a third term; and Eric Page to a fifth term. BOC approved.
Commissioner Abernethy recommends the following appointments to the Lake Norman Marine Commission: Barbara Beatty to a first term, with a term expiration of July 21, 2029; and First Sergeant Cameron Sloan to a first term, with a term expiration of July 21, 2030. BOC approved.
Commissioner Beatty recommends the appointment of Kristin Wright to the Repay Board for a second term, with a term expiration of July 17, 2028. BOC approved.
Commissioner Beatty recommends the appointment of Randy Allen Ritchie to the VFD Trustees’ Fireman’s Relief Fund, for a first term. BOC approved.
Presentations
2025 NACo Achievement Award: Pre-K STEAM, Library System
2025 NACo Achievement Award: Master Chef Junior, Library System
2025 NACo Achievement Award: Spanish Bookbagger Program, Library System
2025 NACo Achievement Award: 4-H Library Lego Robotics, Library System and Cooperative Extension
Public Hearings
Public hearing to consider adopting a resolution confirming the Final Assessment Roll for Bay Pointe subdivision and authorizing collection of assessments. Background: On June 16, 2025, the Board adopted a resolution for Bay Pointe subdivision establishing the Preliminary Assessment Roll, scheduling a public hearing for the approval of the Final Assessment Roll, and authorized submittal of a petition for NCDOT to accept the subject roads. The next step in the process is for the Board to conduct the advertised public hearing, adopt the Final Assessment Roll, and charge the Tax Administrator with the collection of the assessments. Property owners will then be notified of the assessment and payment options. BOC approved.
Public hearing to consider Wellington Subdivision Road Improvement Project and adopt the Final Assessment Resolution for the Project. BOC approved.
Department Reports
Tax
|1- 2024 Tax Settlement Report. BOC approved.
2- The Catawba County Tax Office requests the Board of Commissioners approve the 2025 Annual Order of Collections. This order is required each year by NCGS 105-321(b) to authorize the Tax Office to collect taxes and to pursue delinquent collections remedies as allowed by law. BOC approved.
Emergency Services
Staff requests the Board of County Commissioners approve purchase of the Mountain View Eddie A. Whitener Fire Station located at 3323 S. Hwy 127 for $800,000 and authorize the County Manager to execute all documents necessary to complete the purchase, subject to satisfactory due diligence. BOC approved.
Utilities & Engineering
1- Staff requests the Board of Commissioners: 1. Award the bid for the Langdon Ridge Subdivision Road Improvements to Midstate Contractors, Inc., of Hickory, in the amount of $29,768.91; 2. Transfer $35,000 from Subdivision Road Improvement Future Projects; and 3. Authorize the County Manager to execute all necessary documents associated with the project. BOC approved.
2- Staff requests the Board of Commissioners: 1. Award the bid for the Mountain Creek Ridge Subdivision Road Improvements to Midstate Contractors, Inc., of Hickory, in the amount of $238,805.00; 2. Transfer $245,000 from Subdivision Road Improvement Future Projects; and 3. Authorize the County Manager to execute all necessary documents associated with the project. BOC approved.
County Manager’s Office
Regional School Facillity Alignment presentation by McKissick Associates
Consent Agenda
1 – Home and Community Care Block Grant SFY 2025-2026 Background: The Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) and related funding is granted to Catawba County for the provision of services to persons over the age of 60. The Catawba County Commissioners appointed the Catawba County HCCBG Advisory Committee as the planning committee and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments as lead agency for planning, to bring recommendations to the Board of Commissioners concerning use of the funds.
The Home and Community Block Grant funding can support a variety of services, as specified by the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services. The Catawba County HCCBG Advisory Committee has chosen to recommend funding for 10 services for Catawba County for SFY 2025-2026. Catawba County will receive $1,027,602 for HCCBG Services for the service period of July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026. This amount is the same as FY25 at this time – the amount could change after a budget is passed.
2 – The Tax Administrator requests the Board of Commissioners to approve eight refunds totaling $24,180.53 and 74 Motor Vehicles Bill adjustments / refunds totaling $6,573.76 requested during the month of June.
BOC approved both agenda items.
Manager’s Report
Budget Transfer: Special contingency transfer to recognize a grant of $18,288.97 from the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to provide emergency financial assistance and essential support services to veterans and their families who are experiencing hardship.
Budget Transfer: Special contingency transfer to account for increase in ABC board revenues paid to Partners as required by NCGS 18B-804.
Attorney’s Report
1- Staff requests the Board of Commissioners adopt the agreement establishing funding responsibility and school assignment parameters for Catawba and Lincoln County students impacted by the new boundary between Lincoln and Catawba Counties established by Session Law 2025-30. BOC approved.
2- Staff requests the Board of Commissioners adopt the attached Joint Resolution reconstituting the Lake Norman Marine Commission. BOC approved.
BOC adjourned the meeting at 8:53 pm.