Catawba County News
BOC Recap: 10/19/26
Published: October 20, 2026
The October 19, 2026 Board of Commissioners meeting was called to order at 7pm. The agenda for the meeting can be found at https://bit.ly/3utv5SE.
BOC approved minutes from the Board’s Regular Meeting of October 5, 2026.
Presentations
Republic Services Customer Service Report presented by Republic Services Manager of Municipal Sales Scott Leffler.
Department Report
1 – Planning Director Chris Timberlake presented the Unified Development Ordinance Update to the BOC. Staff requested the BOC hold a public hearing to consider adoption of the update to the UDO. Staff also requests the BOC adopt proposed revisions to Chapter 32 – Solid Waste of the Catawba County Code of Ordinances, which inserts the entire Abandoned and Junk Vehicles section of regulations previously included in the Unified Development Ordinance. BOC approved.
BOC directed staff to do a study regarding regulation of short-term rental properties.
Background
In April 2024, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners adopted an updated Comprehensive Plan. This update emphasizes a deliberate and balanced approach to future development in Catawba County. Land use regulations established through the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) aid in implementing the community values expressed in the comprehensive plan. The purpose of this proposed update is to reflect the goals of the 2024 Catawba County Comprehensive Plan, address current development challenges, and align with recent updates to North Carolina General Statutes. Over the past 18 months, county staff, along with consultant staff from Freese & Nichols, have worked to gather community and targeted stakeholder feedback and to update the UDO to reflect the Comprehensive Plan.
Consent Agenda
1 – The Finance and Personnel Subcommittee recommends the Board of Commissioners appropriate $6,000 to the Library Endowment Fund to account for revenue overcollections.
Background:
In 2016, the Catawba County Libraries established a formal endowment account through the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF) to serve as a vehicle for receiving private donations. These donations are sent to the NCCF at the end of each fiscal year. Over the past two fiscal years, donations have come in over-budget by $2,800, and donations for the current year already exceed the budgeted amount of $3,000. Staff recommends increasing the amount budgeted towards Library Endowment contributions by $6,000 which would allow last year’s overcollection to be sent to NCCF and would leave enough funds remaining to cover the projected end-of-year donations for FY2026/2027.
2 – The Finance and Personnel Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners appropriate an additional $118,000 in Rural Health Transformation Program Mobile Integrated Healthcare (RHTP MIH) grant funds for the REACH community paramedicine program and authorize the County Manager to execute the contract amendment and associated documents.
Background:
In July 2026, the Board of Commissioners accepted funding through the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ Rural Health Transformation Program to expand Emergency Services' community paramedicine capabilities through the REACH program. The original award supported personnel, workforce development, technology, medical supplies, and other resources necessary to expand community-based healthcare, behavioral health, substance use disorder response, and care coordination. After initial grant award, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services made additional grant funds available to the RHTP MIH grant awardees. Through this, Catawba County has secured $118,000 more in funding, increasing the total contract amount from $195,000 to $313,000, all of which requires no County match. The existing contract termination date of September 30, 2027 remains unchanged.
The additional funding is specifically designated to support:
• $36,000 for acquisition and upfit of a dedicated Community Paramedic response vehicle; and
• $82,000 for communications equipment supporting MIH field operations.
The dedicated response vehicle will support community-based healthcare delivery and expansion of Community Paramedicine services. The communications equipment will support field communications, coordination, and other operational requirements associated with the County's growing MIH program.
3 – The Policy and Public Works Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners:
a. Adopt a resolution establishing total project cost, setting the Preliminary Assessment Roll, and scheduling a Public Hearing on the Preliminary Assessment Roll for Wellington Subdivision Road Improvement Project; and
b. Authorize the Chair to petition the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to accept Wellington Avenue, Dublin Lane and Devonshire Road into NCDOT’s Secondary Road Maintenance Program.
4 – The Policy and Public Works Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners adopt a resolution declaring Catawba County’s intent to participate in the Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (CPACE) Program and setting a November 2, 2026 Public Hearing to consider participation.
Background:
The NC Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE) Program offers long-term private financing for commercial property upgrades in energy, water, and resiliency improvements. Established by the General Assembly in 2024 through Senate Bill 802, c-PACE is administered by the Economic Development Corporation of NC. The program creates an additional financing tool for property owners to use private funds to finance improvements to eligible properties, supporting economic development by helping building owners make major building improvements, refinance / recapitalize after improvements, construct new buildings, and drive jobs and investment.
5 - Staff requests the Board of Commissioners approve 60 releases totaling $50,557.03, one refund totaling $83.30 and 53 Motor Vehicles Bill adjustments / refunds totaling $3,704.75 requested during the month of September.
BOC approved all five items.
Manager’s Report
Engineering Supervisor Addition to Pay Plan - The classification of Engineering Supervisor has been added to the County’s classification plan at a pay grade 82 with a salary range of $79,684.61-$131,479.62.
Adjournment
BOC adjourned the meeting at 9:21 pm.