Regular Meeting of The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners | November 5, 2026

At its regular meeting on November 5, 2026, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved several funding and infrastructure items. The Board approved conservation-easement funding requests, including $62,900 in transaction costs for the 59-acre Slutter Branch Farm and bond support for previously reviewed easement purchases. One project was described as costing nearly $1.2 million, with $284,000 requested from bond funds; another was estimated at nearly $590,000, with the transcript indicating a request of about $135,500. The presentation also described supplemental transaction-cost funding and noted that nearly $24 million of the county’s $30 million open-space bond had already been allocated. The Board approved a budget amendment to repair the landfill-gas generator using savings from the Cell 7 expansion; the repair amount was not stated. The generator produces electricity sold to Duke Energy, generating about $18,000 per month when operating.

The Board also accepted a $1 million Department of Justice grant over five years to support treatment-court programs, including an in-house clinician and housing assistance. It approved a design-services contract with Matter and Craig for Hurricane Helene-related access-road repairs at county communication tower sites. The design work will support FEMA-reimbursable construction and mitigation; engineered plans were expected around February, followed by bidding for construction. Contract value was not stated. The motions on these items were approved; the conservation-easement request was approved unanimously. No other procurement details were provided for the consent agenda, and the meeting concluded with a closed session concerning litigation.