Briefing | Board of Commissioners | September 15, 2026

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners held a briefing on September 15, 2026, covering several key topics including wildlife management, disaster recovery, and infrastructure projects. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the bear-resistant cart program managed by FCC, the county's exclusive franchise hauler. Commissioners discussed the lease option for bear carts at an additional $10 per month, with approximately 2,800 carts currently deployed and a desire to expand the program despite cost challenges. The board also reviewed updates on the county's preparedness and recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Helen, highlighting progress on emergency operations, shelter planning, and logistics systems. Funding updates included FEMA public assistance grants and community development block grants (CDBG-DR) for infrastructure projects such as sidewalks in the Swannanoa area, with applications totaling over $20 million. Additionally, the board received an economic development update on East Fork Pottery's expansion, which includes a $21,000 incentive package tied to job creation. The meeting concluded with a solid waste update on a $190,000 litter sweep project targeting secondary roads in unincorporated areas. Several motions related to grant acceptance and project authorizations were anticipated for future meetings, but no immediate votes were recorded during this session.