At its first meeting of the year, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider economic development incentives, an update on the property revaluation process and several board appointments.
Reich, LLC, a German metal working company, is requesting $350,000 in county economic incentive grants to help fund expansions at its local facility in the Vista Industrial Park in Avery’s Creek. In exchange, the company has agreed to invest $22 million in new machinery and equipment at its local plant and hire at least 35 new employees there.
Buncombe County Tax Director Gary Roberts is also scheduled to give the commissioners an update on the property reappraisal process. By the end of the month, every Buncombe County property owner should receive a notice in the mail from the Tax Office indicating the new value of their property for tax purposes.
In addition, the board will consider a number of board appointments, including positions with the Land of Sky Regional Council, Economic Development Coalition, the Health and Human Services Board and more.
As of this writing, the board will still be missing a commissioner when it meets Jan. 15, pending a court decision on challenges filed by Republican candidate Christina Kelley G. Merrill over the District 2 election results. A hand recount of all the District two ballots showed Democrat Ellen Frost with an 18 vote edge over Merrill but the Board of Elections hasn’t certified her the winner. The seven member board currently has six members that’ve been sworn in: three Democrats and three Republicans.
Board chair David Gantt and other commissioners have said they want to delay as many actions as possible until after the election despute is settled and all board members are seated.
The board will meet at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15, in the commissioner’s chambers, located at 200 College Street, suite 326. A short pre-meeting review of the agenda will begin at 4:15 p.m.
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