Every year, more than 10 million women and men experience some form of domestic violence, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. To help raise awareness on this critical issue, the Board of Commissioners declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month during its meeting on Oct. 3. The proclamation reads in part: “Survivors should have help to find the compassion, comfort, and healing they need, and abusers should be held accountable for their violent behavior. We know there is hope: The Buncombe County Family Justice Center collaborates to offer a safe place for survivors of domestic violence, and during fiscal year 2023, 56% of survivors accessed services at two or more partner agencies on their first visit.”
If you or anyone you know is dealing with domestic violence, please reach out to the Family Justice Center or call (828) 250-6900. All services are free and offered in English or Spanish with additional interpretation services available. The Family Justice Center accepts walk-ins, appointments, and referrals Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. You can also call Helpmate’s 24-hour hotline (828-254-0516) for domestic violence situations. You can read the proclamation in its entirety here.
Wanda Greene settlement
After a closed session before the formal meeting, Commissioners approved a deal to accept a settlement from former County Manager Wanda Greene, her son Michael Greene, and her daughter-in-law Celena Greene. During mediation on Sept. 22, it was agreed upon that the Greenes will pay $502,500 over the next three years. The settlement will be secured by a promissory note and first mortgage against the home of Michael and Celena Greene and a consent judgement will be prepared and filed. This is the last legal action or settlement Buncombe County has pending against the former County Manager.
Previously, Wanda paid settlements in the amount of $750,000 stemming from misappropriations associated with kickbacks and bribes from a general contractor. In all, Buncombe County has recovered just under $4 million associated with misappropriated funds during the Greene administration. That recovered money also comes from settlements involving former County Manager Mandy Stone, former Assistant County Manager Jon Creighton, and former Commissioner Ellen Frost. “It’s taken a long time to get here, but these processes take a long time,” said Commission Chair Brownie Newman. “We appreciate you getting a very effective settlement in this matter. These were County funds spent in ways never approved by Commissioners or disclosed to the public.”
Wanda, Michael, and Celena Greene have until December 2025 to pay the $502,500 settlement in full.
Ferry Road update
Commissioners received an update on the Ferry Road project. In 2021, the County announced its intention to create affordable housing on the 137-acre parcel located along the French Broad River in the Bent Creek area. A series of public input sessions were held, and the County conducted studies on the feasibility of different scenarios for housing density.
Working with the UNC School of Government, County staff presented an updated vision for Ferry Road. The goal is to create a diverse, mixed-income, and multi-generational community while being a model for sustainability, a hub for recreational opportunities, and provide equitable transportation access.
Some key highlights of the proposed development include:
- 645 total housing units with 530 rental properties and 115 homes for sale
- 54% of all housing units will be affordable (<100% AMI)
- 22,000 square feet for community services such as childcare, health services, and more
- 72 conserved acres (about 60% of the entire property)
- 1.9 greenway miles
- 1.7 trail miles
The estimated public-private investment for this proposal is $210 million, with the County’s overall cost being about $34 million. Construction would not be slated to begin until 2026. You can view the entire presentation with more details and a map of the proposed project here. You can also attend upcoming public meetings on the Ferry Road project:
- Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. at the Enka-Candler Library
- Saturday, Oct. 28 at 9 a.m. for a virtual meeting, click here for more details.
- Thursday, Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at 200 College St.
For the latest updates, to sign up for email notifications, and more, visit publicinput.com/ferryroad.
Insurance benefit update
Commissioners are approving updates to the County’s health insurance plan. During a presentation, County staff noted that heading into 2024 our benefit broker communicated a national trend of a 7% forecasted increase to health care costs. To lessen that impact, County Manager Avril Pinder recommended some changes to the plan design for 2024, which include:
- Fund the Health Savings Account for High-Deductible plans for one half of the annual deductible amount as advertised last year ($800/$1,600).
- Increase the deductible, co-insurance, and out-of-pocket maximums for the Standard Plan and increase the out-of-pocket maximums for the Buy Up and Core Plans.
- Increase the deductible and out-of-pocket maximums on the High-Deductible Health Plan as required by IRS regulations.
- A 6% increase for employee-paid dental premiums on the Dental Buy Up plan as required by our contract with Delta Dental of NC.
You can view the presentation about the County’s health insurance plan here.
Southeastern Specialty Vehicles contract
Commissioners are authorizing the purchase of additional ambulances for the County’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS). EMS located four demonstration ambulances that are pending construction through Southeastern Specialty Vehicles (SSV). To secure these units, the County must enter into a contract with SSV to purchase the four demo ambulances with delivery and payment in fiscal year 2025 for an amount not to exceed $1,427,850.00. The units will include idle mitigation systems that closely align with the County’s sustainability goals. You can view the SSV contract here.