[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6634528,"mediaKeyId","2663863-7825a22c50569a1eb0d29d585f22998c","parentId",2663863,"title","Votes at a glance: March 17 Ashe County Board of Commissioners meeting","audioSeconds",333,"startMs",96000,"endMs",429000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663863-7825a22c50569a1eb0d29d585f22998c&start=96&end=429","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663863-7825a22c50569a1eb0d29d585f22998c/thumbnail_96000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6634528/Ashe-County/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-March-17-Ashe-County-Board-of-Commissioners-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634528-22a3124d0ff016a039a48d2eed2a68af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158763&Signature=GU8qjbNupJI6nUtIV3SfHllTzZ8v7kQKa0gG-9MAyfwGFSMigHBQX6twjsmnacedqUjPwuvnCgAp4Bn8mwjviPFJLlb0OYYw8E3QcjxYsPHLcBwwnvNxNBVhqs4Im1775gXlVGXZ19ZEs6ta-E5TPnYiaJ~SVriQSeZUPlu3wD4bLz9AJvDpck4EsA8o0z0eveNRy9allQSGgvg2t80mZOJL0kDzLLRxezJmKdKMal7NkQ9-odf4Gwk9qWJcWWeK0lKgMUk625fyZepzBRpvGP1WND58eiGbba87MqyDOJGtTVCAgt8yT6DUMMp4-PfEjoG9F8rVKeLlPPSSGUtYGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ashe County","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Ashe County Board of Commissioners took several routine and administrative votes during its March 17 meeting. Below is a concise list of recorded actions and outcomes as reflected in the meeting transcript.

• Consent agenda (minutes): Motion to adopt the consent agenda (minutes). Outcome: approved by voice vote.

• Adoption of the agenda: Motion to adopt the agenda as printed. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

• Permission to advertise delinquent taxes: County tax staff reported a 97.89% collection rate for the current levy and recommended advertising outstanding current‑year taxes in April as required by statute. Motion to grant permission to advertise delinquent taxes. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

• Personnel committee recommendation: Motion to adopt personnel policy updates (probation reduced to one year; sick‑leave transfer language and longevity schedule updated). Outcome: approved by voice vote (see separate article for details).

• Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation: Motion to proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Ashe County. Outcome: approved by voice vote (see separate article for details).

• Acceptance of state cash‑flow loan: Motion to accept the state cash‑flow loan agreement to provide funds for disaster response activities (loan amount cited at about $468,000). Outcome: approved by voice vote (see separate article for details).

Where motions were moved and approved by voice, the transcript did not record individual roll‑call tallies or the names of movers and seconders for each motion. If names of movers/seconders or roll‑call tallies are required, staff will provide meeting minutes and the official record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ashe County - County Commission on 2025-03-17 9:00 AM - Mar 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A quick summary of formal votes recorded during the March 17 meeting, including routine agenda actions and administrative motions.","taxTitle","Ashe County, North Carolina","taxId",45072,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634532,"Ashe County proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month; advocates urge more prevention funding",336,1600000,1936000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663863-7825a22c50569a1eb0d29d585f22998c&start=1600&end=1936","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663863-7825a22c50569a1eb0d29d585f22998c/thumbnail_1600000.jpg","/articles/6634532/Ashe-County/North-Carolina/Ashe-County-proclaims-April-Child-Abuse-Prevention-Month-advocates-urge-more-prevention-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634532-b164814b44a92ef5442a47762301ece7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158763&Signature=RjtrAbsHumUUVpGdDHR8h-EmgBsHNeh5muLLbZu2zBcxkH~AS9WGKsGRZvLxH1tcpbrtk0uGfm5V6HRWkXXM~7kI0WKfV-dNH-xZOS8hlD~E9ZGY34OGCubjpynGYm~PSqkBuO9--aZOLLBasI4ECwq7MIOuKZjaZgaYW3ZG-lZOR9mzF9qvwsZqWdeSaoS7c-ElikcGLNmRE~MF7Cc0lBzbDE4OzNnKk8Sync0m29NNsoNWurhMSA~b1OtsfT6eQ9DofZJtpGVDBBtrcjwyq3s1hxj9BibMEp9C0Vlr-5vxZk-51d8koCU-nen6iSz6pG1bh8cUq5qQnfzXi4J~zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ashe County commissioners unanimously proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month on March 17 after a presentation by Partnership of Ash and the Children's Advocacy Center.

Laurie Hensley, who identified herself as representing Partnership of Ash, read the proclamation outlining the need to support positive childhood experiences, family economic supports and community‑based prevention programs. Hensley asked the board to designate April as Child Abuse Prevention Month; a commissioner moved the proclamation and the board approved it.

Megan Hudson, director of the Children's Advocacy Center in Ashe County, told commissioners there are “definite hiccups in prosecution” of child‑abuse cases in North Carolina and described one legal issue that complicates prosecutions: state law grants accused persons the right to face their accuser, which can lead to plea agreements rather than trials because prosecutors and advocates are reluctant to place children before alleged perpetrators. Hudson said the advocacy center provides services regardless of whether a case goes to court and noted that trauma‑focused cognitive behavioral therapy has been available in Ashe County for two years and is offered free to families served by the nonprofit.

Speakers also noted outreach plans: pinwheels and blue‑ribbon signage will be displayed, and the organizations encouraged residents to wear blue on April 4 as a visible sign of support for prevention. One presenter cited a funding statistic noted in the proclamation that, as written, for every $10 spent only $1.50 goes to prevention; presenters urged citizens to raise awareness with representatives to shift more resources toward prevention.

Commissioners thanked the presenters and acknowledged county support for the local advocacy center, which leases space from the county for $1 and provides counseling and family‑support services locally.","The board approved a proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month; presenters from Partnership of Ash and the Children's Advocacy Center described prevention efforts, local services and challenges in prosecuting child abuse cases.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634537,"Ashe County personnel committee recommendation approved: probation cut to 1 year, sick‑leave and longevity updates",437,886000,1323000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663863-7825a22c50569a1eb0d29d585f22998c&start=886&end=1323","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663863-7825a22c50569a1eb0d29d585f22998c/thumbnail_886000.jpg","/articles/6634537/Ashe-County/North-Carolina/Ashe-County-personnel-committee-recommendation-approved-probation-cut-to-1-year-sickleave-and-longevity-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634537-d6395875bd1199296daa3ecd4ce059f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158763&Signature=o0pWV1vZKUR82P0DDSLpKQ6DTMVHqU1PwEsALSwDmzuKr6TXmbFDoQEgMo3VsPYC0v~XP-o9~1AU-59F8hkHCifRIetIPC6p6RRZ3xnjVXVBr9PchUOaYxu~CAcpfqN-guzbVXIfQN2toQ9DmK5~Ec1N9KgQxSOK~BSXiF-7FO6aWL8azFjfkSEc4SiVKzuGKm5iXJ0VXPW2ZD~18qaQbY~7pFvDwHd3YaZdrrq1t4usTBeM9QrsRf-qazIohDRpmGOKIapnCYTquO5xK-q1Yla0dKfz0wA6AFn~slcuaPEv-6x~u32nhVTm2nqiNLFMGZXfYq7ziEGofiUmgeMutw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ashe County commissioners voted March 17 to adopt personnel‑policy changes recommended unanimously by the county personnel committee, shortening the county probationary period for employees from two years to one and updating several human‑resources provisions.

Trace, speaking as the personnel committee spokesperson, presented the package of technical changes and said the committee recommended reducing the probationary period to align with other state personnel rules and to make the county’s policies consistent across departments. “The probationary period in the resolute human services resolution that's currently in place is 2 years,” Trace said; the committee recommended changing that to one year for all county employees.

The revisions approved by the board included replacing language that limited sick‑leave transfers to local government retirement systems with wording that allows transfers to and from the North Carolina Retirement System, which the presenter said would smooth transfers between state and local employers. The county also updated the longevity schedule in the human resources resolution to match the salary study; the new longevity steps were described as occurring every two years.

Commissioners asked whether the policy provides for extending a probationary period for employees who take extended family‑medical leave. Staff said they would research that specific provision and, if necessary, add language; the transcript shows the question was not resolved at the meeting. The personnel committee had approved the recommendation unanimously and commissioners adopted it by voice vote.

The board was told that the changes are intended, in part, to aid employee retention and to align county policy with other jurisdictions and the results of a recent salary study.","Commissioners approved personnel committee recommendations to reduce the county probationary period from two years to one, update sick‑leave transfer language to the North Carolina retirement system and revise longevity scheduling tied to a recent salary study.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634541,"Ashe County approves $468,000 state cash‑flow loan and hears updates on disaster aid programs",2613,171000,2784000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663863-7825a22c50569a1eb0d29d585f22998c&start=171&end=2784","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663863-7825a22c50569a1eb0d29d585f22998c/thumbnail_171000.jpg","/articles/6634541/Ashe-County/North-Carolina/Ashe-County-approves-468000-state-cashflow-loan-and-hears-updates-on-disaster-aid-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634541-23cbbe7f182e22ff421dc7680db7ae77/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158763&Signature=iGEwWp175xlXqDAW68ZEHN36Vc2vs~tV8Tg8d5f~2S8S1cdhZEVUIIi8DLsS4qRGpNs5yO~Dp5kU9~-PkCUNWW0TBYOXsliKqVRG0P-9TurfDmGpQv1hUfTmFopTa00xZ1mbPED4rxXsp0yuedjDWGB6-qD2nAXCOq~IptEirEMCjEjGu~HaEyG2v0ecNmjpxeROYdxBy-vY5ojfqYcOj2TfrekJ5abVAPg7rEV3DEG0RXEdn28dXYDT8GH5n7RWhdkMPutp7qkDwtjrV3U3JVViJP~bTm95zkRAAsXvBYra0HiTOuu93SWxqQzZzDUNb9LfW6GNDmjf9l5X395qlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ashe County commissioners voted to accept a state cash‑flow loan of about $468,000 on March 17 to bridge recovery expenses from Hurricane Helene while the county pursues FEMA reimbursements.

The loan, enacted in a recovery bill passed in Raleigh in October 2024, is intended to cover immediate cash‑flow needs such as debris removal, repairs to county facilities and other emergency operations, county staff said. “The amount of the loan is about $468,000. There is no interest on the loan,” a county staff member explained during the meeting.

The vote to accept the state loan was taken after staff said agreements were sent to western counties affected by the storm and that the funds would be used to pay current recovery costs while FEMA paperwork and reimbursements continue. Commissioners were told there is discussion at the state level about making some loans forgivable, but nothing has been authorized.

The board also heard public‑comment and agency briefings related to recovery assistance. Elias, a representative of the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resiliency, reminded residents that the deadline to apply for physical‑damage disaster loans is April 27 and summarized loan options for homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations. He said physical‑damage loans can cover up to $500,000 for homeowners, up to $2,000,000 for businesses and up to $100,000 for personal property for homeowners and renters; economic‑injury loans for working capital also are available. Elias advised applicants to check their SBA disaster portal and follow up on withdrawn applications, which can be pulled to avoid an automatic denial while missing information is resolved.

County social‑services staff reported ongoing disaster case management activity and described donated temporary housing units (campers) placed with families. A department representative said case management has helped coordinate hookups and septic work and that a long‑term recovery group may pay electricians in bulk to speed connections for donated units; staff noted roughly nine families remained on a waiting list at the time of the report.

Via Health, the regional managed‑care organization, provided an update on behavioral‑health tailored plans and a Hope for NC grant program offering direct outreach and support for people impacted by the storm. A Via Health representative said the organization is expanding provider networks and operating a pilot to address social determinants of health for eligible members.

County staff emphasized that the loan proceeds are intended as short‑term cash‑flow assistance and that the county will continue to pursue federal reimbursements. Commissioners approved the loan and asked staff to report back with updated totals of anticipated FEMA reimbursements at a future meeting.

The board recessed to an executive session after the regular agenda.","Commissioners voted to accept a state cash‑flow loan to cover immediate hurricane recovery expenses while officials and outside agencies briefed the board on loan, grant and case‑management resources available to residents.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: March 17 Ashe County Board of Commissioners meeting

Ashe County proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month; advocates urge more prevention funding

Ashe County personnel committee recommendation approved: probation cut to 1 year, sick‑leave and longevity updates

Ashe County approves $468,000 state cash‑flow loan and hears updates on disaster aid programs