[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",6568545,"mediaKeyId","3194422-862574af0dca70850455eba75298450f","parentId",3194422,"title","Votes at a glance: Morganton City Council actions, May 5, 2025","audioSeconds",1182,"startMs",304000,"endMs",1486000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194422-862574af0dca70850455eba75298450f&start=304&end=1486","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194422-862574af0dca70850455eba75298450f/thumbnail_304000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6568545/Morganton/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Morganton-City-Council-actions-May-5-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568545-37429853b6b305439f20f259e141d895/orig.mp4?Expires=1771214859&Signature=g3auQxJ-lyLBE2aQMaIWFFu0mtDCJ96d-V6VqoRpkjJzOTiLbBRGNi3bP5kZ67ksx-qiLm6h-Ppyb9Gv-pH72lUV-gN3EytizgPe1-wcz4zoGAufMMkRd0SvIoFReHYRGhvrNAaiSZKAQTWiRptTX2NMGNC4-B-D~MbaPLmusw7ikR9B14A5RjrXfizXYFDbiVuXL23z86CczHC5kWnqEQ9C99kn0fjtMIYOTYD0PheM0NVNP3N90XcCpuxBeRbzWZ6pGqngnLPEdHNuUa5Yi-MF50d7unbo-2Hi~wUzBR~UUImlq3KIxjrPd9RydrrAe0HQoUYkUeLmokl-ZuluxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Morganton","date","2025-05-05T23:43:56.627Z","article","The Morganton City Council took the following formal actions at its May 5 meeting (voice votes unless noted):

- Adopted a resolution honoring Steven Braswell on his retirement (resolution adopted).
- Approved the consent agenda, including minutes, March tax releases ($1,642.47), setting municipal election filing fees ($25), waiver of storm-damage permit fees through 12/31/2025, designation of Chief Ryan Lander for ABC permit recommendations, and a contract with Bars Recreation for park amenities at Bethel RePark in the budgeted amount of $240,000.
- Approved a master services agreement and a contract with Arete Engineers of Morganton for design, bidding and construction oversight for the River Village boardwalk, amount not to exceed $120,730 (contract award).
- Adopted resolutions opposing North Carolina House Bill 765, Senate Bill 492 and Senate Bill 451 as described by staff (resolutions adopted).
- Adopted a resolution agreeing to assume a proportionate share of Salem Fire and Rescue Department's outstanding debt in connection with a recent voluntary annexation (city's annual share calculated at $3,861.84) (resolution adopted).
- Approved a budget amendment to transfer $130,000 from the general fund to the Helene project fund for storm-related expenses (budget amendment adopted).
- Authorized staff to apply for a North Carolina Commerce Small Business Infrastructure Program grant in the amount of $1,000,000 and authorized the mayor or city manager to execute necessary documents (grant application authorized).
- Reappointed Tricia Evans Hunt to the Human Relations Commission for a term expiring May 3, 2028 (mayoral appointment).

All items listed above were adopted by voice vote; the meeting minutes and posted agenda should be consulted for full roll‑call details where required by statute.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May, 2025, City of Morganton, NC Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A concise list of formal motions adopted by the Morganton City Council at its May 5 meeting, including awards, budget amendments, appointments and resolutions.","taxTitle","Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina","taxId",51078,"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},6568550,"Morganton agrees to assume proportionate share of Salem Fire & Rescue debt tied to annexation",147,2197000,2344000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194422-862574af0dca70850455eba75298450f&start=2197&end=2344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194422-862574af0dca70850455eba75298450f/thumbnail_2197000.jpg","/articles/6568550/Morganton/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Morganton-agrees-to-assume-proportionate-share-of-Salem-Fire-Rescue-debt-tied-to-annexation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568550-1f095614ce5948fd4c47964663a3d52a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771214859&Signature=S-aD-5HBjOtHoPrdtvez5vD0WEHIzAxa5jcCNYyoOhv3Y-ne1NM4b14kyNBj5F4RGWQnvLiH~35rFPYmvG7rHv-FB1jacT6Tfk0GWywcbqP5ax3X4xX1K2FVM4CGQPCxn~fou-h~epG8gnpXzFKWB83iktgOUMRGA5mYJhF8HqnVBQtZOBoYis1M742kljzelWmIA6dVWLwzHSCbrRBxL-Q~bWL8GEv~a89SIzzE0Hi2FnSfN6Oe271CaKJZ7ICMbw-aZVGfrMm8mCJGSz83MUq1xd5-30Hs3x7LJGgBphFcBbucqgBj7iRaqP~~JSKB5yOqfgH0rBNt29qdJAiHew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Morganton City Council on May 5 adopted a resolution agreeing to assume a proportionate share of outstanding debt held by Salem Fire & Rescue Department for an area the city recently annexed.

City Attorney Keith Rigsby summarized the statutory process, citing state law that requires a city to pay an annual proportionate share when an annexed area is served by a rural fire department. “The city's annual share of that debt is $3,861.84,” Rigsby said, and the calculation supporting that amount was attached to the proposed resolution.

Rigsby said the annexation at issue was a voluntary petition by the owner of three tracts on Pete Britton and Enola Roads (Madcap Adventures LLC) and became effective in May. The statute requires the city and the rural fire department to agree on a payment schedule and then submit the schedule to the Local Government Commission for approval; Salem Fire and Rescue was scheduled to consider a parallel resolution.

Councilmembers moved to adopt the resolution; the motion passed by voice vote.

Rigsby noted paperwork attached to the proposed resolution that documents the calculation under G.S. 160-831.1 (statutory reference provided in the meeting materials) and that the agreed schedule is required before the Local Government Commission will approve the arrangement.","Following a voluntary annexation of three tracts, the council adopted a resolution agreeing to pay an annual proportionate share of Salem Fire & Rescue Department's outstanding debt; the city's calculated annual share is $3,861.84 and the payment schedule must be submitted to the Local Government Commission.",{"_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},6568555,"Morganton council adopts resolutions opposing three state bills that would change local zoning and building rules",435,1665000,2100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194422-862574af0dca70850455eba75298450f&start=1665&end=2100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194422-862574af0dca70850455eba75298450f/thumbnail_1665000.jpg","/articles/6568555/Morganton/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Morganton-council-adopts-resolutions-opposing-three-state-bills-that-would-change-local-zoning-and-building-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568555-9460992f1f2942081b2bbc7049aed747/orig.mp4?Expires=1771214859&Signature=UM6Bu8rXwhmXnTpXWd6ojT9G0pKxjhzyEH8nvDXWThj63I5LVGf8NEzaHCRakW0oqHAGp6zrK0ewGWBxMCknXuTWo1JqaYilJAcwy1ghLJJxiQDh9qgX3722RcqJwVsUl2d3TzN8DA8tEQKNoOlqxz1r~7n1Y45kCIRIGSng1gn42N8M-ttzje4fD-CtXDM3~Xucm4iMxKvKTQAdGlIFv4W4fb32-iMXsdMnEK~FMfKqRRqUVyH8rE1wm8epwowGHgKDt3IObEjhV3jY3wSYgym2XvmnbohaPNAgDT7Y54L1vTfzwY01BO72UJvZ4VuTsHsFLLmZx0WP9~9PSbqRfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Morganton City Council on May 5 adopted resolutions opposing three North Carolina bills that city staff said would alter local development, building and professional standards.

Wendy Smith, the city\u0000planning director, summarized the bills and told the council staff had prepared three resolutions. “House Bill 765 mainly deals with development regulations and changes to 160D,” Smith said, adding the bill “eliminates a lot of elements of site designs that we can regulate” and would, in staff\u0000view, set some statewide rules that limit local discretion.

Smith said provisions discussed in the meeting included a proposed statewide minimum density of four dwelling units per acre in cities under 125,000 population, limits on council review of subdivisions (making many approvals administrative), and new civil‑liability exposure for staff, appointed board members and council members. “It would eliminate council review of subdivisions and you only do that now when you're getting new city infrastructure,” Smith said.

Smith also described two related bills: Senate Bill 451, which would cut continuing education requirements roughly in half for professions including building inspectors, engineers, surveyors and contractors; and Senate Bill 492, which includes a provision allowing single-exit stairways in some multi‑family residential buildings under specified conditions. Smith said the city\u0000fire marshal had expressed concerns about single-exit stair provisions after a recent fatality where an exit was blocked.

Councilmembers raised safety and implementation concerns during discussion. The council unanimously approved the resolutions by voice vote.

Smith said staff plans to follow up with legislators to discuss specific provisions and to offer suggested changes. The council noted a local newspaper quote in which Representative Warren Daniel expressed support for some of the measures to reduce housing costs; the council resolution and staff comments framed the action as a request for lawmakers to reconsider provisions that city staff said would undermine local planning and safety standards.","The council passed resolutions opposing House Bill 765 and Senate Bills 492 and 451, citing concerns the measures would limit local control over development, impose minimum densities, reduce professional continuing education and permit single-exit stairways in some multi‑family buildings.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":46,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6568560,"Morganton awards engineering contract for River Village boardwalk, seeks state grant as FEMA reimbursements remain delayed",1247,2733000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194422-862574af0dca70850455eba75298450f&start=1486&end=2733","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194422-862574af0dca70850455eba75298450f/thumbnail_1486000.jpg","/articles/6568560/Morganton/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Morganton-awards-engineering-contract-for-River-Village-boardwalk-seeks-state-grant-as-FEMA-reimbursements-remain-delayed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568560-10de2e2f892a60dcd620e2d60686dce4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771214859&Signature=SARgVZtPLvI7-~c~m9s8DInZYhxwUe~5Kpseexzs2kK7~GJxsrO~eU3qDDT-v9HnIrB-l-Ihk8cYgn-snS7UIY-lVDm~sdJHuUf1rJ5HljPps8KY2yzD08YlahjgWbV7ue0iPTdZLSxFv74Vtgq4nrljKsW07AIZPYWVn2uHscllt6UHUyvt4T9RH48vYRTJ3FvOxQvoF2DYE3r3sqDLYoyzERgZ6oW9l98WBlWG~QxX34m0AE4qnEpSkRVrijs~R9zgP89HQwBHAKQR~~e0cO96FZ8tKLE8opf5gAUf6dWKX312Jq8GFxD77Y9nlFUBtGtTq4CJNbTPK9AHGez5lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Morganton City Council on May 5 approved engineering and construction oversight services and moved to pursue state grant funding as part of ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene.

City Manager Sally Sandy told the council the city had solicited proposals for design, bidding and construction oversight of a River Village boardwalk damaged in the storm and recommended awarding the work to Arete Engineers of Morganton in an amount not to exceed $120,730. “We\u0000are at the next step with our boardwalk,” Sandy said, summarizing the procurement and noting Arete\u0000is locally based and has offices adjacent to River Village.

The council approved a master services agreement and a related contract authorizing the mayor or city manager to execute the documents. The motions were adopted by voice vote; council members answered “aye” and the mayor declared the motions passed.

Sandy and staff framed the work as part of a broader recovery effort that is still waiting on federal reimbursements. “We are a month later and we are still waiting for that money,” Sandy said of FEMA and related state reimbursements the city has submitted; she said two items previously approved by FEMA remained unpaid. With reimbursements delayed, staff asked the council to pursue a new North Carolina Commerce Small Business Infrastructure Program grant to speed repairs that restore access for small businesses.

Planning and staff told the council the Commerce program is first‑come, first‑served, allows awards up to $1,000,000 to local governments (no match required) and requires projects to restore or increase access for impacted small businesses with 150 or fewer employees. The city identified the River Village boardwalk as a qualifying project and asked for authorization to apply; the motion to authorize staff to submit an application and to allow the mayor or city manager to execute documents passed by voice vote.

Council also approved a budget amendment transferring $130,000 from the general fund to the Helene project fund to continue storm-related work. The amendment passed by voice vote.

City staff estimated the total boardwalk repair cost at between $1.5 million and $2.0 million and said the Commerce grant would not necessarily replace FEMA funding but could provide earlier funds to reopen affected storefronts and restaurants while the FEMA process continues. The city is working with the Western Piedmont Council of Governments on the application.

The council also approved a consent‑agenda contract to procure park amenities for the Bethel RePark project with Bars Recreation in a budgeted amount of $240,000 as part of routine business.

The actions conclude with staff returning to the council as design and grant processes proceed and as FEMA reimbursements move through state and federal review.","The Morganton City Council authorized design and construction services for the storm-damaged River Village boardwalk, approved a $130,000 budget transfer for ongoing Helene recovery work and voted to apply for up to $1 million from a new North Carolina Commerce small‑business infrastructure grant while FEMA reimbursements are still pending.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Morganton City Council actions, May 5, 2025

Morganton agrees to assume proportionate share of Salem Fire & Rescue debt tied to annexation

Morganton council adopts resolutions opposing three state bills that would change local zoning and building rules

Morganton awards engineering contract for River Village boardwalk, seeks state grant as FEMA reimbursements remain delayed