[{"_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",6590406,"mediaKeyId","5564502-0dfc301a61658afd8ec8a019eec31083","parentId",5564502,"title","Resident criticizes town-run childcare costs; police chief says childcare key to full staffing","audioSeconds",1095,"startMs",489145,"endMs",1584440,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5564502-0dfc301a61658afd8ec8a019eec31083&start=489&end=1584","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5564502-0dfc301a61658afd8ec8a019eec31083/thumbnail_489145.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6590406/Blowing-Rock/Watauga-County/North-Carolina/Resident-criticizes-town-run-childcare-costs-police-chief-says-childcare-key-to-full-staffing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590406-193512b6e8f3878b3cfae759226a51a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583319&Signature=KaULYwpxLecZBSCATc7Xq44XccYl2ic5R59kfIXeurnVZYFc~8oLb0mkt5lSeB3GmTlKnDxXSjbF0vWq35ysK7LwSvboYL-wk3jmjez2Pxn7RmJ0MKtjeoKvvUVCrJ7PzGl8Fl5vb57OcKgsbACGVWKynHJN7OyckJkyKgvHTbWY7~-tKZ4qoDCyQfr4XR4UQsdXA3t3eukm0OyVBSGOizPLY9jM3ZEWfZSRPplusNmO6slVy2XfnyU6kJepdFajJAVEJSYoyKPu08Tnu5oMOO4KAY4THXeGixN1UydM4vDqrKeZRePjPEpiKdx~DrCjmN9Yf6etnxqeNI7bLoJSTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Blowing Rock","date","2025-08-13T00:03:04.94Z","article","A Blowing Rock resident on Aug. 12 urged the council to reconsider the town's employee childcare program, saying the subsidy imposes a large cost on taxpayers. Police Chief Nathan Curtis answered that the program has been a critical employee benefit that helped the department achieve full staffing.

\"My name is Gigi Poole. I live at 147 Dogwood Lane, and I'm coming back to talk again about stewardship that I spoke about in June,\" Poole told the council. She cited a Duke University study posted on the town's website and said the study put the market rate for full-time childcare at about $800 per month.

Poole said the town charges its employees $400 per month and that the childcare center serves 12 children with an annual operating budget of $188,000. She said a one-time retrofit of the building cost between $110,000 and $115,000 and provided per-child and annualized calculations: \"So added together, the cost to taxpayers each year is $17,542 per child, less the $4,800 received from the employee. So $12,742 per year per child is the cost to taxpayers. That cost is 265% more than if the employee continued to pay $400 per month and the town paid the other $400 at a private sector market rate.\"

Police Chief Nathan Curtis addressed council later in the meeting in remarks about the department's staffing and benefits. Curtis said the child-care benefit \"has enabled us to be fully staffed. We're the only community in the high country fully staffed. Five of our police officers have children over there. If we didn't have the daycare, they'd be in Hickory, Lenoir, Boone, wherever.\" He framed childcare as an employee benefit that supports recruitment and retention.

The remarks at the meeting consisted of a public commentator's numerical claims and a departmental statement on operational impact. Council did not take action on the matter at the meeting; Poole's figures were presented as her interpretation of study and budget numbers and were not independently verified during the session.

Next steps: No formal action or staff directive on the daycare pricing was recorded in the meeting minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Meeting - Tuesday, August 12th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A resident told council that taxpayer subsidies for the town's employee childcare program far exceed market cost, citing a Duke University study and town budget figures. Police Chief Nathan Curtis responded that the childcare benefit has enabled the police department to be fully staffed and retain officers.","taxTitle","Blowing Rock, Watauga County, North Carolina","taxId",61360,"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},6590411,"Blowing Rock approves $709,000 equipment installment loan at 3.45% for municipal vehicles",361,6714824,7076255,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5564502-0dfc301a61658afd8ec8a019eec31083&start=6714&end=7076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5564502-0dfc301a61658afd8ec8a019eec31083/thumbnail_6714824.jpg","/articles/6590411/Blowing-Rock/Watauga-County/North-Carolina/Blowing-Rock-approves-709000-equipment-installment-loan-at-345-for-municipal-vehicles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590411-df211bcf62e6dad1ea54a023138727ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583319&Signature=oeeSlrK13giWFQjpMMx7Sv-lUQpyy4Vqrla6nQGSvKEOxTZJVBX9DRkwf3xnvYzSuyOXHrUZc9G4mycM3lf5GVOrDtSRiA4G3bVogZVSqzHD0R4tiWF6aDZuCK6H0kMAQZoo9vTSkLLPFlv~my4rQXeUQ5OhANYtDqC0neGLV3k1YZ7jd8tY8YtneK5zWhWSC9SotbKZvSViavgxkHsa1a2lPBhWsKaO~vSgV9HHYPYK9tW3lk1UJSOxGWsh3xlBd4i8c9j0ra8eNzG32r1hzQI4fkV5IQhZfpjg2D4zZ-UXRCprRnyZrzxLOJs9tqZN9TiD7k4j4SjdMuBUBwGnug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Blowing Rock Town Council approved a resolution on Aug. 12 to accept a low bid of 3.45% for a four-year $709,000 installment financing agreement to fund capital equipment purchases identified in the 2025-26 budget.

A staff presenter summarized the solicitation process: bids were advertised on July 15 with a closing date of Aug. 5; First National Bank submitted the lowest qualified bid (3.45%). The financed items listed in the staff report include software, a police vehicle, a chipper truck, a dump truck, snow plows and other capital equipment identified in the FY2025-26 budget.

The loan term is four years and the first payment is scheduled for Aug. 1, 2026, placing the payment in the next fiscal year. Staff said the municipality's strong credit rating and use of financial advisers generated multiple qualified bids.

Council voted to accept the financing resolution. The vote was unanimous: Kat Berry, David Arwood, Melissa Pickett, Doug Matheson and Mayor Pete all voted in favor.

Next steps: Staff will finalize and close the financing agreement as described in the resolution and record the related financing documents.","Council approved a four-year installment financing agreement for $709,000 to cover capital equipment including police vehicles, a chipper and snow plows; the low bid was 3.45% from First National Bank.",{"_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},6590416,"Blowing Rock council asks staff and chamber to gather data on food-truck policy before changing ordinance",1128,5586795,6715780,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5564502-0dfc301a61658afd8ec8a019eec31083&start=5586&end=6715","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5564502-0dfc301a61658afd8ec8a019eec31083/thumbnail_5586795.jpg","/articles/6590416/Blowing-Rock/Watauga-County/North-Carolina/Blowing-Rock-council-asks-staff-and-chamber-to-gather-data-on-food-truck-policy-before-changing-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590416-256bab52e5e136a3d2042548b34d2937/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583319&Signature=kNRv-9FYHxGlfCe7os1uLzgfkcwuqulQzv~1W-FNhweC0mJLD8lcEu5umEEbU1EpIfejWUg6TwEHBO6XplBSFsjuPzYwO7JNyKtA2HZ2XmTSLtZR5OAVTLpAgWf59QJUHKJDkyWq0baM-diak0OEi7zIYDYhjEhY-qJe1vF3dVJlD43ZZFmenfnX03P-KVwiZtjQjtcNssIEzX~taltsxHmR9iTinV77rRG0WNzJljbE9yCzoRjLQHG7GIhChuk9xjX5yl-oqxQbPC3kAnEM-RDfsMuhs9XoMrjajDF0Yoq97juFC9Unp6eMXuZlvxLdgmHLyMsyxo11HLWS3mUQtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Blowing Rock Town Council opened a broad discussion on Aug. 12 about whether the town's land-use code should be revised to allow food trucks, and directed staff to collect data and coordinate with the chamber of commerce and planning board before drafting any ordinance changes.

Kevin Rothrock, zoning administrator, reviewed current rules: food trucks are treated as itinerant merchants in the town's land-use code and are generally not permitted except as part of special events or specific charity/special-event approvals. Rothrock said approving food trucks outside those categories would require crafting separate rules for different contexts: special events, private-event exemptions, and ongoing commercial use.

Councilmembers raised competing concerns. Councilmember Doug Matheson said food trucks could address peak-season wait times that affect families and visitors. Councilmember David Arwood said he had not found evidence of systemic restaurant shortfalls and warned that food trucks could create unfair competition for brick-and-mortar restaurants.

Several council members asked for more empirical information before altering policy. Council asked staff to gather data including: restaurant opening patterns and closures (daily and weekly), typical weekend wait times and turnover, occupancy levels for lodging during peak season, and comparative approaches used by similar resort towns. The town will coordinate with the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce and planning staff to assemble data and return recommendations to council and (if warranted) a draft ordinance to send to the planning board.

Rothrock noted examples provided in the packet (City of Sanford, Banner Elk, Butner and Mount Pleasant) and said a planning-board review would be needed if council decided to pursue ordinance text. The council did not take a vote on policy; members agreed that data collection and a planning-board study should precede any code changes.

Key points from the discussion included: the town's current classification of food trucks as itinerant merchants and the town code's limitation of itinerant merchants in most districts; potential categories for permitting (special events, private-event exemptions, or ongoing approvals); a request for scientific data on restaurant operations and wait times; and a suggestion to examine peer municipalities for comparable rules.

Next steps: Staff will coordinate with the chamber and planning staff to gather data and comparable municipal ordinances and will report back to council with findings and a recommendation on whether to direct the planning board to prepare ordinance language.","Council discussed existing land-use restrictions for itinerant merchants and directed staff to work with the chamber and planning board to collect restaurant and visitor data and return recommendations on whether and how to permit food trucks.",{"_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},6590420,"Blowing Rock council approves conditional rezoning for Shops on the Parkway, 4-1; requires added parking",3966,985270,4952094,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5564502-0dfc301a61658afd8ec8a019eec31083&start=985&end=4952","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5564502-0dfc301a61658afd8ec8a019eec31083/thumbnail_985270.jpg","/articles/6590420/Blowing-Rock/Watauga-County/North-Carolina/Blowing-Rock-council-approves-conditional-rezoning-for-Shops-on-the-Parkway-4-1-requires-added-parking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590420-57cf6a4ed573a5e8eb3e99e37d711990/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583319&Signature=B6~HP6FPEZCQ4WFoDE3H1kUqXPu-jj4eKkHXJnfCGc~hEXp9xbKwZmN1I74NiEFsWocAvukgujduKwQdjA-e~YbD~zjlbw4q6daRIMnQsZzuv~TH18Lk3mMang7nNjIRGvnUplQ8MD10xliKdGKeLnbZLnMIUoUrmC2HXW7ImGTEn4~zQkFIac8~sP487QR-V4uO~3Jk0ujUlkuTf-u0ruDMzRj19bbNDi871KL1EFdUtX0z85k9rgDWcvV9A03okuZ1WLt1FDGzaw4pFAXoxQWWz98QrWqHVf6TdLKRlQ~bf0BB20upFoLzgZCu3imduGCjd0~2t6XC7aUa-WavtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Blowing Rock Town Council voted 4-1 on Aug. 12 to approve a conditional rezoning for Shops on the Parkway that allows a phase 1 buildout of three residential buildings and related site work, with conditions including an increase in the project's parking to 64 spaces.

The ordinance rezones the roughly 17-acre parcel at 278 Shops on the Parkway Road to a conditional zoning district to permit redevelopment from a single-level retail center to a mixed-use center. The council's approval covered only phase 1, described by the applicant as three condo buildings containing 27 units.

Kevin Rothrock, the town's zoning administrator, told council the applicant's revised phase 1 reduces the condominium portion from an earlier 34 units to 27, splits a single long building into three shorter buildings (each about 96 feet long), and lowers maximum roof heights so the tallest gables would not exceed the revised 52-foot limit identified for phase 1. The applicant also changed exterior materials away from heavy stucco toward vertical board-and-batten siding, bark siding, rock and primarily architectural shingles with metal used as accents.

The proposal originally provided 61 parking spaces. The town's code calculation would require 64 spaces for the mix of two- and three-bedroom units; council added a condition increasing the project's required and provided parking to 64 spaces as part of the approval.

Rothrock and the applicant's team said stormwater detention on the site will be modified with bioswales and drainage structures to ensure there is no increase in runoff. The applicant agreed to provide a sidewalk connection to the Middle Fork Greenway and to make dumpster screening and landscaping upgrades where existing site deficiencies were identified.

Council also accepted a staff-recommended condition intended to protect the town's visual character if the applicant builds only phase 1 and then stops. Under that condition, if the applicant elects not to proceed with subsequent phases, upfits to the remaining shopping-center buildings'including painting, roofing, siding, rock treatments and timber features'must be completed within 36 months of issuance of the final certificate of occupancy for phase 1.

Rothrock said the conditional rezoning creates a site-specific zoning district for the whole parcel; any future phases would require separate submittals to the planning board and council and could not be built without subsequent approvals.

Motion and vote: A motion to accept the proposal as presented (with staff and planning-board recommendations) was made and seconded; the motion was amended on the floor to require a total of 64 parking spaces for phase 1. The council voted: Kat Berry, aye; David Arwood, aye; Melissa Pickett, aye; Doug Matheson, aye; Mayor Pete, no. The motion passed 4-1.

What was approved tonight covers only phase 1 as depicted in the applicant's revised site plans. The council did not, and will not, approve future phases as part of this vote; any later phases would return to planning board and council for review and approval.

Key project details cited at the meeting include: phase 1 reduced to 27 units (21 two-bedroom, 6 three-bedroom), three buildings of approximately 96 feet in length, a maximum building height capped at 52 feet for phase 1, initial parking proposed at 61 spaces and amended to 64 by council, required sidewalk connection to the future Middle Fork Greenway, stormwater treatment upgrades, and a required cosmetic upfit to the remainder of the shopping center if the developer does not proceed within the specified timeframe.

Council members spoke in support of the redesign'noting reduced massing, more green space and changes to materials'while some members and members of the public had earlier expressed concern about density, short-term rentals and long-term traffic or commercial impacts. The applicant reiterated that nothing beyond the three buildings could be constructed without return to the town's review process.

Next steps: The ordinance as conditioned will be filed as the town's conditional zoning for the parcel; future phases will require separate planning-board review and council action.","The Town Council approved a conditional rezoning for phase 1 of the Shops on the Parkway redevelopment, allowing three residential buildings (27 units) and imposing conditions including upgrading 3 additional parking spaces (total 64) and architectural upfits if later phases are not built.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident criticizes town-run childcare costs; police chief says childcare key to full staffing

Blowing Rock approves $709,000 equipment installment loan at 3.45% for municipal vehicles

Blowing Rock council asks staff and chamber to gather data on food-truck policy before changing ordinance

Blowing Rock council approves conditional rezoning for Shops on the Parkway, 4-1; requires added parking