Avery County Commissioners on Monday, Oct. 5, formally adopted the schedule of values that will guide the county’s 2027 property revaluation. The decision followed a public hearing that generated no opposition. At the same meeting, a planned public hearing for a proposed moratorium on data centers, cryptocurrency mining, and similar uses in Avery County was postponed due to missed advertising requirements, an oversight Board Chair Tim Phillips stated was his responsibility.
Tax Administrator Andrea Turbyfill informed the board at the Oct. 5 meeting that the proposed schedule had been available for public inspection in both the tax office and the county commissioners’ office, with no objections received by her office. Following state law, the county is now required to publish notice of the adoption in the local newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks before the tax office proceeds with implementation of the new schedule.
Ms. Turbyfill also presented the September tax collections report, which showed a total of $2,477,460.36 collected. The board approved these collections alongside her list of releases. In September, the county recorded 47 qualified property sales, with assessed values averaging 61% of their sale prices. This compares to 64 sales at 63% in September 2025. Addressing a comment on a perceived slipping ratio, Turbyfill clarified that the monthly figure provides "only a snapshot."
Commissioners further approved an updated fee schedule for the Toe River Health District, which provides services to both Avery and Mitchell counties. Health Director Mason Gardner noted that the district had not updated its fees comprehensively since 2019, while the cost of delivering services has continued to climb. Gardner explained that the district employed a state-approved methodology to assess the cost of each service, and its board of health had already approved the proposed schedule in September. He emphasized that the objective was not merely to increase fees, but to ensure a sound methodology that more accurately reflected service provision costs.
Under the new schedule, clinic fees are expected to rise by approximately 1%, with 90% of them remaining unchanged. The environmental health section added only one new item, a drip system operating permit. Lab fees may see a slight reduction due to the removal of a $20 charge that could not be traced to any specific cost. Since the district bills government programs and private insurers based on this schedule, both Avery and Mitchell counties must formally approve it before it can take effect.
A professional services contract with the engineering firm Kimley-Horn was approved by the board for the design of new Little League ball fields. County Attorney Michaelle Poore clarified that this agreement covers only the design phase and includes a required local government provision. A separate contract will be necessary for the construction phase of the project.
County Manager Cindy Turbyfill provided an update on several ongoing projects and grant applications, many of which are linked to recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. She reported that the design team for Green Valley Park is actively engaged in its work. The county has also submitted an application for a disaster recovery grant totaling about $5.7 million, which is currently under review. Additionally, the notice of grant award for its Emergency Watershed Protection project has been signed.
On Sept. 16, the county submitted a $2.9 million application to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to address repairs at 13 waterway sites that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deemed ineligible for federal assistance. Ms. Turbyfill also noted that state budget grants for capital projects had reopened recently. These grants require no local match and are designated for rebuilding storm-damaged infrastructure. Fire departments receive priority for these funds, and Cindy Turbyfill is actively working to incorporate the Green Valley Fire Department into the planning process for these grants. The county’s hazard mitigation program, which has nine properties approved, remains on schedule.
Finance Officer Caleb Hogan presented eight budget amendments, all of which received approval from the commissioners. The most significant amendment created a new assistant finance director position. Hogan explained that the new hire would be trained to perform every job within the finance office. Approximately $86,400 was reallocated from the clerk to the board’s budget line to cover the new position’s salary of $53,525.25, along with benefits and startup costs.
Commissioners also accepted $62,167.88 in state bonus money earmarked for every sworn officer on the Sheriff’s Office payroll as of June 30. This total comprises $57,750 in bonuses plus the county’s share of payroll taxes. Hogan noted that this funding originated from the legislature’s new budget and was distributed to every county, with payouts handled by the State Bureau of Investigation.
The Register of Deeds office will utilize $60,000 from its automation fund to preserve a substantial volume of birth and death records. Hogan stated that this fund is built from a portion of the office’s fees, and state law mandates that these monies be reserved for the preservation of public records. The fund has grown to approximately $200,000, as the office’s annual intake into the fund exceeds the county’s contributions.
Several county departments received new grant funding. The Avery County extension office secured two grants for youth programming: $5,000 from the AMY Digital Opportunities cohort for digital outreach and an additional $12,000 from a separate funder. The Department of Parks and Recreation was awarded a $10,000 N.C. Youth Sports grant for new equipment. The Department of Social Services received an extra $5,700 in state funding for its LINKS program, which aids young people transitioning out of foster care toward independent living. The Avery County Sheriff’s Office rolled over $24,728.74 in unspent DARE program grant money into the current fiscal year.
In other actions, commissioners selected Vice Chair Dennis Aldridge as the county’s voting delegate for the N.C. Association of County Commissioners’ legislative goals process. They approved the September minutes and adopted a records retention schedule for the Register of Deeds by consent. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2.
