Boone Town Council is set to convene Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 9 a.m. in the Town Council Chambers at 1500 Blowing Rock Road. The short agenda includes a discussion on a state workforce housing program and the potential expansion of the downtown hellbender mural. This meeting marks a return to a morning schedule for the Council, following an evening meeting on Aug. 26 and a morning session on Aug. 12.
A significant item for discussion is the Renew NC Workforce Housing for Ownership Program. This state initiative, announced on Aug. 25 by the Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization, makes $53.38 million in federal funds available to address housing needs. The program specifically targets for-sale housing for households earning up to 80% of the area median income in 16 western North Carolina counties. Watauga County is among these counties, which were affected by Hurricane Helene.
Individual projects under the Renew NC program can receive awards ranging from $2 million to $5 million. A wide range of entities are eligible to apply, including for-profit and nonprofit developers, community land trusts, public housing authorities, units of local government, and joint ventures formed by these groups. The application window for these funds opened on Aug. 25 and is scheduled to close on Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. The Council's discussion will likely center on how Boone might engage with or benefit from this substantial state program.
Also on the agenda, listed as a consent item, is the consideration of an expansion of the downtown hellbender mural. While no further details regarding the proposed expansion are specified in the agenda, the existing mural holds notable significance in the community. Painted by artist Josh Johnston, the original hellbender mural was unveiled in August 2024 on Howard Street in downtown Boone. It served as the final installment in the Center for Biological Diversity's Endangered Species Mural Project. The creation of this artwork was a collaborative effort involving several local and regional organizations, including the Boone Town Council, the Downtown Boone Development Association, MountainTrue, the Watauga Arts Council, and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts.
In addition to these key items, the Council plans to make an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission. The meeting will open with an announcement of board vacancies, setting the stage for future public service opportunities. Lane Moody, identified as the Downtown Development Director, is also scheduled to address the council under requested appearances, though the agenda does not specify the topic of the director's address.
Routine reports are anticipated from the mayor, the town manager, the town attorney, and various board liaisons, covering ongoing activities and updates from their respective areas.
The Council's agenda also includes a closed session. This private meeting is listed under three provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11: subsection (a)(1) for reviewing, approving, and sealing minutes from prior closed sessions; (a)(3) to consult with the town attorney concerning one or more potential legal claims; and (a)(6) to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness or conditions of appointment or initial employment of a public officer or employee. Potential action following the closed session is listed before the meeting's adjournment. The full agenda for the Sept. 9 meeting is available on the town's online agenda portal for public review.
