ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has a new chair and vice chair.

During the Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2024, regular meeting of the board, sitting Commissioner Amanda Edwards was sworn in as the newly elected chair, along with new District 1 Commissioner Jennifer Horton and re-elected incumbent Commissioners Terri Wells and Parker Sloan.

Redistricting in 2023 means incumbent Commissioner Terri Wells will serve this term in District 2. The Buncombe County Democratic Party will choose a representative to fill Edwards’ vacated seat for the remainder of her elected term.

Following statutory guidelines, new commissioners are sworn in on the first Monday in December after the election. After the swearing-in ceremony, the board’s first order of business was to elect Commissioner Martin Moore as vice chair for the next year.

Bond review and new schedule

General statutes require the board to conduct an annual review of the bonds issued to county officials for the faithful performance of their duties. Staff reviewed existing bonds for the tax collector, finance director, register of deeds, sheriff and a blanket bond covering all county officials. The board approved a resolution renewing the bond for Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger, who was elected to a new four-year term.

The board also approved the schedule of meetings for 2025.

Budget amendments

The board approved a budget amendment accepting an award of $500,000 over three years from the Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women. This funding will serve to ensure the continuity of two key Family Justice Center facets. The award will fund one trauma-informed legal assistant within the Office of the District Attorney 40th Judicial District and two trauma-informed FJC intake specialists contracted through Helpmate for FY25.

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office applied for and was awarded a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for Promoting Access to Crisis Teams (PACT). The board approved a budget amendment accepting the grant. It will fund two contracted positions, two vehicles and associated training and medical supplies. The period of performance is Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2026.

The Board of Commissioners appointed five new members to the Board of Equalization and Review. The BOER hears upon request, appeals from property owners who own, or control taxable property assessed for taxation in Buncombe County, regarding the valuation of such property or the property of others, and fulfills other duties and responsibilities by law.

The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet next on Dec. 17.