ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville City Council took several steps Tuesday to keep recovery from Tropical Storm Helene moving forward, while also tackling ongoing issues like housing and water quality.
At its April 28 meeting, council members approved a series of contracts and funding plans focused largely on repairing damage to the city’s water and stormwater systems.
One of the bigger items was a nearly $1 million contract with Morgan Corporation to repair the North Fork Dam. The council also signed off on continued design work for a major water transmission project, which would move part of the system out of flood-prone areas and make it more resilient in future storms.
The city is also moving ahead with stormwater repairs, approving more than $2 million in contracts to design fixes at over 50 damaged sites across Asheville.
To help cover costs, council members gave the go-ahead to apply for federal emergency relief funding for damaged roads. They also approved adding $7.2 million to the city’s recovery budget, including money expected from FEMA, the state and insurance payouts.
Another $2.5 million in state funding will go toward repairs in Biltmore Village, one of the areas hit hardest by the storm.
Outside of storm recovery, the council expanded a regional housing partnership to include the towns of Mars Hill and Marshall, a move aimed at improving access to housing resources across the region.
The city is also taking steps to address water quality. Council members approved a three-year, nearly $190,000 contract to offer lead and copper testing for residents’ water, helping identify potential issues in older plumbing.
In a separate move, the council approved a small increase to an existing contract to keep work on the city’s lead service line inventory on track, citing higher fuel costs. The work is part of an effort to meet a federal deadline in 2027.