Commissioners Approve Helene Buyouts

Rutherford County commissioners approved a $2.7 million state disaster recovery loan at their October meeting and authorized county representatives to help coordinate FEMA-approved buyouts of 23 properties in Chimney Rock, Lake Lure and Rutherfordton.

The actions came more than two years after Hurricane Helene, with the county still awaiting federal reimbursement for debris projects and participating property owners awaiting purchase offers.

Deputy County Manager/Finance Director Paula Roach told commissioners the county had received notification of a fourth round of cash-flow loans through the State Treasurer’s Office. She said the $2.7 million would cover four debris projects, including amounts subject to reduction and further review.

The loan will become payable when the county receives FEMA reimbursement or in 2030, whichever comes first, Roach said.

Commissioners approved the loan resolution following a brief discussion.

In a separate action, the board designated County Manager Scott Webber and Deputy County Manager/Planning Director Danny Searcy as the county’s representatives for the property acquisition project.

Searcy said 36 applications had been submitted to FEMA following Helene. Of those, 23 had been approved and were being coordinated through North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) as a state-led project.

The remaining 13 applications were still under consideration.

“FEMA is not finished with those yet,” Searcy said. “There is a chance that those 13 folks could still hear from FEMA and get approved at a subsequent date later.”

Searcy said an agreement recently received from NCEM was undergoing legal and leadership review. He anticipated bringing it to commissioners in November.

The designation of county representatives does not complete the acquisitions. Staff told commissioners that property owners did not yet know their individual offer amounts.

Offers will be based on pre-storm property values, staff said. Owners who disagree with an appraisal can obtain another appraisal, with differences potentially requiring further review or negotiation. Staff said owners can withdraw from the voluntary process if they do not agree with the price.

A special meeting is planned for participating homeowners and state officials, including a remote option for owners currently staying out of state. No date was announced during the discussion.

Searcy said the county would own the acquired properties, which would be restricted to open space. He had contacted Chimney Rock Village leadership about possible village ownership of some parcels and their potential use as green space.

Earlier in the meeting, speakers urged commissioners to address complaints about a sediment disposal site on private property off Long Branch Road. The site is part of a NCEM project involving sediment removed from Lake Adger in neighboring Polk County.

Phil Burney, the Democratic candidate for the District 5 seat on the county Board of Commissioners, spoke during public comment. He said he visited the area and walked property with people affected by the operation. Burney faces Republican Scott Haynes.

Burney described truck traffic, dust, runoff and alleged damage to homes and livelihoods. He urged commissioners to determine who was responsible and what assistance residents could receive, even though the project is managed by the state rather than Rutherford County.

“This is a large disaster recovery project, and we know that this work has to get done,” Burney said. “It’s necessary.”

Burney argued that the county should help residents affected by the operation regardless of who manages it.

“The county has a responsibility to step in and protect Rutherford County citizens, whether this particular project is managed by Rutherford County or it’s not,” he said.

“They shouldn’t have to carry the costs of a disaster recovery program on their backs,” he added.

Mortellus, who appears on the ballot as Mortellus Amorello, also spoke about the site. Mortellus is a self-described nonbinary pagan and a candidate for Rutherford Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor, a nonpartisan office.

The State Board of Elections’ Sept. 21 candidate list names five candidates for that contest: Cathy Darnell, Shannon Buckley, Mortellus Amorello, Reggie Hines and Clint Green.

At the meeting, Mortellus identified themself as High Priestex of the Coven of Leaves and chair of the Rutherford County chapter of the North Carolina Interfaith Caucus. They neglected to say that it is a Democratic Party group. Campaigning is not allowed during public comment, per the commissioner’s rules.

Burney and Mortellus remained seated during the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Neither addressed that decision during their public comments.

Mortellus told commissioners that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality had inspected the Long Branch Road site in July and issued a notice of violation. Mortellus described alleged failures to follow an approved erosion and sedimentation control plan and prevent sediment from reaching neighboring property and Long Branch Creek. Mortellus also alleged water contamination.

The project is managed by NCEM and its contractors on private property, not by Rutherford County commissioners.

In other business, the board approved writing off $398,448.61 in uncollectible emergency medical services debt. EMS Director Kaleb Johnson said the debts were 10 years old and that the amount had declined from approximately $600,000 the previous year.

Commissioners also adopted the 2027 schedule of values for the county’s property reappraisal and approved an economic development action plan addressing business recruitment and retention, workforce development, infrastructure and housing.

For more details, watch the meeting.