McDowell transit cuts service amid staffing shortage

Commissioners also hear updates on Helene recovery, a planned elementary school and county building repairs.

McDowell County has temporarily suspended some evening and Saturday transit service because of a shortage of trained drivers, county commissioners learned during their October meeting at the Historic Carson House.

Brandon Gaddy, who recently moved into a leadership role with the county’s transit operation after working in social services, said employee turnover has left the department unable to cover all its routes.

The suspension affects express service on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m., along with Saturday express service.

Gaddy said the department recently hired a full-time employee and a part-time employee, with additional interviews planned. Restoring service will depend on getting drivers trained. He did not announce a date for service to resume.

“We understand that this is essential service to our residents and provides transportation for employment, medical appointments, shopping, other important needs,” Gaddy said.

County officials said driver training includes securing wheelchairs, handling child safety seats and responding to emergencies.

The transportation disruption was among several updates commissioners received on public services, construction and storm recovery.

Emergency Services Director Adrienne Jones reported that crews had completed debris removal at all 79 previously approved private-property sites in the county’s second round of work, removing approximately 130,000 cubic yards. Another 23 properties had received FEMA approval, with work expected to begin soon.

Waterway debris removal was less advanced: Crews had completed 45 of 119 approved sites, or about 38%.

Private road and bridge repairs also remained unfinished. Of 301 identified projects, 70 had completed construction, two were under construction and three were in design.

Jones said volunteer organizations were preparing to shift more attention toward private roads, bridges and culverts as their housing repair and rebuilding work winds down.

For homeowners pursuing buyouts, FEMA approved an initial group of 33 properties Sept. 16, Jones said. A coordination meeting with North Carolina Emergency Management is the next step, and she hoped it would take place by December.

A second group of 46 properties remained under FEMA review, along with 15 proposed elevation projects.

Jones also reported a $132,000 state emergency management grant for seven additional stream gauges. The equipment is intended to preserve monitoring capability when cellphone service fails — a problem the county experienced during Helene.

Separately, she said the most recent weekend storm generated 40 storm-related calls for service. Officials reported seven landslides, flooding and areas where residents needed evacuation assistance. Roads affected by the slides had reopened, she said.

County staff said bids for repairs at three storm-damaged parks were scheduled to be received Oct. 20. Construction could begin in December or early January, with a target of completing all three parks by July 2027.

Commissioners also received an update on the planned elementary school that would consolidate Eastfield Global Magnet School and Marion Elementary School.

School officials said the project received a $42 million state needs-based school construction grant. Plans call for a two-story building of approximately 110,000 square feet, including 35 kindergarten-through-fifth-grade classrooms and additional space for prekindergarten and Head Start.

The school would be built at Ridge Road and U.S. 70. Officials anticipate construction beginning in summer 2027, with completion projected for late summer 2029.

Commissioners approved replacement of the county services building’s aging cooling equipment and installation of additional airflow and temperature controls. The equipment and control work presented to the board totaled $667,980, with $227,000 in remaining state grant funding available toward the project.

Further heating work would still be needed to eliminate the building’s baseboard heat. Staff estimated that adding heating elements and related wiring could cost approximately $4,500 for each of 45 control boxes.

Officials said the existing system is about 50 years old and that uncomfortable conditions had affected employees working in the building.

The board also approved opioid settlement funding resolutions providing $37,500 to the Live Like Megan Foundation and $45,820 for a peer support specialist through the county Department of Social Services.

On data centers, county officials encouraged residents to participate in the Planning Board’s next discussion, scheduled for Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the McDowell County Services Building, 60 E. Court St. in Marion.

Residents unable to attend may submit written comments to the county planning director. No new data center policy was adopted during the commissioners’ meeting.

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