Rutherford Commissioners Address Recovery, Education, Transparency

At their Nov. 3 meeting, Rutherford County commissioners balanced the county’s immediate recovery needs with long-term planning for growth and education. Citizens, state officials, and college leaders all spoke, raising issues from animal control reporting to disaster recovery and workforce development.

The session opened with public comment from Nick Jongebloed, founder of Camp Patriot Animal Rescue, who urged greater transparency from the county. Jongebloed criticized the lack of reporting to the N.C. Department of Agriculture, noting that state records show Rutherford County filed no animal control data for 2023 and only minimal information for 2024 — a year in which the shelter was managed by the solid waste department. “There’s been a breakdown in accountability,” he said, calling for clear guidance on public records and follow-up on citizen concerns.

State officials followed with a briefing on federal disaster recovery funds tied to Hurricane Helene. Stephanie McGarrah of the N.C. Department of Commerce explained that $1.4 billion in Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds are available, but time is running out. Residents whose homes were damaged must apply by Dec. 31, 2025. So far, only 197 of roughly 1,265 eligible households have submitted applications in western NC. Applicants must own their storm-damaged primary residence, be current on taxes or have a payment plan, and meet income limits of up to 120% of the area median income.

Outreach in rural areas remains a challenge, McGarrah noted, citing “no trespassing” signs and low response rates. Commissioners Bryan King and County Manager Steve Garrison pledged to help by using the county’s alert system and social media to boost awareness, though no recent posts have been made about RenewNC.org since June.

Education and workforce development were also on the agenda. Isothermal Community College President Dr. Margaret Annunziata shared that enrollment has grown 13% — nearly double the state average — and unveiled plans for a new Career Commons facility. The project aims to modernize aging buildings and directly connect students with workforce partners. Annunziata highlighted the college’s outreach efforts, including career coaches in local high schools and partnerships with homeschool and private school networks, emphasizing the importance of retaining local talent. She also noted that about half of Rutherford and Polk County graduates currently pursue no postsecondary training.

Amid discussions of policy and planning, commissioners took a moment to celebrate local achievement, honoring the Trinity Christian School Girls Varsity Volleyball Team for winning the state Division IV championship.

The meeting reflected a county balancing post-storm recovery with long-term investments in education and workforce development. You may watch the meeting here.