Rutherford County Commissioners Confront FEMA Delays and Tourism Declines

At the October 6 meeting of the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners, discussions turned urgent as county leaders addressed slow FEMA reimbursements, post-storm economic strain, and recovery challenges following Hurricane Helene.

The agenda included updates from the county’s finance department, the Tourism Development Authority (TDA), and economic development officials, along with approval of the emergency management hazard mitigation plan for the South Mountains region.

FEMA Reimbursements Still Delayed

Finance Director Paula Roach reported that while the county has spent $38 million on storm recovery, only $7.6 million has been reimbursed by FEMA — leaving $31 million outstanding. “We are being penalized for paying our bills,” Commissioner Donnie Haulk said, noting that the delay effectively makes the county an interest-free lender to the federal government.

Despite the challenges, Roach was recognized as a “Local Hero” by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners for her diligence and accuracy in managing Helene-related recovery accounts.

Tourism Losses Hit Hard

Tourism Development Authority Executive Director Don Cason reported that tourism occupancy tax revenue has fallen by 50% since Helene, forcing adjustments to capital projects under the Rutherford Bound initiative. “Of 14 projects, 12 are complete,” Cason said, “but our reinvestment ability has been cut in half.”

Still, the TDA is moving forward on new projects, including “Raise the Rock,” a Chimney Rock Village downtown revitalization effort supported by a $5.5 million state grant, $200,000 from the WNC Foundation, and $300,000 in private fundraising following meetings by the Chimney Rock Task Force. Cason serves as the Chairman and serves on the town's planning board, in addition to his daily duties for the TDA. “We’re going to raise the rock and build back better,” Cason said, adding that the tourism board remains committed to long-term resilience.

Economic Development and Transit Updates

Economic Development Director Birgit Dilgert presented a clarification to a previous industrial grant resolution, confirming that Project Newco must create 68 jobs within two years and 125 total within five.

Transit Director Kerry Giles announced that Rutherford County applied for $1.17 million in federal transit grants to purchase new vehicles and expand dialysis transport services. The $157,000 local match will come from transit revenue.

However, Giles noted a procedural issue that required the county to redo a public hearing after a legal notice was mistakenly published in the wrong newspaper. “We submitted our notice as required,” Giles explained, “but it was printed over 100 miles away. We had to repeat the hearing to ensure all citizens had the opportunity to comment.”

Commissioner Concerns and Next Steps

Chairman Bryan King voiced concern over ongoing federal delays and the pressure they place on local governments managing recovery costs upfront. Commissioners agreed that stronger federal advocacy is needed to release the stalled reimbursements.

The meeting concluded with a note of cautious optimism. While the financial pressures remain severe, county leaders emphasized that strategic planning, transparency, and collaboration across departments will remain central to Rutherford County’s recovery.