Catawba County News
BOC Meeting Recap: 3/17/25
Published: March 18, 2025
The March 17, 2025 Board of Commissioners meeting was called to order at 7pm. The agenda for tonight’s meeting can be found at https://bit.ly/3utv5SE.
BOC approved minutes from the Board’s regular meeting and closed session of February 17, 2025.
Commissioner Abernethy recommends the appointment of Amanda McGuire as the Hickory City Schools representative and Dr. Leslie Barnett as the Catawba County Schools representative for a 1st Term to the K-64 Education Board, with term expirations of May 15, 2027. BOC approved.
Commissioner Setzer recommends the reappointment of Kenny Bowman and Karen Harris for a 2nd Term and Jeff Elmore for a 5th Term to the Agriculture Advisory Board, with term expirations of December 31, 2027. BOC approved.
Commissioner Beatty presented a proclamation declaring March 18, 2025 as Catawba County Agriculture Awareness Day in conjunction with the National Agriculture Day.
Public hearing to consider rezoning 717 parcels or portions of parcels in Catawba County’s jurisdiction to apply a zoning designation consistent with Catawba County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). BOC approved.
BACKGROUND
On February 2, 2025, the state-defined boundary between Catawba and Lincoln counties was reestablished
in accordance with a survey conducted by the North Carolina Geodetic Survey (NCGS). This has been a years-long process initiated in 2022. With the re-established geodetic county boundary, approximately 800 parcels or portions thereof have changed from their previously recognized jurisdiction. Seven hundred and seventeen parcels or portions thereof have been re-established to be in Catawba County rather than Lincoln County.
There are 4 Consent Agenda items being presented.
Consent Agenda 1/4: The Finance and Personnel Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners approve a contract between Catawba County and Martin Starnes & Associates for auditing services for Fiscal Year 2024-25 for an amount not to exceed $128,750.
Consent Agenda 2/4: The Finance & Personnel Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners:
a.) Approve a bid award for construction of a new Hickory EMS Base to Wilkie Construction Company SE, LLC,
of Lenoir, North Carolina, in an amount not to exceed $3,429,830;
b.) Authorize the County Manager to execute contract documents for this project; and
c.) Authorize a budget transfer of previously appropriated funds in the amount of $875,000 to cover the expected total cost of the project.
Consent Agenda 3/4: The Policy and Public Works Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners adopt the 2024 Unifour Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Consent Agenda 4/4: The Tax Administrator requests the Board of Commissioners approve 26 releases totaling $6,162.22, two refunds totaling $18.29, and 63 Motor Vehicles Bill adjustments / refunds totaling $4,860.74 requested during the month of February.
BOC approved all 4 Consent Agenda items.
Managers Report:
Budget transfer from Jail Expansion 2028 and General Renovations to Jail Improvement. Transfer of funds to complete painting in the jail identified as necessary during a State facility inspection.
Budget transfer from Human Services Campus Ravine Stabilization to Fleet Services Expansion. Transfer of unspent funds from the completed Human Services Campus Ravine Stabilization project to the Fleet Services Expansion project. The pipes between the garage and the storm drain inlets, which are original to the building, are rusted out and need to be replaced. This was not determined until the project was already underway.
BOC adjourned the meeting at 7:50pm.