Catawba County News

BOC Recap: 11/2/26

Published: November 03, 2026

The November 2, 2026, Catawba County Board of Commissioners meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. The agenda for the meeting can be found at https://bit.ly/3utv5SE.

BOC approved minutes from the Board’s Regular Meeting and Closed Session of October 19, 2026.

Appointments Commissioner Abernethy recommends the following appointments to the Catawba Valley Medical Center Board of Trustees: Debra Bechtel to a first full term; Summer McGee and Randy Isenhower to first terms, beginning January 1, 2027, with term expirations of December 31, 2030.

Presentations

Commissioner Setzer presented a proclamation in observance of Operation Green Light in support of veterans.

Public Hearings

1 – Public hearing to consider adoption of the proposed Schedule of Values, Standards and Rules for the 2027 Property Revaluation as prescribed by North Carolina General Statute §105-317.

BACKGROUND
Pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Commissioners on September 18, 2023, Catawba County's next countywide revaluation will become effective January 1, 2027. Catawba County has approximately 95,000 parcels of land, all of which are required by state law to be appraised at 100% of market value as of the effective date of the revaluation. BOC will consider approval at Nov. 16 meeting.

2 - Public hearing to consider adoption of a resolution declaring Catawba County’s participation in the Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE) Program.

BACKGROUND
The NC Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE) Program offers long-term private financing for commercial property upgrades in energy, water, and resiliency improvements. Established by the General Assembly in 2024 through Senate Bill 802, C-PACE is administered by the Economic Development Partnership of NC. The program creates an additional financing tool for property owners to use private funds to finance improvements to eligible properties, supporting economic development by helping building owners make major building improvements, refinance / recapitalize after improvements, construct new buildings, and drive jobs and investment. BOC approved.

3 - Public hearing to consider adoption of the proposed resolution approving an Economic Development Agreement between Catawba County and Utili-Serve, LLC and CLD Land, LLC, and authorize the Chair to execute these along with any other needed documents.

BACKGROUND
Founded in 2008, Utili-Serve is a privately held utility infrastructure services company headquartered in Conover that offers a range of specialized services in the electric power industry, including turnkey substation construction and maintenance, transformer and apparatus work, and nuclear/general construction. The company operates 30 specialized construction crews and maintains three locations in Conover, Raleigh, and Greenville, SC. The company is evaluating a multi-state expansion to support accelerating demand for electric grid modernization, transmission upgrades, and storm resiliency infrastructure across the Southeast. BOC approved.

Consent Agenda

1 – The Finance and Personnel Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners appropriate $235,000 in Public Health restricted revenues to maintain continuity in community-based pregnancy and birth outcome care management services through the fiscal year.

2 – The Finance and Personnel Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners reallocate $95,235.64 in ARPA funding to similar ARPA eligible projects previously obligated before the obligation deadline of December 31, 2024, and revise the ARPA Grant Ordinance to reflect the transfer appropriation.

3 – Staff requests the Board of Commissioners conduct a second reading and consider adopting proposed revisions to Chapter 32 – Solid Waste of the Catawba County Code of Ordinances, which inserts the entire Abandoned and Junk Vehicles section of regulations previously included in the Unified Development Ordinance.

BACKGROUND
On October 19, 2026 the Board of Commissioners adopted an update to the County’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The previous version of the UDO included a section on code enforcement rules and regulations related to Abandoned and Junk Vehicles. Through the UDO update process, the decision was made to relocate this entire section from the UDO to the County Code of Ordinances. There are no substantive changes proposed to the content of the regulations; this is just a reorganization of where this chapter fits into the overarching County regulatory framework.

BOC approved all three items.

Manager’s Report

None

Adjournment

BOC adjourned the meeting at 7:47 p.m.