Catawba County News

BOC Recap: 4/6/26

Published: April 06, 2026

The April 6, 2026 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 March 16, 2026, and Special Meeting and Closed Session of March 30, 2026.

Presentations

1 – Commissioner Setzer presented a proclamation declaring April 18th as Line Worker Appreciation Day.

2 – Commissioner Setzer presented a proclamation declaring April 12-18, 2026, National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

3 – Vice Chair Allran presented a proclamation declaring April 6-12, 2026, as Public Health Week and April as Public Health Month.

4 – Commissioner Beatty presented a proclamation declaring April 19-25, 2026, as National Library Week.

5 – Chairman Isenhower presented a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Consent Agenda

1 – The Finance and Personnel Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners approve a contract with Martin Starnes & Associates for Fiscal Year 2025-26 auditing services for an amount not to exceed $129,215.

2 – The Finance and Personnel Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners approve a resolution declaring the County-owned property located at 2804 Beech Tree Street, Newton, surplus and begin the upset bid process, based on an offer to purchase the property by Jerry Hildebran, Jr. in the amount of $70,000.

3 – The Policy and Public Works Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners adopt a resolution declaring the following equipment surplus and approving the donation requests below:
a. A 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe to Propst Fire Department;
b. A 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe to Bandys Fire Department; and
c. A 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe to Catawba Volunteer Fire Department.

4 – The Policy and Public Works Subcommittee requests the Board of Commissioners authorize the County Manager to execute an Amendment, Assignment and Assumption of Lease between Catawba County, Blue Ridge Biofuels and Lifecycle Renewables and all necessary documents related to the transaction.

5 – Chief Brian Kelly is retiring effective May 1, 2026. He has requested his badge and service weapon. In lieu of receiving these items at a Board of Commissioners meeting, he has asked that the weapon and badge be presented at a retirement ceremony at a later date. Accordingly, staff requests the Board of Commissioners declare the badge and weapon surplus effective April 6, 2026, pursuant to North Carolina Statute 20-187.2(a).

6 – Staff requests the Catawba County Board of Commissioners amend the list of Map Review Officers by adoption of a resolution.

Catawba County is requesting Diana Gandia be added as a review officer. Town of Maiden is requesting Addyson Ikard be added as a review officer. Town of Longview and Town of Catawba are requesting Daniel Odom be added as a review officer.

With approval of the resolution incorporating the changes noted above, the active list of Review Officers will be:

Catawba County: Chris Timberlake, Laurie LoCicero, Maggie Izlar, Diana Gandia
City of Hickory: Brian Frazier, Cal Overby, Mike Kirby, and Wilson Elliott
City of Newton: Randy Williams and Alex S. Fulbright
City of Conover: Stephanie Watson, Heather Stephens, Madeleine Epley, and Erik Schlichting
City of Claremont: Bryce Carter
Town of Long View: Susan Matheson, Daniel Odom
Town of Maiden: Blake Wright, Addyson Ikard
Town of Catawba: Ashley Young, Daniel Odom
Town of Brookford: Marshall Eckard

BOC approved all 6 items.

Adjournment

BOC adjourned the meeting at 8:00 pm.