Muncipalities, school board to meet next week

TOWN OF VALDESE

The Valdese Town Council will meet Monday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.

The council will review a layout of their fiscal year 2025-26 budget schedule. They will discuss how the budgetary information will be presented to the council during their annual workshops, whether it is Interim Town Manager Bo Weichel or staff.

Various ongoing projects will be presented such as the public safety facilities, updated financial status, and the progress on the 10-Year Comprehensive Parks and Recreation plan.

Councilman Glenn Harvey has proposed an amendment to the town’s charter to change the mayor’s four-year term to a two-year term. Harvey has encouraged residents to give their input as well as council members.

The council will also officially de-commit from the Lovelady Sidewalk Project upon approval on Monday night.

— SB

TOWN OF DREXEL

The Town of Drexel’s Board of Aldermen will meet Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the boardroom of Town Hall. The regular monthly meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

Town Manager Bill Carroll will report to the board about the results of the town’s bidding process to find a firm to complete site development and grading of the 100-plus acre site of the former Drexel Furniture Factory.

Town officials initially posted a call for bids last fall and set the opening of the sealed documents for Thursday, Dec. 5. They did not receive the required number of submissions for the project, so by law, the request for bids had to be reposted.

The call for bids was reopened and a new deadline set for 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16. Carroll will be sharing with aldermen the results of that bid opening.

— SWQ

RUTHERFORD COLLEGE

The Rutherford College Town Council will meet Monday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, at 980 Malcolm Blvd.

During the meeting, the town is expected to set public hearings to consider two zoning requests at its March meeting — one at 107 Woodlawn Drive and a second at 1110 Malcolm Blvd.

At 1110 Malcolm Blvd., the property owners, Brenton and Margaret Curry, are seeking the change of their half-acre property from Commercial Business to Residential.

The couple are wanting to build a duplex on the property.

The change is recommended by Town Planner Katelyn Smith, saying, “This request is reasonable and in the best interest of the town.”

The 107 Woodlawn Drive property is a 1.12-acre tract, owned by Randy and Lynn Mull, which was voluntarily annexed into the town at the council’s January meeting.

The request for Residential zoning is a formality, Smith said, merely formalizing the property’s established use.

Other items on the agenda include the manager’s report from Town Manager Jessica Bargsley and the monthly Planning Board Update.

— BP

BOARD OF EDUCATION

The Burke County Board of Education is scheduled to meet Monday, Feb. 3, at the Olive Hill Resource Center at 6 p.m.

Action items will include a vote on the 2025-26 school calendar, drafts of which could potentially violate calendar law. Since 2004, state law has placed parameters on when school can start and end. The law requires school districts to begin school no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 26. The end date is no later than the Friday closest to June 11.

Keith Lawson is set to present a budget revision for a recommended FEMA recovery specialist on behalf of the school district, prompting a vote from the board.

Other items on the tentative agenda include the second reading of board policies, student and staff recognitions, and an arts graduation diploma endorsement presented by Desarae Kirkpatrick.

— CP

CITY OF MORGANTON

The Morganton City Council will meet Monday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The council will discuss entering into a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Business Loan agreement with owners Jeff Lamont and Justin Davis of L&D Restaurant Group of Boone, LLC, also known as Town Tavern.

The restaurant was severely damaged during Hurricane Helene and they have requested $75,000 to restore the restaurant, located at 315 Sanford Drive.

The council will also consider entering a diving services contract with Charles R. Underwood Inc., for their water ($34,512.50) and wastewater ($39,993.50) treatment plants. The facilities were flooded due to the hurricane, which impacted the pump station and influent water well.

Appointments to the Morganton Housing Authority and the Board of Adjustment will need to be approved along with more ongoing storm-related budget amendments.

— SB