Valdese recognizes sports champions, dissolves five committees due to lack of members and activity

Valdese’s first regular meeting of 2026 not only brought recognition of two sports teams, but the abolition of several committees and some tension between council members.

The council met on Jan. 5 after an hour-long special hearing regarding a special use permit for 800 Pineburr Ave. SE.

First, the mayor and council recognized and commended the Draughn High School Varsity Volleyball Team for a historic season and the Burke Brawl Wrestling Tournament champions from Draughn with proclamations. The room was packed with proud parents, guardians, and loved ones, many carefully arranging themselves in the center aisle for photos.

That part of the meeting was non-controversial. The tension arose with two agenda items that were, initially, on the consent agenda.

Councilwoman Heather Ward requested that a resolution to abolish five committees and a resolution to authorize the upset bid process on 0 Praley St. SW be moved under new business for the council to discuss.

The Merchants Advisory, Ad Hoc Facilities Review, Ad Hoc Efficiency Task Force, Ad Hoc Utilities Infrastructure Review, and Ad Hoc Street Maintenance committees were on the chopping block for lack of members or activity.

Ward motioned to table the decision until the board’s February meeting. No one seconded, and the motion failed. Mayor Pro Tem Rexanna Lowman then motioned to abolish the committees, seconded by councilwoman Melinda Zimmerman.

Lowman said three of the committees have no members. Some never had members, she said.

“And our merchants have never really been under the town until this committee was appointed with a resolution in 2024 putting them under town guidance,” Lowman said. “We always had the Valdese Merchants Association, and they’re welcome to still have a committee and do their own thing, but when they’re under the town, they’re having to follow our rules.”

UPSET MERCHANTS

Lowman said the merchants association once wanted to sell hamburgers and hot dogs, but as a town committee, was not allowed to raise money.

“I think this committee would be … able to do a lot more things and have a lot more freedom if they were not under the Town of Valdese, ” Lowman said.

Ward said that several members of the merchant committee called her upset about the potential abolition. She said the reason the committee had not met in the past couple of months was the chairman’s lack of availability.

Town Manager Todd Herms mentioned that a town committee is subject to the same public body laws as the council.

“We have to have minutes,” Herms said. “No minutes have been taken, and all the meetings have to be published and open to the public. Neither one of those things has occurred.”

Ward said the committee had said that to the chairman. The fact he had not presented the Town Council with those things was “on him.”

“I think that they just kind of felt like it (Merchants Advisory committee) gave them a little more teeth, and what they were bringing to the table. Instead of just coming in and presenting to the council, it gave them a chance to discuss (things) amongst themselves,” Ward said.

Ward urged the council to keep the committee “just (in an) advisory role, not as anything else.”

Ultimately, the council voted 3-2 to dissolve the committees with Lowman, Zimmerman, and Councilwoman Shannon Radabaugh in favor and Ward and Councilman Gary Ogle in disagreement.

Next, Ward motioned to table the upset bid process on the Praley Street property due to a lack of information and the potential need for discussion in closed session. Zimmerman seconded.

Assistant Town Manager and CFO Bo Weichel clarified that the resolution was not to sell the property, but to advertise that the town is receiving upset bids following an offer for $18,000 for the 1.04-acre tract, which according to the agenda packet, has an appraised land value of $32,476 on Burke County GIS.

Lowman asked if the town is able to put a price on the property, or if it must accept whatever a potential buyer offers. Weichel said if the council feels a price is not fair, they can decline the sale offer.

Ward said this was information she wished the council had had before the item was placed on the consent agenda.

“I guess that was the great thing about having pre-agenda meetings,” Ward said. “We knew what was happening.”

Ward’s motion failed in a 2-3 vote, with her and Ogle being the only two voting in favor of tabling the decision. Zimmerman then motioned to reject the resolution.

“This property … hasn’t been advertised as available or anything,” Zimmerman said. “And I think if in the future, if we decide to sell, then it would be advertised accordingly with an appraised value or whatever value we determine through a realtor.” Radabaugh agreed.

This motion passed unanimously.

OTHER ACTIONS AND INFORMATION

• The council voted unanimously to adopt a 10-year comprehensive plan for the Parks and Recreation department. The Paper will have an in-depth story in an upcoming edition.
• Parks and Recreation Director David Andersen sought approval to apply for a Helene Recovery Fund grant. The council unanimously approved. If the department is awarded the grant, funding will cover streambank repair and playground equipment updates for Children’s Park.
• Andersen said contractors are hard at work on the pool cover. The cover should be fully installed by the end of the month, according to Valdese’s January-March 2026 newsletter.