Nathan R. Bennett

The meeting agenda was unanimously approved. Key discussions in new business included presentation and approval for the Town to act as a "Legacy Sponsor" by allocating $5,000 for the Bailey Mountain International Folk Festival, scheduled for July 2026. The Board received a progress update on the grant-funded North Main Street Small Area Plan, with consensus reached to schedule the required public hearing for the December 1, 2025 meeting. Resolutions were unanimously approved to accept two $150,000 Asset Inventory and Assessment (AIA) grants from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the water and wastewater systems, and subsequently approved the engineering services agreement with McGill Associates to complete the grant work. Board appointments were made to fill vacancies on the Firefighters Relief Fund Board and the Housing Authority Board following the passing of a member. The Town Manager provided updates on the Christmas Parade logistics and the NC 213 water project status. During public comment, a resident requested the Town ask NCDOT to evaluate safety improvements on NC 213 due to high vehicle speeds near new businesses, which the Board agreed to follow up on.

The meeting included approval of the agenda and the minutes from the September 8, 2025, regular meeting. Key discussions involved Old Business, specifically the unanimous approval of the Voluntary Annexation Petition for the Little Ivy Baptist Church property at 1053 Crossroads Parkway, including the corresponding Ordinance to Extend the Corporate Limits. In New Business, the Board unanimously approved the Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Plan for 2025-2030, which outlines planned investments in park acquisitions and facility enhancements like the West Farm and Bone Camp Creek acquisitions, greenway expansions, and Recreation Park court renovations. Additionally, an Ordinance was approved for temporary road closures related to the Christmas Parade scheduled for December 6, 2025. The Board also unanimously approved a request to release and refund late listing fees for property taxes from 2022 and 2023 for property owners Elizabeth Britt and Harold Smith. The Town Manager reported on the unsuccessful grant application for the West Farm acquisition, the completion of the municipal parking lot, and provided updates on upcoming community events. The session concluded with a closed session to discuss a confidential economic development project.

The meeting included organizational items where newly elected officials received the oath of office and the Board Officers (Vice-Mayor, Treasurer, Clerk, and Secretary) were elected. The Board also appointed Mayor John L. Chandler to the Mars Hill Firefighters Relief Fund Board. Old business centered on the North Main Street Small Area Plan; following a public hearing, the Board unanimously adopted the conceptual plan, which guides future public improvements and potential private investment, to position the Town for grant funding opportunities. New business included the acceptance of the FY 2024-2025 audit report, which received an unmodified "clean" opinion despite noting a Financial Performance Indicator of Concern regarding water and sewer fund infrastructure depreciation. The Board also approved a budget amendment to allocate $82,000 from fund balance for the purchase of an additional trash truck and authorized that specific purchase.

The Town of Mars Hill's Bicycle + Pedestrian Plan aims to create a livable community with an accessible and connected network for safe and convenient walking and biking. The plan focuses on five key goals: enhancing safety for users, improving connectivity between facilities and destinations, ensuring accessibility and equity for all ages and abilities, leveraging natural and cultural landscapes to build community, and promoting sustainable growth through integrated active transportation facilities.

The meeting included an update on the town's response to Tropical Storm Helene, a presentation by the Friends of Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School highlighting the school's preservation efforts, and the approval of a memorandum of understanding with the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization for transportation planning. Other key topics included addressing a Financial Performance Indication of Concern (FPIC) related to water and sewer assets, authorizing vehicle tax refunds due to a tax rate reduction, approving a budget amendment, and receiving a Town Manager report covering various projects and issues, including trash truck repairs, a water project with the Town of Marshall and Madison County, and Main Street parking concerns.