The Ashe County Board of Commissioners moved through a series of routine and project-related votes during its Oct. 20 meeting, approving a consent agenda and formal motions that included a proclamation for Adoption Awareness Month, funding for county transportation services, a short-term lease to allow site due diligence, engagement of bond counsel for the landfill financing and a reimbursement resolution for financing costs.

The board unanimously approved a proclamation asking the county to recognize November 2025 as Adoption Awareness Month and to observe National Adoption Day locally. Commissioners also voted to authorize Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) funds for Ashe County Transportation Authority for 2025, approving the $115,662 allocation described at the meeting.

On county property and capital projects, the board approved a 12-month lease (with possible 24-month extension) for 961 Highway 221 Business in West Jefferson to permit due diligence and to support a future special-use permit application to the Town of West Jefferson. The lease includes a $1-per-year lease term and a right of first refusal for the county on the parcel.

Commissioners approved a letter of engagement to secure bond counsel and financial advisory services to support financing for the county landfill project and related capital work, and they adopted a reimbursement resolution enabling the county to include certain pre-financing engineering and architectural costs in the eventual bond financing.

The board directed staff to pursue advocacy on state employee health plan changes by approving a motion to sign letters to the state treasurer and local legislators asking for relief or a deferral related to a new surcharge. That discussion and motion followed staff briefings about House Bill 125 and its potential fiscal impact on county budgets.

The meeting also opened and adopted the meeting agenda and approved routine consent items at the start of the session.