An update on Asheville’s recovery from Tropical Storm Helene was presented to the Asheville-based  Council of Independent Business Owners during the pro-business group’s issues meeting on Jan. 17 in UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center.

About 100 people attended the 90-minute meeting that had been extended — by prior arrangement — 30 minutes longer than CIBO’s usual one-hour programs.

The storm recovery report, presented by Asheville Assistant City Manager Ben Woody, along with other city personnel, covered development services, water resources and public works.

On a separate-but-related matter, Woody presented proposed changes to Asheville’s flood regulations. The report was promoted by CIBO “as an opportunity for property owners, attorneys, design professionals and others to share their concerns and engage with the assistant city manager regarding the proposed changes.”  

John Carroll, past president of CIBO who served as the meeting’s emcee, greeted the crowd and expressed his delight with the large turnout for the program.

After the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer (given by CIBO Vice President Josh Holmes), CIBO President Buzzy Cannady told the meeting attendees, “I’m gonna duck out from running these meetings... A few weeks ago, I had a little vertigo.. I’ve lost most of my hearing. I’ll continue to be president of CIBO, but I won’t be running these meetings... John (Carroll) and Josh (Holmes) are gonna help me continue it on.” The audience cheered for Cannady.

Next, a revved-up Carroll told the crowd, “It was 30 degrees at 7 o’clock this morning... I’m glad to see y’all are happy to be here!” prompting further enthused applause. 

Carroll then introduced Woody, who was the program’s main speaker. In turn, Woody introduced those who would aid him in the presentation, including David Melton, director of water resources; and Mark Matheny, director of development services.

 In outlining his program plan, Woody noted that, along with Melton and Matheny, he would address aspects of Asheville’s storm recovery, including the water system and development —and some slides would be shown. “And then we will move into deep dive... into flood plain management. 

Going first, Melton, focused on the Asheville water system,  along with Helene impacts and responses.

“Service to 80 percent of water resources customers was disrupted mid-morning on Sept. 27,” Melton began, noting that the problem was the result of havoc wreaked by Helene.

“Partial service was restored to every customer who could receive it within 18-plus-or-minus days, although a boil water notice” was in effect for those with water, he said.

“On Oct. 10, the bypass waterline was operating again.. That was a big deal... Typically the water coming into the North Fork is crystal-clear.”

This time, however, he said has been a problem with “turbidity” in the city’s water system. “Our water quality coming into the water shed has probably changed for the next 20 years,” Melton noted.

“So now we’re working North Fork into a conventional water treatment plant. The cost is $101 million.”

Melton added that another cost the city is facing is for building an alternate bypass line at North Fork, costing $50 million”

He added, “Long-term, we’re thinking about (building) a new treatment facility in West Asheville,” costing $80-$100 million.

In a question-and-answer session after Melton’s presentation, an unidentified man asked, “What help is there in capital recovery… with all these expenses?”

We’re looking for any funding we can do to help mitigate this,” Melton replied. “We’ll see.”

CIBO member Mac Swicegood noted glumly that, years ago, “We had an opportunity to sell the timber at $20,000 an acre in the watershed. Now we’ve got all that timber down.”

Regarding the missed deal that Swicegood cited, Melton said it probably fell through because “it probably had a lot to do with the conservation easement.”

In a separate presentation, Matheny, chief of development services, reviewed Helene building safety assessments, noting that “a lot of it was tree damage and a lot of it was flood damage. We really had to understand within our own community the degree of the damage.” 

Regarding “Helene building permits,” Matheny said that they numbered “about 1,300 permits.. somewhat of a lower number... but not significantly lower (than usual). “

Matheny also commended the Floodplain Assistance Support Team (aka FAST), which is set up “to provide focused and personalized support for property owners.” He it is is currently in “a soft launch phase, but will officially kick of the week of Jan. 21.”

After Matheny’s presentation, someone asked Woody about the status of “private property debris removal,” 

In reply, Woody said, “It should begin sometime in February.”

Also, Woody added that there are “a lot more opportunities for personal recovery than commercial recovery.”

Turning to the city’s proposed changes to its flood regulations, Woody said, “The city participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. Participation is voluntary... Under 10 percent of Buncombe County residents have flood insurance... We have to have a flood plain ordinance... If you have NFIP, then you have to maintain it.”

The presentation also addressed proposed changes in Asheville’s flood regulations, which succinctly was summarized by City Attorney Brad Branham during a Jan. 9 virtual City Council meeing) when he said “it was important to talk about who might be affected by these changes to the flood protection ordinance,” the Asheville Citizen Times reported.

 In this case, Branham said, “most of these changes are definitional changes which will essentially have zero effect on anyone,’ largely intended to ease confusion and fix outdated terminology,” the ACT noted, adding that “the only real substantive difference that may apply to certain properties, Branham said, is a change to require a minimum 2 feet freeboard, when the state building code might only require 1 foot.”

To that end, the ACT stated, “Freeboard is the height added to the base flood elevation and determines the level at which a structure’s lowest floor must be elevated, according to FEMA. Two feet is the state-recommended minimum....”