Wilkes County, NC

County Commissioners

The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners will meet to approve minutes, recognize the HG Greene General Store's 150th anniversary, and proclaim National Recovery Month. The main business is an update from the Department of Social Services and the appointment of an interim DSS director. The agenda also includes old and new business, a boards and commissions update, and a closed session.

• Appointment of interim DSS Director
• DSS update by Director Kevin Brown
• HG Greene General Store 150th Anniversary Recognition
• Proclamation of National Recovery Month
• Approval of minutes from August 18, 2026 meeting

County Commissioners

The Wilkes County Commissioners will consider agreements and budgets for the Home and Community Care Block Grant, receive a quarterly update from the tourism development authority, and proclaim International Overdose Awareness Day. The meeting includes routine items like approving minutes and a closed session.

• Home and Community Care Block Grant agreement
• FY 2025-2026 final budget for Home and Community Care Block Grant
• FY 2026-2027 budget for Home and Community Care Block Grant
• Tourism Development Authority quarterly update
• Proclamation for International Overdose Awareness Day

Board of Health

The Wilkes County Board of Health is meeting to adopt the agenda, approve minutes, and take action on financial items including bad debt and the ending financial report for fiscal year 2025-26. They will also discuss the annual training, departmental updates, the Rural Health Transformation Grant, the annual report, and board member reappointments. A closed session is scheduled, and the meeting will adjourn with the next meeting set for October 12, 2026.

• Bad debt action item
• Ending Financial Report FY 25-26
• Rural Health Transformation Grant update
• Annual Report presentation
• Board member reappointments (Dr. Sarah Miller-Wyatt, Ms. Martha Brame)

The Wilkes County Board of Health unanimously approved several updated policies, including fees and sliding fee discount, equipment replacement, tobacco-free grounds, workforce development, and employee immunization. They also voted to keep all local board of health rules as presented. The board tabled a tour of the new facility and received updates on the budget, grants, and High Country Community Health's planned move into the Lowe's space.

• Approved amended agenda (unanimous)
• Approved April 13, 2026 minutes (unanimous)
• Approved all updated policies: Fees/Sliding Fee Discount, Equipment Replacement, Tobacco-Free, Workforce Development, Immunization (unanimous)
• Kept all Board of Health rules as presented (unanimous)
• Tabled tour of new facility
• Adjourned (unanimous)

County Commissioners

The Wilkes County Commissioners will consider several items, including NCDOT offers to purchase property for right-of-way acquisition, utility construction agreements, and appointments to boards. They will also discuss a grant ordinance for a DOJ COSSUP grant and a lease agreement with Daymark Recovery Services.

• NCDOT offer to purchase property at 126 Executive Drive, Wilkesboro for right-of-way and damages
• Relocation offer for One Corporate Center sign at 126 Executive Drive
• Contingent offer to purchase property at Oakwoods Road and Call Street intersection
• Utility construction agreements with Town of North Wilkesboro and Broadway Water Association
• Resolution approving lease agreement with Daymark Recovery Services, Inc.

The Board approved two utility construction agreements with NCDOT: one with the Town of North Wilkesboro for sewer lines ($2,839,983.29) and one with Broadway Water Association for water lines ($1,059,316.44), both passed 4-1 with Chairman Kennedy dissenting. The agreements fund betterments for the N.C. Highway 115 project, with the County responsible for $3.8 million in betterment costs. The Board also approved budget amendments, library board appointments, a Daymark lease resolution, and a COSSUP grant ordinance.

• Approved utility construction agreement with NCDOT and Town of North Wilkesboro for sewer lines ($2,839,983.29) (4-1)
• Approved utility construction agreement with NCDOT and Broadway Water Association for water lines ($1,059,316.44) (4-1)
• Approved Budget Amendments No. 4-7 (school roofing funds, DSS donations, insurance reimbursement, health workforce funds) (unanimous)
• Approved appointments of Nicole de Beuijn, Paige Whitley-Baugess, and Kathryn P. Steele to Library Board (unanimous)
• Reappointed Brett Cothren to Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees (unanimous)
• Adopted resolution approving 5-year lease with Daymark Recovery Services (unanimous)
• Reappointed Mike Staley to North Wilkesboro Board of Adjustment ETJ seat (unanimous)
• Approved U.S. DOJ COSSUP Grant Project Ordinance ($999,900) (unanimous)

County Commissioners

The Wilkes County Commissioners are meeting to handle routine business, including approving minutes from prior meetings, budget amendments, and tax releases. They will also consider a fireworks permit application, an appointment to the Appalachian Regional Library Board, and an energy program outreach plan from the Department of Social Services. The agenda is largely procedural, with no major policy decisions listed.

• Approval of minutes from June 8 and June 16, 2026 meetings
• Budget amendments and transfers presented by County Manager John Yates
• Appointment to the Appalachian Regional Library Board
• 2026 Fireworks Permit Application approval
• DSS Energy Program Outreach Plan approval

The board unanimously approved three budget amendments, including $410,000 in opioid settlement funds for the EMS Community Paramedicine Program, $305,189 for health department programs (including opioid settlement funds for youth prevention), and $244,300 for a jail medication-assisted treatment program. They also approved a fireworks permit for North Wilkesboro Speedway, the DSS Energy Program Outreach Plan, tax releases of $11,016.85, and a grant agreement with N.C. Commerce for the Speedway. A public comment on Flock safety cameras was heard, but no action was taken.

• Approved Budget Amendment No. 1 (Health Dept. $305,189) unanimously
• Approved Budget Amendment No. 2 (EMS $410,000) unanimously
• Approved Budget Amendment No. 3 (Jail $244,300) unanimously
• Approved fireworks permit for North Wilkesboro Speedway unanimously
• Approved DSS Energy Program Outreach Plan FY 2026-2027 unanimously
• Approved tax releases of $11,016.85 unanimously
• Approved Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund Grant Agreement No. ME-019 unanimously
• Approved appointment of Becky Ball to Regional Library Board unanimously

Board of Health

The Wilkes County Board of Health will meet to adopt the agenda and approve minutes from April 13, 2026. They will receive updates on the new facility tour, the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, and grants including opioid settlement funds and Health Foundation grants. The board will also review and potentially act on several policies, including fees, equipment replacement, tobacco-free grounds, workforce development, and immunization, as well as local rules on smoking and e-cigarettes.

• Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Update
• Opioid Settlement Funds update
• Health Foundation Grants update
• Review of Fees and Sliding Fee Discount Program Policy
• Review of 2008 Smoking Rule and 2016 E-Cigarette Rule

The Wilkes County Board of Health unanimously approved all updated policies with recommended amendments, including operations, community health improvement, and internal cash controls. The board also received updates on the new building move, a new provider hire, and a potential grant that could bring a competing health clinic to the area.

• Approved agenda for April 13, 2026 meeting (unanimous)
• Approved minutes from Feb 9 and Mar 16 meetings (unanimous)
• Approved all 2026 policy updates with amendments (unanimous)
• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

County Commissioners

The Wilkes County Commissioners will hold a public hearing and consider approval of an Economic Investment Agreement for Project Pressure, a proposed economic development project. The board will also discuss budget amendments, a support letter for a National Park Service land acquisition, the juvenile prevention council's funding plan, and other administrative items.

• Public hearing on proposed Economic Investment Agreement Project Pressure
• Budget amendments and transfers
• N.C. Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund Events Support Contract with Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Letter of support for National Park Service land acquisition opportunity
• Resolution to direct opioid settlement funds for FY 2026-2027

The Board unanimously approved an Economic Investment Agreement with Bevara High Pressure Tolling Services for a high-pressure food processing facility at 1601 Industrial Drive, Wilkesboro. The six-year agreement commits Bevara to create 92 jobs and invest up to $19.6 million, with the County refunding 80% of the company's property tax payments, contingent on meeting annual job and investment goals. The Board also approved a $1.8 million opioid settlement fund spending plan, a lease advertisement for Daymark Recovery Services, and appointed an interim tax administrator.

• Approved Economic Investment Agreement with Bevara for HPP facility (unanimous)
• Approved $1.8M opioid settlement fund expenditure resolution (unanimous)
• Approved advertisement for 5-year Daymark Recovery Services lease (unanimous)
• Approved Major Events Fund support contract with North Wilkesboro Speedway (unanimous)
• Approved JCPC 2026-2027 funding plan of $237,432 (unanimous)
• Approved letter of support for NPS land acquisition (unanimous)
• Appointed W. Steven Crysel as Interim Tax Administrator (unanimous)
• Approved five budget amendments totaling $726,416 (unanimous)

County Commissioners

The Wilkes County Commissioners are holding a special called meeting on June 8, 2026, immediately followed by a budget work session at 5:30 P.M. The agenda includes only a call to order, a closed session, and adjournment, with no public action items listed. The substantive work appears to be the budget work session, which is not detailed in this agenda.

• Special called meeting on June 8, 2026
• Closed session
• Budget work session beginning at 5:30 P.M.

The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners met in a special called session on June 8, 2026. The board unanimously approved entering closed session to discuss personnel matters and consult with the county attorney, then unanimously returned to open session. No action was taken in closed session, and the meeting adjourned without any substantive decisions.

• Approved closed session for personnel and attorney-client privilege discussions (unanimous)
• Approved return to regular session (unanimous)
• Adjourned special called meeting (unanimous)

County Commissioners

The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners is holding a budget work session to review and adopt the 2026-2027 county budget. They will discuss non-profit allocations, including a recommended $225,422 for the Wilkes Economic Development Corp, and consider proposed budget changes and fund balance updates. The meeting is primarily a working session leading to budget adoption.

• Non-profit allocations, including $225,422 recommended for Wilkes Economic Development Corp (Chairman Kennedy to recuse)
• Proposed budget changes from work sessions
• Fund balance update
• Additional proposed budget changes
• Wilkes County 2026-2027 budget adoption

The Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the FY 2026-2027 Budget Ordinance totaling $117,132,933, with a property tax rate of 42 cents per $100 valuation. The budget includes a 4% COLA for full-time employees, one-time additional funding of $700,000 for Wilkes County Schools and $363,019 for Wilkes Community College, and a $4,161,449 appropriation from fund balance. The board also approved a $225,422 allocation to the Wilkes Economic Development Corp. and postponed certain capital projects to save an estimated $370,000.

• Adopted FY 2026-2027 Budget Ordinance of $117,132,933 (unanimous)
• Set property tax rate at 42¢ per $100 valuation (unanimous)
• Approved $700,000 one-time additional funding for Wilkes County Schools (unanimous)
• Approved $363,019 one-time additional funding for Wilkes Community College (unanimous)
• Approved 4% COLA pay increase for all full-time employees (unanimous)
• Approved $225,422 allocation to Wilkes Economic Development Corp. (unanimous)
• Postponed capital projects for estimated $370,000 savings (unanimous)
• Approved budget changes including freeze on 11 positions and cuts to travel (unanimous)

County Commissioners

The Wilkes County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on a proposed Economic Investment Agreement for Project Pressure, followed by a regular meeting. The board will also consider postponing the hearing to June 16, discuss sales tax distribution with the Town of Wilkesboro, and approve several administrative items including budget amendments and a DSS child care subsidy policy.

• Public hearing on proposed Economic Investment Agreement Project Pressure
• Postpone public hearing on Project Pressure to June 16, 2026
• Town of Wilkesboro sales tax distribution and payment in lieu of taxes discussion
• DSS Child Care Subsidy County Local Policy approval
• Personnel Resolution Manual Sixth Amendment

The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners postponed the public hearing for the proposed Bevara Economic Investment Agreement (Project Pressure) to June 16, 2026, because the notice was not advertised in time. The board also scheduled a special called meeting for June 8, 2026, to hold another budget work session and potentially vote on the FY 2026-27 budget. Several routine items were approved, including budget amendments, a child care subsidy policy, and a DSS memorandum of understanding.

• Postponed Project Pressure public hearing to June 16, 2026 (unanimous)
• Scheduled special called meeting for June 8, 2026, for budget work session and possible budget vote (unanimous)
• Approved Budget Amendment No. 34 for $200,000 Wilkes Dental Clinic Medicaid payments (unanimous)
• Approved Budget Amendment No. 35 for $745,890 landfill payment to Sargent Corporation (unanimous)
• Approved Child Care Subsidy County Local Policy (unanimous)
• Approved DSS Memorandum of Understanding for FY 2026-27 and 2027-28 (unanimous)
• Approved Amendment No. 6 to Personnel Resolution Manual, adding Early Retirement Incentive Plan (unanimous)
• Approved minutes from May 13, 18, and 19 meetings (unanimous)

County Commissioners

The Board approved a 4% across-the-board cost-of-living adjustment for all full-time county employees, funded partly by new revenue from housing additional inmates. They also approved fire tax rate increases for four volunteer departments, removed a $4 million earmark for the Hwy. 115 betterment project from the budget message, and allocated over $1.2 million in one-time funding to schools, community college, and non-profits. The allocation to the Wilkes Economic Development Corporation was tabled pending financial information.

• Approved 4% COLA for all full-time county employees (4-1)
• Removed $4M earmark for Hwy. 115 betterment from budget message (unanimous)
• Increased Knotville fire tax to 8.88 cents (unanimous)
• Increased McGrady fire tax to 11.75 cents (unanimous)
• Increased Roaring River fire tax to 6 cents (unanimous)
• Increased State Road fire tax to 5.9 cents (unanimous)
• Approved $700K for schools, $183,019 for WCC, $180K for WCC salary supplement (unanimous)
• Tabled $225,422 allocation to Wilkes EDC until June 2 (unanimous)