NEWTON — The Catawba County Board of Commissioners met Aug. 17, 2026, at 7 p.m. and adjourned at 7:28 p.m. after approving minutes from Aug. 3, an appointment, a six-item consent agenda, and two attorney items, according to the county’s official recap.
On appointments, Commissioner Abernethy recommended Ben Ridley to fill the unexpired term of Jody Street, with a term expiration of Aug. 31, 2027. The board approved. The recap does not name the board or commission for that seat.
The Finance and Personnel Subcommittee brought several money items on the consent agenda, all of which the board approved.
Commissioners appropriated $48,000 in available fire district fund balance to the Bandy’s Crossroads Fire Department for the one-time purchase of firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) and portable radios.
They accepted and appropriated Soil & Water Conservation Commission grant funds of $375,000 to remove stream debris blockages in the county and authorized the county manager to execute the required grant agreement.
They also approved reallocation of $219,000 in previously appropriated funds from existing Hickory City Schools capital projects to support emergent project needs, as requested by Hickory City Schools. The recap does not name the receiving projects.
The Tax Administrator’s July package was approved: 18 releases totaling $51,159.51, three refunds totaling $321.51, and 63 motor-vehicle bill adjustments and refunds totaling $6,615.18.
Staff asked the board to approve a resolution to retire drug interdiction K-9 Loki and transfer ownership of Loki to K-9 handler Jeremy Graham. The board approved.
Staff also asked the board to appropriate $65,000 in revenue from the sale of county-owned land at 245 East N Street, Newton, to the existing General Renovations capital project. On July 20, 2026, the board had authorized staff to start the upset-bid process for disposal of the 2.53-acre parcel based on an offer from Ashure Ministry, Inc. The recap says the upset-bid period closed and Ashure Ministry, Inc. was the successful bidder.
Under the attorney’s report, staff asked the board to approve purchase of real property at 334 Southwest Boulevard, Newton, for $1,600,000.00 and appropriation of funding necessary to complete the transaction. The recap states the county has entered into a purchase agreement with County Wide Insurance Agency Inc. for the former Western Steer in Newton, subject to the seller being able to clear certain title issues, for a purchase price of $1,550,000.00. The recap describes the property as strategically located at the corner of 321 and Hwy 10 and says it provides access to the county’s existing parcels and flexibility for growth to expand public facilities, services, or infrastructure. The board approved.
Also under the attorney’s report, the recap says that in the opioid litigation, Judge Polster ordered the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee to prepare a proposed short-form amended complaint to allow eligible subdivisions to add Pharmacy Benefits Manager claims without preparing separate, lengthy amended complaints. Subdivisions, including Catawba County, may need to approve the amended complaints in order to add the PBM defendants. The board approved.
The recap does not list individual commissioner votes or identify who made or seconded motions.
Official release from Catawba County Government, Aug. 17, 2026. https://www.catawbacountync.gov/news/boc-recap-8-17-26/
