NEWTON — The Catawba County Board of Commissioners met April 6, 2026, at 7 p.m. and adjourned at 8 p.m., according to the county recap published the same day.
The board approved minutes from the March 16 regular meeting and closed session and from a March 30 special meeting and closed session.
Commissioner Cole Setzer presented proclamations declaring April 18 Line Worker Appreciation Day and April 12–18, 2026, National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. Vice Chair Austin Allran presented a proclamation declaring April 6–12, 2026, Public Health Week and April as Public Health Month. Commissioner Barbara Beatty presented a proclamation declaring April 19–25, 2026, National Library Week. Chair Randy Isenhower presented a proclamation declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Consent items, all approved:
1. A Finance and Personnel Subcommittee request to approve a contract with Martin Starnes & Associates for Fiscal Year 2025-26 auditing services for an amount not to exceed $129,215.
2. A resolution declaring county-owned property at 2804 Beech Tree Street, Newton, surplus and starting the upset-bid process on a $70,000 offer from Jerry Hildebran, Jr.
3. Donation of surplus 2017 Chevrolet Tahoes to Propst Fire Department, Bandys Fire Department, and Catawba Volunteer Fire Department.
4. Authorization for the county manager to execute an Amendment, Assignment and Assumption of Lease among Catawba County, Blue Ridge Biofuels, and Lifecycle Renewables, and related documents.
5. Declaration of retiring Chief Brian Kelly’s badge and service weapon surplus effective April 6, 2026, under N.C.G.S. 20-187.2(a). Kelly is retiring May 1, 2026, and asked that the items be presented at a later retirement ceremony rather than at a commissioners meeting.
6. A resolution amending the list of map review officers: Diana Gandia for Catawba County; Addyson Ikard for the Town of Maiden; and Daniel Odom for the Town of Long View and the Town of Catawba.
The recap listed the active review-officer roster after those additions, including named officers for Hickory, Newton, Conover, Claremont, Maiden, Long View, the Town of Catawba, and Brookford’s Marshall Eckard.
The recap does not list individual commissioner votes or the appraised value of the Beech Tree Street lot.
Official release from Catawba County Government, April 6, 2026. https://www.catawbacountync.gov/news/boc-recap-4-6-26/
