NEWTON — The Catawba County Board of Commissioners met July 20, 2026, at 7 p.m. and adjourned at 7:55 p.m. before entering closed session, with no further actions anticipated, according to the county recap published July 21.
The board approved minutes from the regular meeting of June 15, 2026, and a special joint meeting of June 30, 2026. Commissioner Beatty recommended Carrie Foard to the Catawba County Child Fatality Prevention Team. The board approved.
After public hearings, commissioners approved two rezonings. One was 2.86 acres at 4862 Springs Road, owned by Jeffrey Barger, from R-20 Residential to Highway Commercial-Conditional District (HC-CD). The other was an application from Home Run Market Properties, LLC to rezone a 7.2-acre parcel at 5580 E NC 150 Highway, at the intersection of East Maiden Road and NC Highway 150, from Highway Commercial (HC) to Planned Development (PD) using the High-Density Development option (70% built upon area) under the Watershed Protection Overlay (WP-O).
Tax Collector Lori Mathes presented the 2025 Tax Settlement Report. The Tax Office asked the board to approve the 2026 Annual Order of Collections, required each year by N.C.G.S. 105-321(b). The board approved.
On a nine-item consent agenda, the Finance and Personnel Subcommittee asked the board to accept a North Carolina Office of EMS Mobile Integrated Healthcare grant of $185,386. Catawba County Emergency Services submitted a competitive application to expand REACH — Resource for Addiction and Community Health — described as a Mobile Integrated Healthcare initiative that provides post-overdose follow-up, care coordination, peer engagement, and connections to treatment and recovery resources.
The same subcommittee asked the board to create two new full-time building inspector positions and appropriate additional building services revenue to support the expense.
Commissioners appropriated $111,642 in General Fund fund balance and authorized transfer of $203,348 in previously appropriated capital project funds and $237,577 in current-year operating funds into a capital project to support purchase of Motorolla N70 7/800 Model APX radios and associated equipment for the Sheriff’s Office.
They appropriated $228,665 in General Fund fund balance for an increase to the Newton Detention Center medical services contract.
The board approved an update to the county’s Opioid Settlement Funds Resolution, extending the CVMC Grant Project period to June 30, 2027, to match other funded programs. The recap says the changes do not add funds beyond what was previously approved.
The Policy and Public Works Subcommittee asked the board to declare county-owned property at 245 East N Street, Newton, surplus and begin the upset-bid process, based on an offer from Ashure Ministry, Inc. of $65,000.
The Tax Administrator’s June package was approved: 11 releases totaling $2,024.13, one refund totaling $399.22, and 54 motor-vehicle bill adjustments and refunds totaling $5,847.29.
Staff asked the board to amend the list of Map Review Officers, adding Blake Wright and Jonathan Pilkenton for Catawba County, removing Maggie Izlar, and removing Blake Wright as a Town of Maiden review officer. Lieutenant Bryon Hollar is retiring effective Aug. 1, 2026, and requested his badge and service weapon be presented at a later retirement ceremony rather than at a commissioners meeting.
Under the manager’s report, the board authorized appropriation of $209,467 in N.C. Department of Transportation reimbursement revenue for infrastructure expenses at Trivium Corporate Center to the existing Southeastern Catawba County Business Park capital project. Budget transfers included $1,347.00 in JCPC discretionary funds to Aspire Youth for the Vocational Directions program and $2,500 of contingency funds to the Lake Norman Marine Commission.
Official release from Catawba County Government, July 21, 2026. https://www.catawbacountync.gov/news/boc-recap-7-20-26/
