Town Council — Boone, NC
Date: 2025-05-28

Town of Boone
 Town Council Regular Meeting
 6:00 PM, May 28, 2025
 Town Council Chambers
 1500 Blowing Rock Road


 I. Call to Order

 II. Moment of Silence

 III. Announcements

 1. Announcement of Every Drop Counts Contest Winners
 For Information

 IV. Tentative Agenda Adoption

 V. Listening Session for Constituent Concerns Regarding the Current Federal
 Administration
 The Boone Town Council invites its constituents who would like to share concerns
 about the current federal administration and how it is directly affecting them and/or the
 community.

 VI. Public Comment

 VII. Approval of Proclamations and Resolutions

 1. Approval of Proclamation - Pride Month
 For Action

 2. Approval of Resolution - Boonesborough
 For Action

 VIII. Approval of Items on Consent Agenda

 1. Approval of the Grant Contract between the Town of Boone and the North
 Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for the Recreational
 Trails Program Grant
 For Action

 2. Approval of the Contract Between the Town of Boone and Nature Trails, LLC for
 the Construction of the Southern Terminus of the Northern Peaks Trail/Rivers
 House Park Trail
 For Action

 3. Consideration of Equipment Trade-In and Purchase
 For Action

 4. Approval of Budget Amendments
 For Action

Town of Boone Town Council May 28, 2025
 1
 5. Consideration of Audit Proposal from Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A.
 For Action

 IX. Requested Appearances

 1. Bill Dixon - Appalachian Architecture, PA
 For Action

 X. Council Matters

 1. Consideration of Draft Plans for the Rivers House Restroom Project
 1. Discussion and approval of attached plans and scope of work for the Rivers
 House Restroom Project.
 2. Discussion and proposed modifications of attached plans and scope of
 work for the Rivers House Restroom Project.

 2. Consideration of Amendment to Town Code Chapter 50 to Allow Master Meters
 for Multifamily
 For Action

 3. Wildfire Risk Presentation
 For Action

 4. Announcement of Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Hardin Creek Stream Restoration
 and Greenway Bridge Replacement Project
 For Action

 5. Request to Schedule Additional Budget Meeting
 For Action

 XI. Planning Matters

 1. Consideration of Modification to Planning Public Hearing Schedule
 For Action

 2. Consideration of UDO Text Changes
 For Action

 3. Consideration of Draft Conditional District Zoning Map Amendment UDO Text
 Changes.
 For Action

 XII. Closed Session
 1. N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 143-318.11(a)(1), to review, approve and seal closed session
 minutes from Council's prior closed session(s).

 2. N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 143-318.11(a)(3), to consult with the Town Attorney in order to
 preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the Town Council, and
 obtain legal advice, consider and/or give instructions to the attorney concerning one or
 more potential legal claims.


Town of Boone Town Council May 28, 2025
 2
 XIII. Potential Action Following Closed Session

 XIV. Adjournment




Town of Boone Town Council May 28, 2025
 3

MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
 BOONE TOWN COUNCIL
 MAY 28, 2025


CALL TO ORDER

A regular meeting of the Boone Town Council was called to order on Wednesday, May 28,
2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Boone Town Council Chambers located at 1500 Blowing Rock
Road in Boone. Mayor Futrelle presided. Town Council members present included Mayor
Pro-Tem Dalton George, Todd Carter, Virginia Roseman, and Edie Tugman. Town staff
present included Town Manager Amy Davis, Town Clerk Nicole Harmon-Church, Grants
Coordinator/Communications Director Laney Wise, Deputy Planning Director Brandon
Wise, Program Coordinator Victoria O’Connor, Public Works Director Todd Moody,
Sustainability and Special Projects Coordinator George Santucci, Fire Chief Jimmy Isaacs,
Police Chief Daniel Duckworth, Planning Director Jane Shook (remote), Finance Director
Guy Miller, and Cultural Resources Director Mark Freed. Town Attorney Allison Meade was
also in attendance.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Town Manager Amy Davis formally announced the appointment of Daniel Duckworth as the
new Chief of Police. She thanked Chief Duckworth for all his hard work and dedication to
the Town and expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to work with him in this
capacity. Chief Duckworth stated that he felt humbled to serve the Town and its citizens as
Chief of Police. He also commended all Town staff for their dedication and emphasized the
importance of their continued collaboration in serving the community.

Program Coordinator Victoria O’Connor gave a brief overview of the “Every Drop Counts”
program and announced the winners of this year’s contest.

Mayor Pro-Tem George requested that the agenda be amended to include an item for
discussion and potential action at the end of Council Matters, speciﬁcally to address the
support of Howard Street businesses during construction. Mayor Futrelle also asked to
amend the agenda to strike items 1 & 2 from the Consent Agenda at the request of staff.
Upon a motion by Mayor Pro-Tem George, seconded by Council member Roseman, the
Council voted to approve the agenda as amended.
 VOTE: Aye: George, Roseman, Carter, Tugman
 Nay: None
 Absent:Plaag

LISTENING SESSION FOR CONSTITUENT CONCERNS REGARDING THE CURRENT
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION

There were no speakers signed up for the listening session.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no speakers signed up for public comment.

APPROVAL OF PROCLAMATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

Council member Carter read the following proclamation into record:

TOWN OF BOONE
PRIDE MONTH PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Town Council of Boone, N.C. recognizes and proclaims the
month of June 2025 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) “Pride
Month” throughout the Town of Boone; and

WHEREAS, Boone, N.C. joins the State of North Carolina and multiple nations around the
world in observance of Pride Month to honor the history of the LGBTQ liberation movement
and to support the rights of all citizens to experience equality and freedom from
discrimination; and

WHEREAS, the Rainbow Flag and Progress Pride Flag are widely recognized as a symbol of
pride, inclusion, and support for social movements that advocate for LGBTQ people in
society; and

WHEREAS, all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. LGBTQ
individuals have had immeasurable impact to the cultural, civic, and economic successes
of our country; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Boone is committed to supporting visibility, dignity, equity, and
equality for LGBTQ people in our diverse community; and

WHEREAS, while society at large increasingly supports LGBTQ equality, it is essential to
acknowledge that the need for education and awareness remains vital to end
discrimination and prejudice; and
WHEREAS, as attacks on the LGBTQ community, particularly Transgender individuals and
Queer youth continue to rise, we denounce the 575 anti-LGBTQ bills that have been
introduced across our nation this year; and in particular, the six bills, H595, H606, H560,
H791, H776, and H1000 generated in the N.C. House and the two bills, S516 and S442 in
the N.C. Senate that seek to deny healthcare, identiﬁcation, and access to LGBTQ North
Carolinians; as well as allowing the censorship of LGBTQ curriculum and enshrining
discrimination against LGBTQ people into law; and



WHEREAS, we categorically state that “Pride is Pride” and denounce the recent actions by
the current Presidential administration to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts
and to target LGBTQ and other marginalized communities for erasure in our nation’s
history; and

WHEREAS, we stand in solidarity with the citizens of Boone, Watauga County, North
Carolina and the United States who are resisting the dismantling of our Democracy and
standing up to preserve fundamental freedoms that are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution;
and

WHEREAS, this nation was founded on the principle that every individual has inﬁnite
dignity and worth, and the Mayor and Town Council of Boone calls upon the people of this
municipality to embrace this principle and work to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists;
and

WHEREAS, celebrating Pride Month inﬂuences awareness and provides support and
advocacy for Boone’s LGBTQ community, and is an opportunity to take action and engage
in dialogue to strengthen alliances, build acceptance and advance equal rights.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Town of Boone Council herby proclaims the
month of June 2025 as Pride Month in support of the LGBTQ community.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Progress Pride Flag will be raised on Friday, May 30,
2025, and to be ﬂown over Town Hall throughout the month of June, recognizing all LGBTQ
residents whose inﬂuential and lasting contributions to our neighborhoods make Boone,
N.C. a vibrant community in which to live, work and visit.



This is the 28th day of May 2025.

 ________________________________
 Tim Futrelle, Mayor

ATTEST:



________________________________(SEAL)

Nicole Harmon-Church, Clerk

*************************************************************************************

Council member Tugman read the following resolution into record:

 RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, in 1775, Richard Henderson, a prominent North Carolina judge, purchased
land from the Cherokee in Kentucky for the purpose of establishing a colony called
Transylvania; and

WHEREAS, whereas Henderson hired Daniel Boone to lead the 1775 effort by 35 ax men to
blaze a new trail to the Transylvania land holdings, sometimes called the Wilderness Road
and more speciﬁcally identiﬁed as the Boone Trace; and

WHEREAS, this new road to Kentucky led Boone and his compatriots, including several
enslaved individuals, through the Cumberland Gap to the Kentucky River, where they
established the new settlement of Fort Boone, later known as (Fort) Boonesborough; and

WHEREAS, local tradition holds that Daniel Boone hunted and on occasion encamped
within what is now Watauga County and purportedly stayed in a cabin owned by Benjamin
Howard that was once located on what is now the Appalachian State University campus in
Boone, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, local tradition holds that the Town of Boone was named in 1849 and
incorporated in 1872 in honor of Daniel Boone, the legendary pioneer, soldier, enslaver,
businessman, frontiersman, and folk hero; and

WHEREAS, the Fort Boonesborough Foundation is celebrating Daniel Boone’s
contributions to the creation and settlement of Boonesborough by hosting the “250th
Anniversary of the Settling of Kentucky” at Fort Boonesborough State Park in Richmond,
Kentucky, on June 7 and 8, 2025;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Boone Town Council and the Town of Boone
send their congratulations, well wishes, and this resolution of support to the Fort
Boonesborough Foundation and the Fort Boonesborough State Park for its efforts to
commemorate this important historic event, in spite of devastating ﬂooding that adversely
impacted Kentucky and the Richmond area in April 2025, including the Fort
Boonesborough site and its infrastructure.

This is the 28th day of May, 2025.

 ______________________

 Tim Futrelle, Mayor

ATTEST:



________________________

Nicole Harmon-Church, Town Clerk

*************************************************************************************

Upon a motion by Council member Roseman, seconded by Council member Carter,
Council voted to approve the following:

1. Proclamation - Pride Month

2. Resolution - Boonesborough

 VOTE: Aye: Roseman, Carter, Carter, Tugman
 Nay: None
 Absent:Plaag

REQESTED APPEARANCES

BILL DIXON – APPALACHIAN ARCHITECTURE

Architect Bill Dixon provided a brief update on the ongoing project at the Horn in the West,
noting that the parking lot had been paved and striped, and landscaping work was
underway. He indicated that Phase II bids were scheduled to be released on Friday and that
safety concerns would be addressed as part of the next phase as well. Council Member
Roseman inquired about the timeline for the completion of the restrooms. Mr. Dixon
responded that construction would take approximately 180 days, making it a close timeline
to complete the work before winter. He added that the pathways would need to be repaved,
a process that would be weather-dependent.
COUNCIL MATTERS

CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT PLANS FOR THE RIVERS HOUSE RESTROOM PROJECT

Next, Mr. Dixon provided an update on the Rivers House project. He reported that the plans
included the installation of a new water line and new electrical service. He stated the
project was expected to go out to bid in July. Council member Tugman asked whether, given
the current social climate, it would be feasible to make the restrooms gender-neutral. Mr.
Dixon conﬁrmed that it would be. Grants Coordinator Laney Wise noted that the plans had
been submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and were now being
presented to Council for approval. She added that the project would proceed to a quasi-
judicial hearing before the HPC next in order to obtain permits before going out to bid.

Council Member Roseman recommended that changing tables be included in both
restrooms. Council Member Carter inquired whether the rear area of the building would
serve as an emergency exit, to which Mr. Dixon clariﬁed that it was intended for storage and
not as an emergency exit. He also mentioned the need to relocate the pony cart currently
stored in that area. Cultural Resources Director Mark Freed noted that there was currently
no alternative location to store the pony cart. He added that in a previous conversation,
Council Member Plaag had suggested asking the County if they would be interested in
taking it for use in their new museum, and, as an alternative, proposed allocating funds for
a storage unit. He also recommended placing a tobacco scale, also stored in the area, on
Town-owned land as public art.

CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE CHAPTER 50 TO ALLOW MASTER
METERS FOR MULTIFAMILY

Attorney Meade provided a brief summary of the previous meeting, noting that the
ordinance amendment had passed on a 3-2 vote on the ﬁrst reading and required a second
vote. She explained that the amendments took a limited approach, applying only to
multifamily developments of ﬁve or more units. She also explained that the intent was to
remain revenue-neutral while allowing for the development of multifamily housing without
the signiﬁcant costs associated with installing, maintaining, and repairing individual
meters.
Council member Carter commented that the amendment aligned with the Town’s
affordable housing goals. Mayor Pro-Tem George expressed mixed feelings, acknowledging
the value of the amendment but noting his concern about the broader housing
conversation involving AppState. He referenced a current bill in the state senate that would
exempt universities from local zoning codes and wondered who at the university initiated
the addition of AppState to the bill. He noted that the legislation and its implications felt
offensive given the Town’s efforts to work collaboratively.

Council Member Tugman expressed support for the project and added that AppState
contributed to many of the town’s affordable housing challenges due to its failure to house
its student population adequately. She stated that while she was pleased AppState was
pursuing this particular project, she was especially grateful that it was located outside of
the downtown core.

Council member Carter made a motion in favor of amending Town Code Chapter 50 to
allow master meters for multifamily development. Council member Tugman seconded the
motion.

VOTE: Aye: Carter, Tugman
 Nay: Roseman, George
 Absent: Plaag

To break the tie, Mayor Futrelle was asked to vote. He voted aye, and the motion passed.

WILDFIRE RISK PRESENTATION

Fire Chief Jimmy Isaacs gave a presentation on the growing risk of wildﬁres in the Boone
area. He shared insights from his experience ﬁghting major ﬁres in other regions, including
the Gatlinburg wildﬁres, to underscore the seriousness of the threat. Chief Isaacs
emphasized the need for proactive mitigation strategies given the region's topography and
increasing development.

Mayor Pro-Tem George commented on the strong cooperation between local emergency
departments and asked whether other agencies in the region shared similar concerns
about wildﬁre risk. Chief Isaacs responded that Boone was somewhat of an anomaly in
terms of its unique vulnerability and growth patterns.
Council Member Carter shared his personal experience living through the 1993 Laguna
Beach ﬁre, which affected an area only slightly larger than Boone. He noted that while
Laguna Beach has maintained a population of around 22,000 since that time, Boone had
grown by approximately 15,000 residents. Carter stated that the Town was now faced with
multiple, intersecting challenges, including managing population growth, mitigating ﬁre
risk, and addressing housing affordability. He also mentioned the use of goat herders in
California to clear overgrown vegetation as one example of creative ﬁre prevention efforts.
Council member Carter emphasized the importance of acknowledging the pressures the
Town is under as it works to balance safety and development.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY - HARDIN CREEK STREAM
RESTORATION AND GREENWAY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Sustainability and Special Projects Manager George Santucci announced a ribbon-cutting
ceremony for the Hardin Creek Stream Restoration and Greenway Bridge Replacement
project on June 23 at 2 p.m. He asked that Council members meet at Watauga High School
so that they could travel to the location together. He stated that this was a wonderful
celebration of a good project and collaboration between many different local agencies.
Council member Carter made a motion to approve the request. Council member Tugman
seconded the motion.

 VOTE: Aye: Carter, Tugman, Roseman, George
 Nay: None
 Absent:Plaag

REQUEST TO SCHEDULE ADDITIONAL BUDGET MEETING

Mayor Futrelle indicated he was comfortable moving forward without scheduling an
additional meeting, though he acknowledged that some Council Members had expressed
interest in meeting a second time. Pro-Tem George proposed allocating $10,000 to support
communications and outreach efforts for the Howard Street project. Council Member
Tugman noted that she had approached the Tourism Development Authority (TDA) to
request assistance with advertising, but the request was declined. She stated her intention
to return to the TDA and request matching funds from their marketing and advertising
budget to support the affected businesses on Howard Street. She added that the
Downtown Boone Development Association also had funding set aside for this, but was
unsure of an amount. Council Member Carter expressed support for the funding allocation
and agreed that a meeting would not be necessary if staff could identify funds. Town
Manager Amy Davis conﬁrmed that she could allocate funds from the current ﬁscal year,
which would roll into the next ﬁscal year, ensuring that the money would be available for
immediate use.
Mayor Pro-Tem George added that he had spoken with Downtown Development
Coordinator Lane Moody and several business owners on Howard Street. While the
Downtown Boone Development Association (DBDA) had some funding available, he felt the
Town should also contribute. Council Member Carter emphasized the importance of doing
everything possible to support the Howard Street businesses during this construction
period.

There was consensus among Council to proceed with the allocation and to authorize
Council member Tugman to approach the TDA to ask for a match in funds. Mayor Pro-Tem
George also recommended that, moving forward, whenever food is ordered for Town
meetings or events, efforts should be made to support Howard Street businesses, and that
this intention should be clearly communicated to spread the word that businesses remain
open during construction.

PLANNING MATTERS

CONSIDERATION OF MODIFICATION TO PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE

Council member Carter made a motion to modify the public hearing schedule to hold a
public hearing every month on the fourth Monday, adding hearings on August 28, 2025, and
October 27, 2025. Mayor Pro-Tem George seconded the motion.

 VOTE: Aye: Carter, George, Roseman, Tugman
 Nay: None
 Absent:Plaag

CONSIDERATION OF UDO TEXT CHANGES

Planning Director Shook requested permission for staff to proceed with drafting proposed
text amendments for consideration at the next public hearing. Topics included greater
ﬂexibility for outdoor dining, food truck regulations, and signage allowances for medical
campuses. Mayor Pro-Tem George made a motion to approve the request to proceed with
drafting the text amendments and sending them to the next public hearing. Council
member Tugman seconded the motion.
 VOTE: Aye: George, Tugman, Carter, Roseman
 Nay: None
 Absent:Plaag

CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT CONDITIONAL DISTRICT ZONING MAP AMENDMENT UDO
TEXT CHANGES

Planning Director Jane Shook presented proposed amendments to the Conditional District
(CD) zoning process, indicating that the proposed changes were intended to introduce
greater ﬂexibility for developments to deviate from existing district standards when those
deviations served the public interest. She noted that the revisions aimed to streamline the
process by allowing Council to approve such deviations as part of the CD approval, rather
than requiring a separate variance process through the Board of Adjustment. Director
Shook noted that while this ﬂexibility would apply to most ordinance requirements, some
regulations, such as those pertaining to ﬂoodplain and watershed protections, would still
require formal variances due to state law.

Council members expressed general support for the proposal, particularly its emphasis on
serving the public interest and allowing Council to negotiate conditions and appropriate
deviations with developers directly. Mayor Pro-Tem George commended the planning staff
for creatively incorporating the public interest language, noting that it empowered the
Council to shape key development sites in alignment with community goals.

The discussion then shifted to proposed timelines for reapplying or modifying an approved
CD. Attorney Meade indicated that the current draft included a twelve-month waiting
period for reapplications or major modiﬁcations. Director Shook noted that this timeline
was a bit excessive in her view and could hinder project momentum, especially given the
limited two-year vesting period for developers. Attorney Meade suggested, and Council
expressed consensus that a shorter waiting period, such as four to six months, would be
sufficient to discourage abuse of the process while still allowing ﬂexibility for legitimate
revisions.

Planning Director Shook agreed, noting that a four-month minimum would likely translate
into a six-month turnaround in practice due to application deadlines and scheduling
constraints. Council agreed to move forward with a four-month modiﬁcation window in the
draft text and acknowledged that the proposed changes would return for formal review and
adoption in July.
CLOSED SESSION

Mayor Pro-Tem George made a motion to enter into closed session at 8:06 p.m. pursuant
to:

1. N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 143-318.11(a)(1), to review, approve and seal closed session
minutes from Council's prior closed session(s).
2. N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 143-318.11(a)(3), to consult with the Town Attorney in order to
preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the Town Council, and
obtain legal advice, consider and/or give instructions to the attorney concerning one or
more potential legal claims.

Council member Carter seconded the motion.

Mayor Pro-Tem George made a motion to exit closed session at 8:20 p.m. Council member
Roseman seconded the motion.

VOTE: Aye: George, Roseman, Carter, Tugman
 Nay: None
 Absent: Plaag

ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Futrelle adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:22 p.m.

______________________________________ _______________________________________
Nicole Harmon, Town Clerk Tim Futrelle, Mayor