News

County begins to consider funding non-profit agencies

Henderson County Commissioner Bill Lapsley gives retiring Henderson County Health Department Director Steven E. Smith a resolution of appreciation.

By Amy McCraw, Published: May 15, 2024

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners began considering which non-profit agencies it will fund in the coming year and at what level during budget discussions Wednesday.

While other commissioners discussed specific agencies to be or not to be included in the budget during their regular monthly meeting, Commissioner Daniel Andreotta suggested that leaders of the agencies come before the board and make presentations on their funding needs, saying it “might be good if they come in and talked.”
The functions of some organizations sounded similar, he said, and the board might want more information about those agencies. Some agencies might consider consolidating to work more efficiently.
“I see a lot of overlap,” he said.
Other commissioners discussed agencies they wanted to see funded in the coming year, including the Boys & Girls Club, Interfaith Assistance Ministry, the Mills River Enrichment Center, Open Arms Pregnancy Center, the Boy Scouts of America (Daniel Boone Council), Moot Court for students and Back on Track Ministries. Commissioners said they wanted to see those agencies continue to be funded at their current levels.
In other business commissioners:
• Adopted a resolution of appreciation for Steven E. Smith. Smith will retire on May 17 after serving Henderson County as Director for the Henderson County Department of Public Health since in May 2014.
• Adopted a resolution of appreciation for Steve Dozier. Dozier retired from the Henderson County Planning Board in April, after serving for more than 15 years.
• Approved a request for service badges and sidearms for retiring Henderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies Lt. Larry Pierson and Lt. John Ashe.