Crime rates trend down in Black Mountain; golf fees to increase; climate action planned

The Black Mountain Town Council approved two resolutions during the April 8 regular session meeting to encourage the town to be move environmentally conscious, coinciding with Earth Day. 

The first of the resolutions "encourages all town departments to begin phasing out the use of ... single-use plastics" while finding alternatives where possible and recycling when alternatives are not available. The second resolution highlighted the "climate action efforts" put forth by the town, including hiring a full-time waste reduction specialist, putting more of an emphasis on recycling, planned irrigation and more. Both resolutions passed unanimously. 

Police Chief Steve Parker presented council with the police department's annual report for the year 2023. 

Parker went through several incidents that happened in town throughout the year, including shootings and suspects from other jurisdictions apprehended in Black Mountain. 

"I say all those to say there's a lot of bad characters that have passed through Black Mountain," Parker said. "But we have been fortunate to keep our violent crime and our crime statistics low. I think part of that is through the good work of the law enforcement officers that we have." 

Parker provided data for comparison from the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. Violent crimes decreased from six to five from 2021 to 2022 and remained at five in 2023. Property crimes trended down, with 160 in 2022, 121 in 2022 and 116 in 2023. 

The department averaged 1,493 calls per month, which Parker said keeps the department "busy ... very busy." 

Parker said there were 29 overdose calls throughout the year, which he called a "huge number," while also being "misleading" because police are not always called out to these calls. 

The department recorded 241 mental health calls in 2023. 

The Flock cameras located throughout town that read license plate numbers for those on watch lists had 96 total hits last year, including 17 stolen cars or tags being located and 19 wanted or missing people were located. 

"I think those have proved their weight in gold, no question about it," Parker said. 

Parker said while retention is the most important thing, recruitment is becoming more important. The department received 24 applications last year. Parker said the department is full, but is still seeing a two officer operational shortage while officers are being trained or on leave. 

The department is currently going through an accreditation process, making Black Mountain the first in the state to complete the process outside of the pilot program. 

Parker said the biggest need for the department is an updated space. The current building housing the police department was built in 1958 with the department moving in 1991. Parker said the building has several issues, including not having enough space and being prone to flooding, especially in the evidence room.

More:Black Mountain crime did not increase, police chief says, but staffing shortage looms

After a public hearing in which no members of the public spoke, the property located at 99999 Frances Ave. that is owned by Givens Highland Farms was annexed into town limits and rezoned from residential to office and institutional. 

The town's Public Safety Interoperability Program agreement was updated because Buncombe County needed to update its software. PSIP is a public safety technology system that allows the public safety departments of different jurisdictions to communicate. This agreement also includes dispatch for emergency services. The total cost for this agreement with the county would be a little less than $2.6 million. The breakdown of where the funds come from is as follows:

• Buncombe County: $1,409,638.65
• City of Asheville: $728,216.49
• Woodfin Police Department: $121,129.57
• Weaverville Police Department: $109,302.87
• Black Mountain Police Department: $132,324.77
• County fire: $87,162.52

Recreation and Parks Director Josh Henderson presented an update to the Charles D. Owen Babe Ruth memorandum of understanding that allows for the league to purchase temporary batting cages to be built and stored at Veteran's Park. When not in use by the league, the batting cages will be open to the public. The update passed unanimously. 

Golf course fees will be increasing beginning May 1. 

The family annual passes are increasing $100 to $2,300. Individual annual passes are increasing $50 to $1,550. 

The following reflects the updated rates that were approved by Town Council: 

Monday-Thursday rates:

• $52 to play all 18 holes with a cart
• $30 (after 11 a.m.) to play nine holes with a cart
• $28 to walk the 18 holes
• $17 to walk nine holes

Friday-Sunday rates: 

• $62 to play all 18 holes with a cart
• $35 (after 11 a.m.) to play nine holes with a cart
• $38 to walk the 18 holes
• $22 to walk nine holes

There are four public hearings scheduled for the next regular session meeting May 13 at 6 p.m.:

• A text amendment for nuisances for the code of ordinances.
• A text amendment to add a downtown social district.
• To amend text for a conditional zoning request for Montreat College.
• To amend the zoning map for Montreat College.

More:New police cars? More library funding? Black Mountain budget talks begin.

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