The A-B Tech/Buncombe County Joint Capital Advisory Committee (the Committee) convened a meeting on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in room 213 located in the Simpson Building at the A-B Tech Asheville Campus. Buncombe County Commissioner Martin Moore presided.
In addition to Commissioner Moore, other members of the Committee in attendance were: A-B Tech Trustees Ms. Judy Lewis and Mr. David King, Buncombe County Commissioner Mr. Al Whitesides, and At-Large Representative Mr. Robert Lane.
Others present for the meeting included: Dr. John Gossett, A-B Tech President; Mr. Cris Harshman, A-B Tech Vice President of Operations/CIO; Ms. Beth Green, A-B Tech Director of Facilities Support; Ms. Melissa Valko, A-B Tech Associate Vice President of Business/CFO; Mr. Matt Evans, Buncombe County Government Financial Planning and Analyst Manager; Ms. Keri Clark, Buncombe County Government Financial Analyst; Mr. Ronald Lundsford, Buncombe County General Services Facilities Project Manager; and Ms. Carolyn Rice, A-B Tech Recording Secretary.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m. with Dr. Gossett welcoming the Committee. Mr. Harshman was introduced as the Vice President of Operations/CIO, and Ms. Valko was introduced as the College’s new CFO.
Minutes
Mr. Lane moved to approve the minutes from the February 26, 2024, meeting. Chair Moore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
By-Laws
Chair Moore asked the Committee if they had any changes to the By-Laws. Mr. Whitesides moved to approve the current By-Laws. Ms. Lewis seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Mr. King moved to retain the current Committee membership and to have Mr. Moore remain as Chair. Mr. Whitesides seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Article 46 Funds
Dr. Gossett provided an update on the proposed South Campus Workforce Training facility.
- Biltmore Farms is very interested in having an education/training facility located on the Biltmore West property, and has reached out to the North Carolina University system to gauge their interest in locating an engineering program on the site. Partnering with the University System would allow us to build a larger facility at Biltmore West. A-B Tech would relocate the Advanced Manufacturing Center to the property and provide workforce training at that location.
- Meanwhile, the College is currently and will continue to train all of Pratt & Whitney’s employees on the A-B Tech Asheville campus.
Ms. Green discussed the status of the following previously approved Article 46 projects:
- Recently completed:
- Enka TCC roof replacement ($5.7M).
- Stormwater Master Plan for Victoria Campus.
- Demolition of the Haynes Tower at A-B Tech Enka.
- 111 Victoria Road.
- In progress:
- Stormwater Projects Continue ($1M Budgeted).
- Parking Lots A-12 and A-13 Innovative Stormwater Management Features Installation - A-B Tech has provided a $150,000 match from its previous Article 46-funded Hemlock Stormwater Restoration Project and will be providing $150,000 in contingency once the project goes out to bid this spring. The balance of the project is being funded by a $203,000 grant secured by Riverlink through the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program. This project is underway.
- The second part of the project will start in the summer of 2025 and will allow us to have an outside learning area for our Biology students.
- Haith Branch and Tributary Restoration – This project is underway and will be completed during 2025.
- Sunnicrest and Chestnut Stormwater Control Measures - These are the highest priority projects in the Stormwater Master Plan and will go out to bid in spring 2025.
- South Campus Training Facility ($5M matching a $5M NC State Construction and Infrastructure Fund allocation by the NC General Assembly) – Plans for an alternative facility are being explored.
- Master Plan is 75 percent completed by McMillan, Pazdan, and Smith.
- 2023, 2024, and 2025 Cycle Victoria Campus Facilities Repair and Replacement Projects (approximately $9M):
- Bailey: 2008 HVAC R22 units to be replaced, replace boiler, and replace carpet.
- Birch: Replace the boiler and replace the HVAC rooftop units.
- Chestnut: Replace the roof and water line from Victoria Road.
- Coman: Replace the boiler and renovate the gym locker/shower rooms.
- Conference Center: Lights and lighting controls.
- Dogwood: Reseal shop floors, paint shop walls, and ceilings.
- Elm: Replace all pneumatic controls, air handler units, variable air volume, and grills for the HVAC system; replace acoustic ceiling tiles.
- Ferguson: Replace boiler, replace carpet in auditorium and lobby, remodel bathrooms for ADA compliance, remodel auditorium seating to include more electrical outlets.
- Haynes: Replace HVAC pneumatic controls, replace chiller, and replace boiler.
- Hemlock: Replace boiler.
- Ivy: Replace HVAC system.
- Locke: Update lighting to include a lighting control center, improve courtyard drainage/drain away from building, replace HVAC air handler unit, replace boiler.
- Magnolia: Replace HVAC rooftop units and replace heat pumps for the Lodge rooms.
- Simpson: HVAC replacement of air handler unit, chiller, thermostat, vents/registers, replace HVAC controls with electronics, replace chill and hot water valves, replace acoustic ceiling tiles, replace carpet, replace toilet partitions, and update restrooms to ADA compliance, install elevator, replace boiler.
- Sycamore: Replace steam boiler, replace motor control center, update controls to electronics, and replace carpet in various areas.
- Sunnicrest: Replace HVAC units.
Proposed Project
Ms. Green informed the Committee that the College’s Veterinary Tech program, located at the A-B Tech Animal Care Campus, which adjoins the Asheville Humane Society and Buncombe County Animal Shelter, needs new countertops. The College is asking for $100,000 to replace the current countertops with a phenolic resin countertop in the County-owned building. Phenolic resin is easy to clean and is less expensive than stainless steel.
Ms. Green was asked for and will send Chair Moore information on the phenolic resin countertops.
Action Item
Mr. King moved to spend $100,000 from Article 46 funds to replace the countertops. Chair Moore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Article 46 Fund Balance Forecast
Mr. Evans shared that the $100,000 recommendation for the countertops will be reviewed during the annual budget cycle. County sales tax projections for last year were flat, and sales are down nine percent year-to-date. The County projects a four percent decrease in sales tax for FY25, and a one percent growth in FY26.
Expenditures for the College should be around $15M this year, and approximately $14M for 2026.
Article 46 does have the budget capacity for the $100,000 countertops.
Other Business
The Committee agreed to reconvene in February 2026.
Adjourn
At 3:48 p.m., Chair Moore moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. King seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Rice
Recording Secretary