News

NCR Calls on Insurance Commissioner to Reject the Rate Bureau’s Extreme Rate Increase Request

The massive requested rate hike comes as homeowners and homebuyers are already facing record-breaking mortgage rates and property tax increases

Raleigh, NC – The North Carolina REALTORS® (NCR) is imploring the state’s Insurance Commissioner to reject the recent request by insurers to dramatically increase homeowners’ insurance rates by an average of more than 40 percent statewide. If allowed, the rate increase would start in August 2024.

The Association, along with homeowners, potential homeowners and advocacy organizations, are raising the alarm to consumers to ensure this significant rate hike is known before the state-required public response period ends in January. The exorbitant proposed increase also coincides with historically high mortgage rates and news of property tax increases in communities across the state.

“The Rate Bureau's extreme rate hike request of 42% average statewide is a gut-punch to homeowners and homebuyers when they're already facing challenges affording homes amid record high mortgage rates and property tax increases. Adding an ill-timed and disproportionate burden on homeowners is the opposite of what North Carolinians need right now, and this will only add insult to injury,” said NCR President, Tony Harrington. “The NCR calls on the insurance Commissioner to reject the insurance companies' unreasonable request - and to take a stand on behalf of his constituents across the state."

The Association also urges consumers to visit the REALTORS’ NC Homeowners Alliance website to learn more about this issue and how to provide feedback on the rate increase. There will be public comment opportunities throughout the month of January.

“Homebuyers and homeowners should urgently act by voicing your concerns, and asking Commissioner Causey to reject this overreaching rate increase,” said Harrington. “We should collectively be helping improve the market dynamics so that housing is more affordable instead of less affordable which would certainly be a result of this extreme rate hike.”

 After years of planning and anticipation, the City of Hendersonville will be breaking ground on the 7th Avenue Streetscape Project later this month. The project involves new sidewalks, lighting and landscaping, as well as water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure improvements. The project area extends from 7th Avenue’s intersection with Grove Street down to Maple Street and a portion of Locust Street.  

“In the next few weeks, you'll start seeing construction fencing and detours on 7th Avenue, as we break ground on the Streetscape Project,” said Community Development Director Lew Holloway. “While your favorite spots on 7th Avenue will remain accessible, the community will be asked to make some adjustments that allow this long-awaited project to occur.” Holloway highlighted that sidewalk access to businesses will remain open while the street is closed to vehicle traffic with parking available on Maple, Locust, and at many of the individual businesses. 

The project's construction timeline includes a full street closure of 7th Avenue from Grove to Maple starting January 29 while underground work is substantially completed. Construction mobilization including fencing installation will begin later this month. Closing the street to vehicular traffic from January 29 until May will help expedite construction impacts. Sidewalk work, landscaping, and final paving will take place over the summer and fall with periodic closures as needed. Harper General Contractors will be leading the project.   

In addition to highlighting the character of the historic district, the Streetscape Project aims to improve walkability and strengthen the connection between Hendersonville’s two municipal service districts. The project joins other recent public investments in the area including Maple Street improvements, construction of the Hendersonville Police Department, the Downtown Art Route Sidewalk Mural Project, and the creation of the popular Hendersonville Farmers Market on Maple Street. This active focus on revitalization has involved eight facade improvement grants, eleven new retail/restaurant business openings, and more than $1.5 million in private investment since 2020. 

An informational, drop-in meeting for the Streetscape will be taking place at the Historic Depot at 650 Maple Street on Thursday, January 18 from 4-6pm. Meet representatives from Harper General Contractors and City Staff to learn more about the project and future infrastructure improvements on 7th Avenue. For updated project information, please visit www.hvlnc.gov/7thStreetscape.  

We are having a conversation across Hendersonville about change, where we are, and where we want to be twenty years from now … and beyond. 

The City of Hendersonville invites the community to participate in a final Gen H Open House to provide input in the development of a 2045 Comprehensive Plan to establish a long-term vision for sustainable growth and conservation. The Open House will take place on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, from 4-6 PM at the Henderson Public Library, 301 N Washington Street. Community members can drop in anytime to meet with City staff and the consultant team. 

The Comprehensive Plan is called Gen H, to encourage the community to think generationally about the future of Hendersonville. This plan will build on the existing 2030 plan's foundation while updating and expanding the policy framework for the future. The Comprehensive Plan will serve as a regular reference guide for City staff, officials, and partner organizations as decisions are made for the community's future. 

Open House attendees can expect to provide input on possible land use scenarios, see ideas for character areas that will describe how land uses translate into the character or the look and feel of places in the community, provide ideas for key focus areas within the City, and review the goals and vision for the Gen H plan. Materials and ideas that will be shared at the Open House have been developed from previous community conversations and community surveys that were open from August 14 through November 14, 2023. In all, just over 4,700 people participated in the surveys and provided over 10,500 individual comments. Further input received from the community at the upcoming Open House will help refine the draft Gen H Comprehensive Plan and recommendations for Hendersonville’s future. All ages are encouraged to attend and there will be an activity table for our younger residents. 

Following the Open House, the consultant team with Bolton & Menk will compile the input and use their expertise to develop recommendations for the City. In the coming months, they will be refining the recommendations and presenting them to the City Council.  

Content from the meeting and an opportunity to give feedback online will be posted on the Gen H project webpage following the Open House. Visit www.hvlnc.gov/GenH for ongoing updates. 

 With the impending winter storm on its way to Western North Carolina just after midnight Monday, Jan. 15, N.C. Department of Transportation crews have already been hard at work Sunday afternoon prepping the roads for what's to come.

NCDOT said Sunday its crews would be out spreading brine in at least the 13 westernmost counties of North Carolina, and with the announcement, officials asked all drivers to stay back from the spray and allow the workers to do their jobs to keep everyone safe.

Brine is a mixture of water and 23% salt that is applied to roadways to help prevent ice from bonding to the pavement. It's not always needed, but NCDOT crews have determined it will be effective on roadways in several WNC counties with the current winter storm forecast.

Crews will pretreat roads with brine in dry conditions when the temperature is above 18 degrees, and the decision to pretreat roads is made 24-48 hours before a storm.

NCDOT lists several benefits of brine HERE:

• Lowers the freezing temperature of water to about 18 degrees (-8 degrees Celsius).
• Prevents snow and ice from bonding with the road's surface.
• Keeps snow from being compacted by traffic, which can turn it into ice.
• Is more effective and coats roadways better than plain salt or sand.
• Gives crews time, since brining can occur up to 48 hours before a storm.
• Costs 15 cents per gallon to produce. One mile of a single lane of road can be treated for about $6, whereas rock salt costs about $14.38 to treat the same stretch of road.

Brine is made by loading a hopper with salt and water and agitating the ingredients until the solution is 23% salt. The solution is pumped into a holding tank and loaded onto trucks to be sprayed on roads.

Sometimes, NCDOT crews will use a brine blend with 10% calcium to remove snow and ice during and after a winter weather event. This solution can be used in combination with rock salt when temperatures are lower to keep the salt working longer.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSNCDOT crews out ahead of winter storm to brine roads in at least a dozen WNC counties | WLOS

 Several Western North Carolina communities experienced untreated or partially-treated wastewater spills following the heavy rain of Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Spokespersons from Hendersonville, Brevard, Franklin and Buncombe County each detailed these spills that took place within their city and town limits.

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, the City of Hendersonville's Wastewater Collection System experienced 10 discharges of untreated wastewater from its collection system. The largest two spills were in amounts of approximately 4,120 gallons (from a manhole located at 77 Winding Meadows Drive) and 3,410 gallons (from a manhole located 873 Lennox Park Drive).

All the sanitary sewage overflows happened because of excessive rainfall, and the spillages went into Mud Creek, Wash Creek and King Creek in the French Broad River Basin.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Division of Water Resources was notified of the event on Jan. 10.

Franklin

The Town of Franklin saw an overflow spill of an estimated 350,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater at its Wastewater Treatment Facility following excessive flows into the system on Jan. 9. The overflow began at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 9 and continued for about 12 hours, until 12:30 a.m. Jan. 10, once water levels subsided.

The partially treated water was released into the Little Tennessee River.

FLOODING DAMAGE FORCES CLOSURE OF SOUTH MILLS GAP ROAD BRIDGE, 2-MILE DETOUR SET

A second discharge took place Jan. 9 from about 9:45 a.m. until 2:45 p.m., resulting in 14,000 gallons of untreated wastewater being released from three manholes off East Main Street and Crane Circle. Of the 14,000 gallons, approximately 3,500 gallons reached the Little Tennessee River.

Officials said no drinking water source was impacted.

A spokesperson for the Town of Franklin said all spill areas have been contained and impacted areas have been cleaned as necessary.

As required by the state following spillage events, water monitoring samples are being taken both upstream and downstream from the plant.

Total precipitation during the times of overflow in Franklin was measured at 3.58 inches.

Brevard

The city of Brevard experienced four wastewater spills on Jan. 9.

The first discharge of untreated wastewater -- of 6,100 gallons -- took place at a manhole at 350 Greenville Highway.

The second spillage noted by the city was approximately 76,350 gallons from the city's wastewater collection system at the Gallimore Road Lift Station located at 273 Gallimore Road. That untreated wastewater spilled into Singing Branch Creek. Brevard's Sewer Collections Division of Public Works pumped and hauled 47,500 gallons during the event, having already pumped and hauled 7,500 gallons prior to the onset of the event.

Brevard had a third untreated wastewater spill of approximately 10,650 gallons from a manhole at 31 Burnette Lane, and the water flowed into Lambs Creek.

A 16,100-gallon spill also happened from a manhole located at 287 College Plaza, and flowed into Kings Creek.

The Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County experienced a discharge of untreated sewage in the area of 100 Sierra Nevada Way. Officials said approximately 54,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the French Broad River over the course of 10 hours on Jan. 9.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOShttps://wlos.com/news/local/gallery/cities-towns-thousands-gallons-untreated-wastewater-spills-overflows-after-excessive-heavy-rainfall-january-9-hendersonville-brevard-buncombe-franklin?photo=1

Some roads in Western North Carolina remain underwater with the possibility of more rain on the way.

In Henderson County, several roads are closed to drivers because of flooding. That includes part of Banner Farm Road.

On Thursday evening, News 13 had a crew catching up with drivers, some of whom chose to drive through the flooding.

Two vehicles were surrounded by water and sitting empty, likely abandoned after the drivers got stuck. But the abandoned cars were not much of a deterrent for some.

“They’re risking getting their car stuck or even getting a flood in their car going somewhere else,” said Jordana Alexis, who lives nearby and had to find a detour because of the flooding.

This comes just a few days after the county issued a Level 3 flood response with more than a dozen roads still closed and barricaded.

Within just a few hours, News13 witnessed five or six cars successfully make it through. But law enforcement officials said that doesn’t mean you should take the risk.

If road closed signs and hefty fines aren’t enough of a deterrent, drivers could also face 45 days in jail. Anyone in the state caught driving on a closed road could be convicted of a Class I misdemeanor or face a reckless driving charge.

With the chance of more rain and flooding in the forecast, authorities are reminding drivers to turn around because it could save your life.

But police are hoping common sense kicks in quickly instead of a conviction.

“If it costs you to not do something wrong, then they most likely won’t take that chance,” Alexis said.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSDespite warnings, drivers risk fines, jail on flooded Henderson County roads | WLOS

The N.C. Center for Missing Persons has issued a Missing Endangered Alert for a Henderson County man.

Henderson County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to be on the lookout for Reginald "Reggie" Clindon, 68, who is believed to be suffering from a cognitive impairment. Officials say he has mental health issues.

Clindon is described as a black male, standing 5'8" tall and weighing 116 pounds with grey hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen at 260 Centerway Drive in Hendersonville.

He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black sweatpants, Nike shoes and a grey or black toboggan.

Anyone with information about Reginald Clindon should call Det. Kelly Oliver at the Henderson County Sheriff's Office at (828) 697-4911.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSMISSING: Officials search for 68-year-old man suffering from cognitive impairment | WLOS

A sizeable reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in a recent burglary that took place at a Western North Carolina sporting goods store.

A press release from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said a reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of suspects involved in a burglary that took place Tuesday, Jan. 2, at the Blue Ridge Mall.

Authorities say shortly before 3 a.m. that morning, suspects broke into the mall, entered Dunham's Sports and stole multiple firearms.

Suspects were seen exiting the business and crossing the mall parking lot toward Freeman Street.

ATF is working with the Hendersonville Police Department on this ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about these thefts should contact the Hendersonville Police Department at 828-697-3025.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOS$5,000 reward offered for info leading to arrest of suspects who stole firearms from store | WLOS

The city of Hendersonville said that as of 6 a.m., Wednesday, the majority of road barricades were removed as flood waters receded on city streets. However, the following closures remain in place:

• South King Street will remain closed as Public Works scrapes silt off the roadway.
• Patton Park and the Oklawaha Greenway remain closed due to flooding.

A News 13 crew captured video around noon of an area of Banner Farm Road, near Cams Path, that had flooded. Crews were on scene helping a driver who was stuck in a ditch near the flooded area.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSSome roads remain closed Wednesday due to flooding | WLOS

The City of Hendersonville is working on creating its first Sustainability Strategic Plan, following the establishment of the Sustainability Division in 2023. The plan aims to set measurable goals that integrate environmental, social, and economic values to reduce the overall impact on the environment while strengthening the community. 

“This survey is an important step in gaining valuable input to help drive the recommendations for the City’s Sustainability Strategic Plan,” said the City of Hendersonville’s Sustainability Manager, Caitlyn Gendusa. “The plan will ensure there are actionable and tangible goals to expand sustainability efforts while realizing long-term cost savings for City operations.” 

The plan’s primary focus areas include energy, transportation, waste management, land management, and water. While the primary actions will be at the municipal level, community input is crucial. To gather perspectives, an online survey is being launched at www.publicinput.com/sustainability24. It takes approximately ten minutes to complete the survey. 

Feedback will contribute to understanding the challenges and opportunities for improving the quality of life for all residents and community members through sustainability efforts. In-person public input sessions took place in 2023, but the online survey provides an additional way for the opinions of the community to be heard. The City of Hendersonville encourages community members to share the survey with friends, family, and colleagues. Responses will be accepted until March 31, 2024. 

For more information about Hendersonville’s Sustainability Division and to stay informed about news, events, and engagement opportunities, please visit www.hendersonvillenc.gov/sustainability.