Town authorizes study to analyze downtown intersection
Black Mountain officials receive Lakeview Senior Center Update, select firm to recruit new town manager
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
January 13, 2026
The Town of Black Mountain will commission a study regarding the intersection of Sutton and Black Mountain Avenues, following a Jan. 12 meeting of the town council. Photo by Fred McCormick
Traffic patterns surrounding a downtown intersection will be the subject of a study, following the Jan. 12 regular meeting of the Black Mountain Town Council.
Elected officials directed staff to commission an analysis of the convergence of Black Mountain and Sutton Avenues, before selecting the Piedmont Triad Regional Council to assist in recruiting a new town manager. The meeting included an update on repairs to the Lakeview Senior Center and plans to adjust the hours of operation for a pair of local parks.
The town council read a resolution acknowledging various accomplishments of Josh Harrold, who announced his resignation, effective, Monday, Jan. 26, last December. In a statement released, Dec. 10, by the town, the manager expressed his belief that new leadership was needed to guide the municipality, while adding his values no longer aligned those of elected officials. That statement added that Assistant Town Manager Jessica Trotman, who assumed her current role in the summer of 2024 after nearly seven years as the town’s planning director, would not serve as interim manager.
While the board, on Jan. 5, selected Richard Hicks to temporarily fill the position, elected leaders discussed potential executive search firms to identify candidates for the permanent role of town manager. The firm will also assist in the search for a finance director, a position that has remained vacant since last August. With all five members of the town council and the mayor present for the regular meeting, officials reviewed proposals submitted by two firms: Florida-based MGT and the PTRC in Kernersville.
While Mayor Michael Sobol and Councilmember Doug Hay indicated support for MGT, which estimated a cost of around $25,000 for the service, Ryan Stone, Pam King and Archie Pertiller, Jr. emphasized the town’s previous experience with PRTC.
“It seems like ancient history now, but we commissioned a pay study five years ago, and I had forgotten who did that study, but it was them,” King said. “I was really impressed with the quality of their work in that situation. In that regard, I tended to be more favorable to sticking with Piedmont Triad, and they know everybody in the State of N.C. and have worked with everybody in one way or another.”
Stone offered a similar assessment of the proposals.
“The cost saving is beneficial, as well, but I think with all the experience in all the manager searches they’ve done for folks in N.C., and surrounding areas, it’s experience or expertise I think we would be well-served by,” he said.
Pertiller’s support for the regional council brought the town council into alignment.
“While not my first choice, I think Piedmont Triad would do a great job,” Hay said.
Several citizen comments received by town officials prompted discussion on “ways to enhance safety for pedestrians and motorists,” according to an agenda item supporting a traffic study for the intersection of Black Mountain and Sutton Avenues.
A local resident’s public comment on the matter recounted her experiences at the intersection, where she was involved in a car accident with no injuries, before avoiding another last October by yielding the right-of-way to another driver.
The intersection, which includes stop signs for motorists traveling east on Sutton and those exiting the adjacent town parking lot on the north side, requires drivers coming from Black Mountain Avenue to yield to oncoming traffic. Vehicles moving west along Sutton are not required to yield or stop.
“I know how that intersection works and I still have trouble with it,” Hay said.
Councilmember Alice Berry called the feature “bizarre.”
“I couldn’t name a single other intersection that has all of those factors, with the railroad and the parking lot,” she said, adding a study was warranted. “I know when I drive through it, I just presume everyone thinks they have the right-of-way.”
Stone recommended improving the striping as the town awaits the completion of the study, which is not to exceed a cost of $10,000.
An amendment extending the hours of operation at Lake Tomahawk Park and Town Square will be brought before the town council when it meets, Monday, Feb. 9, following a discussion among elected leaders and Black Mountain Police Chief Steve Parker. The topic was the result of feedback from the public, according to Hay.
Both public facilities currently operate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“There have been some requests to extend that to allow for recreation, like walking around Lake Tomahawk,” Hay said. “As someone who uses that park often, early mornings or night so I can run when kids are asleep, I certainly favor that.”
Hay and Pertiller both supported extending the hours of operation operation from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“Most every town I’m aware of or have been involved in has a ‘dark to dust’ or 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (policy),” Parker said. “Asheville does have 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., so I feel comfortable with that, especially during summer hours.”
The distinction for Lake Tomahawk and Town Square, according to Hay, is that both are located in neighborhoods.
Parker expressed concern for opening the public assets at 5 a.m.
“Once darkness happens, that is a breeding ground for crime…” he said. “For me, I think 5 a.m. could lead to some issues, but, overall, I’m not going to have major heartburn if you end up going with 10 p.m. or 5 a.m. That’s going to be up to you on public safety.”
The town received no bids from contractors to complete repairs to the upper level of the Lakeview Senior Center, which has been reduced to an occupancy of no more than eight people since Helene, the assistant manager told the board. The project, which would allow the town’s recreation department to resume hosting regular activities for seniors, was approved, Oct. 28, in a special called meeting of the town council.
“We posted the engineering plan through the request for bids last month. No one responded to that,” Trotman said. “So, staff put together an email list of 90-something commercial contractors in the area, and email blasted that out to everyone. We’ve also started calling individual contractors.”
Staff are “continuing to call more people,” she added.
“The permits are all pulled together, we’re just waiting to have the contractor’s name to put on the permits,” Trotman added. “They’ll be able to get started as soon as they’re available.”
Sobol read a prepared statement in response to the update.
“It’s been over 15 moths since our seniors were able to assemble at the clubhouse, not only for a good meal but for camaraderie, companionship and friendship. They have been denied this privilege…” he said, citing increased loneliness among elder residents. “In October, the board told staff to get the Lakeview main floor fixed, A.S.A.P. What has transpired is delay, delay, delay, and that was three months ago. Another structural engineer firm, in addition to the two we already had, proposed almost identical repairs. Nothing major, nothing expensive.”
Sobol encouraged the board to “demand” staff have the repairs completed in the coming weeks.
While a vote on the subject was unnecessary, Hay responded, the council is eager to reopen the facility.
“I know they are working now to procure a contractor to do that,” Hay said. “I also want to take a moment to thank the churches and other bodies that have stepped up in the absence of the Senior Center space to host regular senior events.”