November 2025: Jennifer Balkcom Reportedly Told Commissioners She Decided To Support The Funding Change After Hearing From Edneyville Landowners Concerned About Increased Development Along The New Sewer Line

November 5, 2025: Balkcom Reportedly Told Commissioners She Decided To Support The Funding Change After Hearing From Edneyville Landowners Concerned About Increased Development Along The New Sewer Line

November 5, 2025: Balkcom Reportedly Told Commissioners She Decided To Support The Funding Change After Hearing From Edneyville Landowners Concerned About Increased Development Along The New Sewer Line. “Rep. Balkcom defended her support of the funding change. ‘The General Assembly made the financially responsible decision to reallocate funding from the Edneyville sewer project to address the Etowah system that Henderson County now owns. When the county purchased the Etowah system, it also assumed responsibility and liability for maintaining and improving it,’ she told the Times-News in a Nov. 4 email. Balkcom told commissioners she came to the decision to support the funding change after hearing from Edneyville landowners concerned about increased development along the new sewer line, Lapsley said. Balkcom did not address a Times-News question asking her to confirm that.” [BlueRidgeNow, 11/5/25]

• Balkcom Did Not Confirm She Told The Commissioners Her Reason For Supporting The Funding Change. “Balkcom told commissioners she came to the decision to support the funding change after hearing from Edneyville landowners concerned about increased development along the new sewer line, Lapsley said. Balkcom did not address a Times-News question asking her to confirm that.” [BlueRidgeNow, 11/5/25]

November 2025: Balkcom Defended Her Vote As “Financially Responsible” Said The Hendersonville Lightning’s Reporting That The County “Would Have To Give The Money Back” Was Incorrect

November 2025: Balkcom Defended Her Vote, Saying, “The General Assembly Made The Financially Responsible Decision To Reallocate Funding From The Edneyville Sewer Project To Address The Etowah System That Henderson County Now Owns.” “Rep. Balkcom defended her support of the funding change. ‘The General Assembly made the financially responsible decision to reallocate funding from the Edneyville sewer project to address the Etowah system that Henderson County now owns. When the county purchased the Etowah system, it also assumed responsibility and liability for maintaining and improving it,’ she told the Times-News in a Nov. 4 email.” [BlueRidgeNow, 11/5/25]

November 19, 2025: Balkcom Said The Hendersonville Lightning’s Reporting That The County “Lost A $12.7 Million Grant” And “Would Have To Give The Money Back” Were “Incorrect.” “The public feud notwithstanding, the results of the meeting on Nov. 13 appears to be a path to salvage grant money for both the Clear Creek project and Etowah sewer repairs. ‘Senator Moffitt and I are requesting that the Board clarify the public record regarding the status of the state appropriated $12.7 million. Hendersonville Lightning article repeatedly stated that Henderson County 'lost a $12.7 million grant,' that the county 'would have to give the money back,' and that the project 'cannot meet the deadline,' resulting in the county 'losing the grant money entirely,'‘ Balkcom wrote. ‘These statements are incorrect.’” [Hendersonville Lightning, 11/19/25]

November 25, 2025: Henderson County Commissioners Appeared To Be Leaning Toward A Scaled-Back Project In Edneyville And A State Official Clarified That $12.7 Million In State Funds Would Still Be Available For Etowah Sewer Repairs

November 25, 2025: Hendersonville Lightning: Henderson County Commissioners “Seem To Be Leaning Toward A Scaled-Back Version Of The Previously Approved $17 Million Project.” “Henderson County commissioners devoted yet another long discussion to the Clear Creek sewer project last week, hours after state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom blasted them for making ‘incorrect statements’ about the Legislature's move to shift a grant from that project to the county-owned Etowah sewer system. After the state removed a $12.7 million for the Edneyville sewer line, commissioners are confronted with a ticking clock to salvage the project. They seem to be leaning toward a scaled-back version of the previously approved $17 million project. County Manager John Mitchell said the board would need to act quickly either in its next meeting, on Dec. 1, or no later than Jan. 5 to authorize a revised contract for a reduced-scope project serving Edneyville Elementary School and Camp Judea, both of which are served by obsolete septic systems.” [Hendersonville Lightning, 11/25/25]

• The $17 Million Project Would Link The State’s Justice Academy To North Henderson High School. “Commissioners in October approved a nearly $14 million construction contract for the project that would run sewer lines along U.S. 64 from the state's Justice Academy to North Henderson High School where it will connect with the City of Hendersonville's sewer system. The total $17 million price tag for the project was planned to be paid for through state and federal grants. But before and during a Nov. 3 commissioners meeting, Lapsley and others criticized Balkcom for failing to communicate the Legislature's action to shift a $12.7 million sewer grant from the Clear Creek project in Edneyville to the county-owned Etowah sewer system, which needs major repairs.” [Hendersonville Lightning, 11/19/25]
• The Justice Academy Was Located In Edneyville. [Google Maps, accessed 8/14/26]

November 2025: A State Department Of Environmental Quality Official Clarified That $12.7 Million In State Funds Would Be Allocated For The Etowah Sewer Repairs And ARPA Funds Would Be Used For A Different Project. “Balkcom's email to commissioners came after a meeting on Nov. 13 in which a state Department of Environmental Quality official clarified that $12.7 million in state funds would be allocated for the Etowah sewer repairs and that the county could still move ahead with the Clear Creek project using an American Rescue Plan grant the pot of money with a December 2026 spending deadline. ‘Since the federal obligation deadline for ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund has already passed (December 31, 2024), we cannot commit ARPA funding towards the Etowah wastewater project,’ Shadi Eskaf, director of DEQ's Division of Water Infrastructure, wrote in an email sent at 5:51 p.m. Nov. 18. ‘The Etowah project will be funded out of state dollars that are not ARPA. … The Clear Creek Sewer Project, if it continues forward, will remain funded out of ARPA dollars and must continue to comply with the timelines associated with the project,’ which include a Dec. 31, 2026, deadline to spend the money, Eskaf added.” [Hendersonville Lightning, 11/25/25]