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RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. — Rutherfordton’s Town Council packed a wide-ranging agenda into its October 1 meeting, where members and residents learned for the first time about a federally funded mental health partnership already underway, debated the expansion of the town’s alcohol-carry “Mint District,” and pressed ahead on a major housing grant application.
The council covered everything from fire safety to federal block grants, but the headline news came with the unveiling of the Human Action Response Partnership (HARP), a behavioral health response team supported by a federal grant awarded to the United Way of Rutherford County last year. Until now, the program had not been publicly detailed at a Rutherfordton council meeting. It was discussed in Forest City in August.
Dr. Sarah Horne and staff from Preferred Choice Healthcare presented the Human Action Response Partnership (HARP), launched in March, funded by the United Way of Rutherford County, from a $3M federal HRSA grant. The program pairs clinicians with law enforcement to respond to mental health and substance use crises. Questions still linger from the lack of communication from United Way for months, and the federal government’s possible new terms of how programs operate. United Way’s executive director, Suzanne Porter, who also serves on the Rutherford County Social Services Board, was not at the meeting.
Federal funds fuel new police-mental health partnership
Rutherfordton Police Chief Clint Ingle introduced the HARP team alongside Dr. Horne. He credited collaboration between local police chiefs and United Way for securing funding and launching the effort.
“This past year has been truly an incredible one, not only for the Rutherfordton Police Department, but also our partners at Spindale and Forest City Police Department,” Ingle said. “From those conversations, new policies were written, plans were put into motion, and now that collaboration, the Tri-City SWAT team and Violent Crimes Task Force were created… which ultimately led to the creation of the HARP team.”
Dr. Horne emphasized that the program was designed locally, not imported from outside. “HARP is not a building. HARP is not a program that we found on the internet,” she told the council. “We were actually just sitting around a table trying to come up with a name … HARP is a human action response partnership. It was developed just for Rutherford County.” She shared that Chief Ingle designed their logo.
The model focuses on giving officers immediate access to licensed therapists during calls involving mental health or substance use crises. “This program is just for law enforcement to call and it’s a 24-hour number,” Horne said. “It’s not a call center. The only person who’s ever gonna answer the phone is me [or] the other members of our team … We are dispatching locally. We are all here in the community, so our response times are a lot faster.”
Horne reported that the team has handled about 120 calls since March, with an average response time of 17 minutes. “Changing culture is hard, but it hasn’t been hard here,” she said. “It’s about safety, it’s about officer safety, it’s about recidivism and keeping people safe in their communities.”
Mayor Jimmy Dancy praised the initiative, calling it “a social justice issue” as much as a safety one. “It’s hard to solve a problem after it happens,” he said. “You are there to help us take something and not let it get worse. All of our citizens should be honored that we think enough that we can bring experts into the field that can assist us.”
The program is supported through a four-year HRSA Impact Grant, with United Way as the primary applicant. Rutherfordton leaders acknowledged that while the grant was awarded in 2024, the public had not heard much about it until now.
Social district maps spark “gerrymandering” comparisons
Later in the meeting, the council revisited the town’s social district boundaries — the so-called “Mint District” that allows patrons to carry alcoholic beverages between businesses in designated zones.
At the request of three businesses, including Mountain Haze Beer Garden, Night Owl Ironworks, and a planned mini-golf course, staff presented a proposed expansion map. But the irregular boundaries immediately raised eyebrows.
Maps of the new footprint drew chuckles from the dais, with some members describing them as “wonky” and others saying they looked “gerrymandered.” Town Manager Doug Barrick and Community Services Director Jordan Jones acknowledged the odd shapes but said they reflected business geography and public safety considerations, not politics.
“The social district currently … allows folks 21 and older to purchase a beverage from a licensed ABC permittee and take that beverage within these boundaries to other businesses,” Jones explained. “At the request of these businesses … they’ve expressed interest in becoming part of the Mint District.”
Police and staff reported no major issues with the existing district, which has been in effect since state law first allowed social districts in 2021. “No spikes in crime, no litter problems, no public safety concerns,” one official noted, adding that participation rules — like 16-ounce cups marked with the district logo — have been well observed.
The council voted to schedule a November public hearing on the expansion at the regular town council meeting, where residents can voice support or concerns.
Housing redevelopment and $5 million grant opportunity
Another major agenda item was housing. The council reviewed plans to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for neighborhood revitalization, working with the Foothills Regional Commission.
Jones highlighted progress since the council created a redevelopment commission in 2020. In the Fairview neighborhood, blighted properties have been cleared and new homes built with help from Habitat for Humanity. Now, the town is preparing to seek federal dollars to support larger-scale projects, including 24 to 38 new multifamily units and four single-family homes, alongside sewer and sidewalk upgrades.
“This year we can request up to $5 million because of us being a storm-impacted community,” Alan Toney of the Foothills Regional Commission told the council. “That’s a great opportunity … These are federal dollars, but they flow through the North Carolina Department of Commerce.”
If awarded, the grant would also pay for about 1,000 feet of new sidewalks on E. 2nd Street and replace aging sewer lines on Old Charlotte Road. Construction could begin as early as 2027.
Mayor Dancy cautioned residents to be patient. “Our citizens need to know … a lot of times they’re promised things, and they never happen,” he said. “We need to try to keep it in perspective so they have a reasonable concept of when it’s actually going to be something.”
Other business: EVs, parks, and fire safety
In other action, the council:
Announced Rutherfordton was awarded $291,000 from NCDOT for up to five electric vehicles, including police and fire vehicles.
Approved the creation of the town’s first Parks and Recreation Director position.
Observed Fire Prevention Week, with a proclamation focused on lithium-ion battery safety. “The theme is lithium-ion batteries and how to properly use, store, and charge,” Fire Chief Brandon Harrill said, urging residents to follow the fire department’s Facebook page for safety tips.
What’s next
The council will hold a public hearing in November on the social district expansion and expects to file its CDBG application by the end of October. Leaders promised more updates on both the HARP partnership and housing efforts as they move forward.
For more details, you may read the 156-page meeting agenda packet at bit.ly/rton10125.
This article has been updated to correct the spelling of a last name.
