Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

Avery County to Reassume Control of Banner Elk Child Development Center

Story by Ron Fitzwater

A decision has been made in the ongoing concerns, over the continued operation of the Banner Elk Child Development Center.

The Town of Banner Elk presented the county commissioners with a resolution approved by the town council on August 13, establishing their intent to deed the facility and grounds to the county.

The center has been operating on a month-by-month basis since the expiration of the lease between the town and Region D Child Care Inc. in July. The town had requested an increase in the facility to provide funds for building repairs and improvements.

Banner Elk currently holds the deed to the property. In the late 1970s, the land was purchased and the building was built with HUD monies, and operation of the daycare was contracted to Region D. At that time, there was some political dialogue about county monies subsidizing the operation of a daycare that essentially served the residents of Banner Elk. To address those concerns the county offered and the town accepted responsibility for the center. The deed to the property came with a conveyance covenant that states if the property ever ceased to be used for the intended purpose as a daycare it would revert back to the county. Banner Elk is using the conveyance covenant to deed the facility back to the county.

The county intends to move the recently acquired Loved Ones Day Care building to the future site of the new Banner Elk Elementary School and move the existing daycare operation to that site. The vacated building will be sold, and the commissioners hope that a permanent structure can be incorporated in the new school construction plans.

Some concerns exist surrounding the location of the temporary structure and getting the move completed before severe weather sets in.

The commissioners accepted Banner Elk’s resolution and instructed County Manager Robert Wiseman to act expeditiously in completing the transfer and developing an action plan to relocate the facility.

Childcare services will continue at the current location until the temporary facility is in place.