Burke County Commissioners met Tuesday afternoon, and after a discussion on the Burke County Jail project, voted 3-2 to rescind a majority vote of Commissioners from November 17th, in which plans were to build a new jail on property owned by Burke County. Commissoners Wayne Abele, Maynard Taylor, and Jack Carroll voted to rescind the earlier vote, while Commissioners Jeff Britain and Johnny Carswell voted against the motions. Immediately after the vote, Commissioner Johnny Carswell called for another vote to oppose the spilt vote, resulting in another 3-2 spilt vote to confirm the long term jail project was dead. Commissioners then voted to recess the meeting till next Tuesday.

The Supreme Court of North Carolina held the first day of its May session in the Historic Burke County Courthouse on Tuesday. A reception was held at Morganton City Hall Tuesday evening for the Justices and to honor the NC Supreme Court Clerk's 25 years of service. Christie Roeder will retire at the end of the month and her last day of court will be today. The session held Tuesday and today at the Historic Courthouse was made possible by last year's ratification of Senate Bill 161 and is the first time the Supreme Court has traveled to Burke County since the Civil War. Two cases will be heard today. Court begins at 9:30. Tickets are free of charge and available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Burke County Chamber of Commerce.

Lenior City Manager Scott Hildebran presented City Council with the recommended annual budget for fiscal year 2016-17 at its meeting Tuesday night. Included in the recommended budget is a 3% increase in the water and sewer rate impacting rate payers about 70 cents per month and also incorporates a new sales tax the General Assembly adopted last year.The anticipated sales tax is expected to generate $215,000 for the City of Lenior by the end of the fiscal year. A public hearing to consider the adoption of the proposed budget is scheduled for June 7th at 6pm.

Hickory City Council met Tuesday night and heard Frye Regional Medical Center CEO Gar Atchison present plans for changes at Frye Regional that include enhancements to benefit citizens who use the hospital. He also provided information about the new partnership between Duke Life Point and Frye Regional. In other business, a nine item consent agenda passed, followed by a departmental report concerning a purchase with the Town of Long View. All items heard and voted on passed by a unanimous vote of 7-0.