Due to recent postings on social media and in the interest of maintaining full transparency and clarity, Mitchell County has chosen to provide a bulleted statement to Mitchell County citizens.
Points about Roanview Childcare Center:
- The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners and County Manager fully supports the children and families that use the Roanview Childcare Center.
- The County Commission Board is also aware and appreciative of the great work that childcare staff perform to positively impact our youth in their most formative years.
- Furthermore, the commission is aware of the need to retain and recruit more childcare in Mitchell County.
- Per prior discussion regarding the repurposing of the Roanview Childcare Center to a grant funded emergency management facility, Intermountain Children’s Services was asked by the board to answer questions at the 1/20/2026 board meeting regarding their need and use of the facility.
- After the 1/20/2026 presentation by Intermountain, the Mitchell County board members stated that they would not dislocate the children and families who use Roanview Childcare Center without first providing a better alternate site in Bakersville. See 1/20/2026 livestream link (52:07): https://www.youtube.
com/live/lvXmgHnq9k8?si= q5ReF3VZVyYj2Kfr - Since it could take up to three years to renovate or build a better site, the current site will likely remain in operation for the next 2-3 years.
- If a suitable new childcare site is not found in Bakersville, the board will attempt to rescope the Emergency Management Grant to a different location and the Roanview CDC will remain in its current location.
- The County has always appreciated and supported Roanview CDC and Intermountain Childrens Services. As evidence, the non-profit only pays $500 per month in rent. The county also pays for the utilities for Roanview which averages $600 – $1000 per month.
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At the 1/20/2026 Commission meeting, the County requested partnership with Intermountain to look at building a better and higher capacity childcare center in Bakersville.
Points About the Emergency Management Facility and Why the Childcare Center was Considered as a Potential Site:
- Mitchell County Emergency Management lost equipment, storage and office space in Bakersville due to flooding from Tropical Storm Helene.
- Emergency Management is responsible for command and control of County emergencies and disasters.
- Mitchell County is very fragile due to flooding, landslides, roads/bridges compromised and wildfire risk. We have the largest amount of trees down in TS Helene’s path.
- Mitchell County applied for and received a grant from the State for appx $2.2M to build an emergency management facility with storage. The proposed site was the Roanview Childcare Center.
- The Roan View Childcare Center is owned by Mitchell County and is positioned in a place that provides proximity to communications. The location also has ample parking in the general area to accommodate large emergency crews and disaster response assets.
- The Roanview Childcare Facility is nearly 30 years old, and the contractor (Intermountain Children’s Services) was offered to be relocated to Bowman Middle School where the County in partnership with Intermountain and other stakeholders would pursue funding to renovate classrooms and modernize a facility that could serve more children.
- The County has concerns for the safety of children at the current location of the childcare center. The playground does not have adequate protection should an active shooter situation occur in or around the courthouse. If Roanview CDC continues to operate in its current location, appropriate physical safety measures such as the implementation of solid physical barriers to prevent a stray bullet from reaching the playground will be discussed.
- The county is also aware that sex offenders are required to utilize the courthouse and pass near the childcare center in route to court. While an offender has the legal right to do so, it is not an ideal or safe situation.
- While the courthouse does staff an officer, the fact that an officer and metal detector is present, affirms that there is potential for dangerous situations and feuding factions.
- Currently, the County has extended the emergency management grant deadline and is exploring relocation of the emergency management facility. If a suitable alternate site is found, the county will submit a revision to the grant for State approval. If the revision is approved, Roanview will continue to operate in its current location.