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The County Commission heard from a number of organizations at the Monday night meeting. We've rounded up the most important items discussed. 

In an addition to the agenda, the Pamlico County Sheriff Department requested discussion of a new temporary investigator. Pamlico County is joining a newly-formed multi-county drug task force in cooperation with Craven and Carteret Counties. The drug task force will be managed by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. It is a pilot program for potential drug task force operations throughout the state.

The task force allows multiple departments to work in cooperation with drug trafficking operations that span multiple counties. 

Sheriff Chris Davis said that the funds to cover the extra position can come from lapsed salary savings from the Law Enforcement, Communications, and Detention divisions. Additionally, consolidation of local schools will mean the elimination of a school resource officer position.

Sheriff Davis also emphasized financial benefits for the county in the form of asset forfeiture. "One area we will be able to benefit is from any funds that are seized during the investigation," said Davis. "The sheriff's office will get a quarter of those funds. If we were to go into, say, Craven County at some point in the next couple of weeks and seize $400,000, Pamlico County Sheriff's Office will get $100,000."

At the current time, the sheriff is asking that the temporary position be implemented through June 30, 2026. The task force's duration is open-ended and could run for several years. If the position is made permanent, new funding will have to be allocated after June 30.

Representatives from Pecan Grove Marina appeared at the meeting to request that the county apply for a grant to dredge Shop Gut Channel. The channel serves the marina and a number of local businesses, including Endurance Seafood, commercial fishing operation Charlie Van Salbury, commercial entrepreneur Ron Diamond, a number of private residences, and dockage for several boat brokerages.

The cost of dredging would come, in part, from a grant from the Shallow Draft Navigational Channel Dredging and Aquatic Weed Fund. The grant requires a 25% minimum match. The matching funds will be provided by Pecan Grove Marina and other businesses.

The group is requesting that the channel be dredged to eight feet. Areas of the channel have become shoaled since the last time dredging was performed. This has caused a number of boats to run aground, including one the day of the meeting. 

The grant's conditions require that the county make the application. The last time the area was dredged was approximately seven years ago.

The motion passed with a five to two vote, with Commissioners Ed Riggs and Candy Bohmert voting against. Riggs said he voted no because he is against using public funds to benefit a single private business, the marina. 

The commissioners heard a request to consolidate health services to allow the involved departments to run more efficiently. The consolidation would combine the Health Department, Senior Services and Veteran Services into one organization.

The consolidation will put all these departments under one roof, which can make it easier for residents who need services from multiple departments. "The vision is that if you can put them all in one location, if someone shows up at the department of social services and they need health services, you can get them over to the health department," said County Manager Mark Brewington. "If it's somebody at the health department, you can get them over to social services. Somebody at senior services, they need one or the other, you can get them there as well."

Pamlico County Health Department Director Melanie Dixon addressed the County Commission to give updates on several programs.

Requests for WIC remain steady, with 119 people applying for the program in September. Health Department representatives work with some applicants in person and others via phone.

Dixon said that department had received 80 car seats to provide to local families, as well as a number of hike helmets.

Dixon told commissioners that a food pantry located at the Health Department is in need of donations to keep it stocked through the holidays. She requested attendees look through their pantries for goods to give. There is also a Toys for Tots donation box at the Health Department.

The costs for CPR classes in the county will increase from $175 to $185 for members of the public and from $75 to $85 for county employees and first responders.

An audit of the county's swim and pool program will likely result in a number of pool operators getting notices on practices they need to improve. The operators will be given a period of time to get pools into compliance.

The commissioners also heard a request to apply for a rural community health grant. This is a three-year grant that will, if approved, provide $150,000 a year.

The commissioners approved a request to apply for a state-run cybersecurity grant. The grant will provide up to $150,000 that can be used to purchase computers and provide security upgrades. The grant will require a 40% non-federal match. However, funds already allocated for cybersecurity and IT use can be used as part of the county's matching funds. 

A number of agenda items were passed without discussion. These include:

A request from Ms. Veda Kennedy for a property easement was approved. The property is land-locked and will require an easement to add a driveway so the property can be accessed. There was previously a house on the parcel that was removed when the property was condemned due to an expanded flood area. The motion was approved with the caveat that the property owner will shoulder all expenses associated with the easement.

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