County Commissioner meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Pamlico County Courthouse Annex. We provide summaries of what’s covered at every meeting so you can stay informed about the decisions and discussions that affect you.
The next meeting will be Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.
Commissioners joke before the meeting. (Photo by Lara Manetta)
New School Progress
The meeting kicked off with a presentation from Dr. Jeremy Johnson updating the commission on construction at the consolidated middle school and high school. Illustrating with a series of slides, he showed progress from the initial groundbreaking through installation of heat pump wells and construction of the first and second floors of the building.
Dr. Jeremy Johnson presents an update on construction at Pamlico Middle and High Schools. (Photo by Lara Manetta)
One project highlighted was the asbestos remediation at the old high school. Old asbestos tiles were safely removed over the summer to avoid exposure during the school year.
Dr. Johnson also discussed the thermal well installation. The new schools will get both heat and air conditioning from geothermal power.
The project is ahead of schedule and under budget. He expects this year will be the last year students attend classes in the old buildings. They will begin the 26-27 school year in the new facilities.
Dr. Johnson finished his presentation with a request: allow the school system to apply for a needs-based grant that will allow them to perform needed maintenance and upgrades at Fred A. Anderson Elementary. He invited the County Commissioners to visit the school before their September 15 meeting to see where improvements are needed. The grant application deadline is October 3, 2025.
He also informed the commission that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green will be visiting Pamlico County September 26 from 8:30 to 10:30 am. This is the first visit to the county from a State Superintendent in seven years.
A New Emergency Alert System
Pamlico County has an emergency alert system that sends vital information via text. County residents can sign up for alerts on the homepage of the county website (http://www.pamlicocounty.org/) The alerts include severe weather, boil notices, and other important news.
The County Commission voted in favor of switching from their current vendor (Onsolve, which runs CodeRED) to GOGov. The motion was approved unanimously.
Commissioners say the new software is comparable to the existing platform, but will save the county money.
Kari Forrest sought to clarify whether subscribers will have to sign up for the new system.
When the time comes to switch, the new sign-up will not be automatic. Current subscribers will be prompted to sign up for the new system.
Continued Discussion of Animal Control
Commissioners returned again to future plans for animal control in Pamlico County. The commissioners had reached out to all incorporated municipalities in Pamlico County for comment. As of the September 2 meeting, all but Vandemere had replied. Commissioners in Oriental are continuing to seek resident input. Other towns have not responded since receiving additional information about the options for animal control.
The commission opted for the time being to reduce animal control services to what is required by law: response for calls regarding rabies, dog bites, and dangerous animals. They will revisit the topic as more formal guidelines are created.
Additional Meeting Notes
Around 10 people showed up to observe the meeting.
There were no comments made during the public comment period.
The board approved a request from the Water Department to buy a service, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition). SCADA is a system that monitors and controls largescale processes over a wide, dispersed area like Pamlico County.
The Sheriff’s Department asked for a budget modification. The department had previously asked for and received funds for four new squad cars and a new van for the Pamlico Correctional Institution. The department opted to buy five cruisers instead and forgo the purchase of the van for the jail.
The remaining consent items were approved without discussion. These include the following requests:
Approval of budget amendments
Approval of board releases
Approval of an untimely application for elderly exclusion
Approval to appoint an approve bonding of Finance Office Alex Showalter effective October 1, 2025
Approval for the Sheriff’s Office to contract with Willo Products Company
A closed session followed the public portion. The Commission requested a closed session to discuss a personnel matter.
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