Learn more about the latest County Commission meeting
Attendees of Tuesday's County Commission meeting (the commission met a day late due to the holiday) encountered a new feature at the courthouse: a staffed metal detector. The officer and metal detector were approved by the commission in a recent meeting and put into place this month.
Here's what we learned on the other side of the gate:
A tourism board for Pamlico
Commissioner Candy Bohmert proposed the formation of a tourism board that would promote all of Pamlico County. "We have a lot of things that go on in places other than Oriental," Bohmert said.
The board would be funded by a 3% occupancy tax on hotels, AirBnbs and other short-term rentals in Pamlico County. It would be run by a board of volunteers. Those interested in participating can fill out an application on the county website.
The agenda item passed unanimously.
A ferry toll resolution
The commission voted to adopt a resolution asking that residents of coastal counties including Pamlico be exempt from ferry tolls.
The resolution is a response to the 2025 Appropriations Act, which calls for tolls on all ferry routes in North Carolina.
"State Route 306, on whatever map you look at, crosses that river. It doesn't matter if it's a paved road, or a dirt path, or a bridge across the water, or a ferry across water. It's an existing state road and it's unheard of to toll an existing state road," said Commissioner Ed Riggs. "Raleigh is failing the coast again by doing this."
"This is my own party that controlled the General Assembly this year," added Commissioner Kenny Heath. "I have to call them out. They have touted that they gave us decreasing income taxes, but they are throwing another tax on the coastal communities here in Pamlico, Hyde and Beaufort."
An investment in water quality
The commissioners voted to add a mixer to the Reelsboro water tower. Wooten Engineering, the firm hired to improve water quality in the county, recommended the mixer. The mixer will aerate water in the tower to prevent stagnation. The cost of the mixer is estimated at $27,032. Other towers will be outfitted with mixers if the Reelsboro project is effective.
Water Department to buy tractor
The Water Department gained permission to buy a tractor. The tractor will be able to replace rentals of forklifts and can also be put to work hauling rocks and other materials.
It will also be outfitted with a snow plow attachment in order to facilitate plowing in the event of another heavy winter snow.
The tractor will be purchased with Water Department funds.
Dawson Creek Park to be a staging ground for bridge construction
NCDOT's original staging and lay area for the Janiero Road bridge project fell through, leaving them to seek out other options. They asked the commissioners if they can use Dawson Creek Park for that purpose.
The commissioners approved the request, with the caveat that the park be restored to its current condition when the bridge is completed.
Another public comment period
Meeting attendees will now be able to have their say at every County Commission meeting. Historically, only the first County Commission meeting of each month included a public comment period. The board voted unanimously to add public comment periods to the month's second meeting, as well.
Additional notes
The commissioners approved a 6% raise for Kathy Wall in the Tax Office. Pamlico County law requires a raise when training thresholds are met. Wall recently completed the NCDOR tax administration course.
A request to appoint Leslie Kellenberger to the Trillium Health Board was tabled for two weeks. The board typically tables all appointments for that period of time.
Pamlico County's portion of the Forestry Department budget was amended to account for cost increases included in the state budget.
The following other agenda items were passed without discussion:
- An untimely application for an elderly exclusion to property tax.
- Consulting services for the Water Department from Wooten Group.
- Addendums to the agreement for the second year of the Enterprise Fleet Management Plan.
- A request from the Clinical Services Director to enter into an agreement with Nutrition Plus.
The commissioners went into closed session to discuss a personnel and attorney-client privilege matter.
