[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6483165,"mediaKeyId","5671242-dc1e0483286ed159506f04d6ddfac88c","parentId",5671242,"title","Craven County commissioners approve $3.6M meter change-out, multiple budget rollovers, contract awards and appointments","audioSeconds",140,"startMs",1966000,"endMs",2106000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671242-dc1e0483286ed159506f04d6ddfac88c&start=1966&end=2106","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671242-dc1e0483286ed159506f04d6ddfac88c/thumbnail_1966000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6483165/Craven-County/North-Carolina/Craven-County-commissioners-approve-36M-meter-change-out-multiple-budget-rollovers-contract-awards-and-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483165-4a8481ebe80f5509e618997700d19d52/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202725&Signature=UuGPOiqUEKb9BC8fRKHdcss~7d1OXwtn40n3sHFD~vHsV6tV3xzgsKkinfag91aeydtBQiF-knIlcTJ-XsaJO-QH9Lc1KdrnYmaK59i~fC8utaGxbeb-c-mZ5T0Vn0IxAib8qabLDGkLZaugDCXax89dfVuMveurG~cOnx4gs731iKYKEN7srB8JMPQ7dl1J8D4oFLpsq1Dk583OtbN-nMxZmVMcPZWj7cDZGIPn596yLUx3Q241CfeySrMNLNOjQo-XtqNLXUl~It0ynUY0hJXB9gRNPLIiO96uvEZUOEtc3PBdw4COGLOlK73atBd4Q4lKdfIqrfX-1u5TTg7kwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Craven County, NC","date","2025-08-25T14:19:01Z","article","Craven County commissioners on Aug. 18 approved a series of budget amendments, a contract award and appointments during their regular session, including a $3.6 million appropriation for the county’s automated meter-installation program.

The board approved a budget amendment of $3,600,000 to buy remaining meters and fund the initial installations for the next phase of the countywide AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) meter-change-out project. County staff said the next phase will install slightly more than 3,500 meters in the Havelock/Township 6 area and that the purchase will leave installation and some antenna/collector costs to be contracted in stages next year. Vice Chairman Jones recused himself from discussion and left the room for the meter item; the recorded roll call on the meter funding showed four commissioners voting yes and one recusal.

The board also approved two items from the Soil and Water Department: a rollover budget amendment of $140,755 for the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (STRAP Round 2) and an associated contract award. After a request-for-proposals process, the county awarded the debris-removal contract to J and J Environmental LLC and authorized a project not-to-exceed construction budget of $119,641.75. Brody Brown, who presented the requests, told the board the company’s bid of $57,014.35 allows the county to perform an additional $62,624.40 of upstream work within the allocated construction budget.

Social Services asked to roll forward ARPA-funded home-care/community block grant funds of $25,955 for senior-center renovations, meals, health-promotion materials and caregiver-education materials; the board approved the rollover. Social Services also received approval to roll forward $94,329 in adoption-promotion funds, used for foster-parent recruitment and related activities. Jeffrey Merritt presented both Social Services items.

The sheriff’s office received three approvals: a donations-fund rollover of $15,025, a rollover for ordered equipment and parts totaling $31,853, and an employee payout to cover vacation and holiday pay for a departing detention officer. The motion recorded the payout amount as $54,003.66. Sheriff Hughes also briefed the board on hurricane-season readiness and school coverage.

Other routine business included approval of the consent agenda (minutes, tax releases and refunds, various department budget items and requests for public hearing), multiple board appointments (including reappointments by acclamation) and authorization of the upset-bid process for a county-owned surplus parcel (parcel ID 3021022) with an initial offer of $3,200. The county attorney asked the board to authorize the upset-bid procedure to publish and advance the sale process.

Before adjourning to closed session, the board voted to convene a closed session to discuss pending opioid litigation under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(3).

Votes at a glance (selected actions)
- Approve agenda: motion passed by roll call (all present voted yes).
- Consent agenda: approved by roll call (all present voted yes).
- Soil & Water: budget amendment rollover $140,755 — approved by roll call (all present voted yes).
- Soil & Water: contract award to J and J Environmental LLC, not to exceed $119,641.75 — approved by roll call (all present voted yes).
- Social Services: roll forward $25,955 (home-care/community block grant, ARPA funds) — approved.
- Social Services: roll forward $94,329 (adoption-promotion funds) — approved.
- Sheriff: donations rollover $15,025 — approved.
- Sheriff: equipment POs rollover $31,853 — approved.
- Sheriff: employee payout $54,003.66 — approved.
- Water Department: temporary customer-service clerk 1 (to cover leave) — approved.
- Water Department: budget amendment $3,600,000 for meter change-out (Vice Chairman Jones recused) — approved (4 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain, 1 recused).
- Appointments to several boards and committees (including reappointment of Kelly Forrest to Riverbend Board of Adjustment) — approved by acclamation or roll call.
- Surplus property (parcel ID 3021022): authorized upset-bid process; initial offer $3,200 — approved.
- Motion to go into closed session under NC GS 143-318.11(a)(3) to discuss pending opioid litigation — approved.

Why it matters: The meter change-out project is intended to improve read accuracy, provide automatic leak detection and reduce county water loss; the $3.6 million purchase significantly advances the program. The STRAP contract and rollovers preserve previously approved funding for environmental debris removal and social-services programming. The closed session reflects ongoing county involvement in opioid litigation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Craven County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - August 18., 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Craven County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 18 approved a $3.6 million budget amendment to purchase remaining meters and continue installations for a countywide AMI meter-change-out project and also approved multiple budget rollovers, a debris-removal contract and appointments.","taxTitle","Craven County, North Carolina","taxId",55438,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483170,"Trillium Health Resources updates Craven County on behavioral-health coverage, tailored plan rollout and foster-care transition",898,117000,1015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671242-dc1e0483286ed159506f04d6ddfac88c&start=117&end=1015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671242-dc1e0483286ed159506f04d6ddfac88c/thumbnail_117000.jpg","/articles/6483170/Craven-County/North-Carolina/Trillium-Health-Resources-updates-Craven-County-on-behavioral-health-coverage-tailored-plan-rollout-and-foster-care-transition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483170-a2e1bf8de010b2be5e729fe8b6a2a5a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202726&Signature=eO8cpeRdGgEKh0dWbMpJ1eylm4H22-8~wnKyZ4RqFJTvZ7FDOVfnPWz0DQqd4s5LdIg3Fyp-2HMIEgXtVYZNDxLYsj9--iv5jrSexBLC6RRJhqGbotGv6grnLOkqEDnDMYMtNPcyu0aqLlyxuYgAGpr738jy-ZoDvDr2SeDHWvq-SVnmybvB9jJnSQ~RSiri3lHZDIst7qgLEHvTr5uZ4kNSveKWneHrWV4ZTz2akLiF7IvjgGElvYmPN3-xSPDpX2gb131dlwPMz1BAcvhTY8Xe2lfgZZ9BJik3Mlgz1rV~M0XMwyFs~30bXWQmkLmqrAjUtXyacN6eXd6tqsAlkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Victoria Jackson, regional vice president for the South Central Region of Trillium Health Resources, gave a brief annual update to the Craven County Board of Commissioners at their Aug. 18 regular session on Trillium’s coverage, local programs and the Medicaid tailored-plan rollout.

Jackson told commissioners Trillium covers 46 North Carolina counties and serves a combined population she described as about 3,100,000 across its service area. She summarized Trillium’s enrollment split for the period July–December 2024, saying the organization served “over 80,000 unique individuals with severe behavioral health needs,” and described the breakdown as roughly 63% mental-health, 17% substance-use and 20% intellectual/developmental-disability needs. Jackson said Trillium spent more than $802,000,000 on services in that six-month period.

Jackson reviewed the July 1, 2024 launch of the Medicaid tailored plan and said the consolidation and new plan increased call volumes and strained non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) coordination during the early weeks of implementation. She said Trillium has identified three lessons from the launch—expanded community communications, closer coordination with NEMT brokers and temporary provider flexibilities to reduce disruption—and that the organization has worked with the state and local providers to address those issues.

On foster-care coverage, Jackson told the board the state’s Division of Health Benefits awarded the statewide children-and-family specialty plan to Blue Cross Blue Shield (branded by Blue Cross as Healthy Blue Care Together). She said about 11% of the foster-care population Trillium currently serves is slated to move to that specialty plan and that Trillium has an internal transition team working with state officials to try to avoid interruptions in care during the transfer.

Local programs Jackson highlighted for Craven County included distribution of naloxone kits and test strips, substance-use prevention programs in schools, reentry simulations and a free recovery-support app called CHES Health that provides 24/7 peer support. She also described a technology program called Tula (Trillium Ultimate Living Assistant), which Trillium has awarded and that Jackson said uses enabling devices to support independent living tasks such as medication reminders and open-door alerts.

Jackson emphasized access options for residents: \"There’s no wrong door,\" she said, noting Trillium contracts with more than 1,600 providers in and near North Carolina and operates a 24/7 crisis line and a member services line with daytime hours.

Commissioner Sherry Hunt asked whether Trillium or its leaders would attend the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners conference later that week; Jackson said multiple regional vice presidents and the chief executive would attend and that the CEO was scheduled to appear on a panel about the tailored plan.

Jackson concluded by offering to respond to follow-up questions and providing contact information included in the board packet.

Why it matters: The tailored-plan transition and the statewide foster-care specialty plan change how Medicaid behavioral-health services are managed and reimbursed. Commissioners and county staff said they are watching the foster-care transfer closely to limit service interruptions for high-acuity children.","Trillium Health Resources presented its annual update to the Craven County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 18, detailing enrollment figures, the July 2024 launch of the tailored Medicaid plan, local programs including naloxone distribution and a forthcoming foster-care specialty plan transition to Blue Cross Blue Shield.","actionData","errors"]

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Craven County commissioners approve $3.6M meter change-out, multiple budget rollovers, contract awards and appointments

Trillium Health Resources updates Craven County on behavioral-health coverage, tailored plan rollout and foster-care transition