Several Duplin County residents used the public-comment period to press county leaders on transparency, hiring and the cancellation of community events.

Jessica Thomas said residents "are legally entitled to transparency under state and federal law" and urged officials to respond to repeated records requests. "We should not have to demand to be seen or heard or believed when we come with truth," Thomas said. She added that a recent surge of community attention shows sustained public interest and warned the group would continue to press officials for answers.

Madison Carnegie, a 16-year-old resident and small-business owner, said the county's decision not to hold the Duplin County Fair and the Muscadine Festival will cost her business at least $5,000 this year. "The cancellation of the fair and the Muscadine Festival will cost my small business at least $5,000 in lost revenue this year," Carnegie said, and she urged commissioners to prioritize planning diverse events at the Duplin Event Center that support local vendors.

Raven Pike raised questions about where county job openings are posted and asked for improved live-streaming so elderly residents can follow meetings. Marcela Marce, a member of the Department of Social Services advisory board, urged that hiring for DSS be shifted from the department director to the county HR office and suggested forming a committee to reduce recurring vacancies. Marce said the DSS advisory board regularly sees 15 to 25 vacancies each month and asked to work with the county manager and other residents to change hiring practices.

No formal board action was taken during the public-comment period on these issues; several presenters asked the board to follow up with staff and to prioritize community engagement and event planning.