Residents push for drug court, jail accountability and county museum; litter and tap fees also raised at Harnett County meeting

Residents used the Feb. 3 public comment period at the Harnett County Board of Commissioners' meeting to press for criminal-justice reforms and community projects, including calls for a drug court, accountability in the sheriff’s office, a county museum and more volunteer support for roadside litter cleanup.

Why it matters: Speakers tied their requests to public safety, long-term fiscal and social impacts, and community identity. Several speakers described personal experience with addiction, incarceration or county services, and asked the commissioners to pursue concrete programs and oversight.

Calls for a drug court Multiple speakers urged the county to establish a drug court or other court-supervised treatment program. Katie Setzer Muir told commissioners she had researched drug courts in other North Carolina counties and said local law enforcement, including Sheriff Wayne Coates, had expressed support. Muir described drug court as a way to provide treatment and reduce long-term costs related to incarceration.

Caitlin Piccorne, who described herself as a 25-year-old recovering addict who completed drug court in Cumberland County, said the program helped her regain custody of her children and urged the county to set up similar services for Harnett residents.

Several other speakers, including Jerry Rivas and Johnny Adams, also endorsed creating court-based treatment programs and noted broader community needs.

Jail accountability and sheriff criticism Elizabeth Long used her public comment time to criticize Harnett County’s sheriff, naming Sheriff Wayne Coates and alleging that prisoner deaths and conditions at the jail require greater oversight and transparency. Long asked commissioners to "require more accountability for the tax dollars spent in the sheriff's office" and to request video footage and other records. She linked repeated inmate deaths during the current sheriff’s tenure with a need for review.

Other speakers referenced recent deaths at the jail and urged improvements such as body-worn cameras; at least one speaker thanked commissioners and others for moving forward on implementing body cameras for jail staff and deputies during the meeting.

Community projects and other concerns - Museum: Frank Lewis, who identified himself as having ties to the Harnett Historical Commission, proposed establishing a county museum to preserve local history, including Black and Native American history. He suggested locating a facility near the county library and recommended hiring a professional curator while using volunteers for support. - Litter/Keep Harnett Beautiful: Larry Mitchell described volunteering to pick up roadside litter and called for more volunteers and broader efforts by county and state agencies to address persistent trash along rural and highly traveled roads. - Water tap and development fees: Rebecca Brock and others urged commissioners not to reduce water tap or development fees, arguing that lowering fees would primarily benefit developers and reduce funds available to county departments. Kate Reichert (listed in the transcript as Kate Harrington Reichert) said the water and sewer authority provides a service and that the county should avoid overreach into enterprise operations.

What residents requested of the commission Requests included coordinating with state and local partners to establish a drug court; requiring oversight and more transparency in the sheriff’s office (including requests for footage and accountability for jail conditions); exploring a county museum with professional leadership and volunteer support; and maintaining current fee structures for water taps rather than lowering them.

Next steps requested by speakers: Several asked the commission to take concrete steps — direct staff to study drug court options and costs, work with the Board of Elections and Board of Education on voting-site alternatives (also discussed separately), and support volunteer-based Keep Harnett Beautiful events.

Provenance: Public comments recorded during the Feb. 3 meeting provided the basis for the above summary.