Wayne County commissioners approve consent agenda after removing one budget amendment for more review

Chairwoman Barbara Aycock called the Jan. 7, 2025, Wayne County Board of Commissioners meeting to order and the board approved its consent agenda after removing one item for further research.

The board removed Budget Amendment 177, which sought to move $42,130.36 from contingency to an infrastructure line for change orders tied to the Wayne County Business Campus. Commissioners agreed to pull that amendment so staff can verify several line items, including disputed sewer-related charges and a reported incorrect pipe installation, before the board considers it again.

The consent agenda otherwise included a mix of internal budget realignments and ARP-funded appropriations. Items approved or set in the consent package included: reallocation of $15,625 within the health department to shift previously budgeted sign-on bonuses to a maternal-health line; a Register of Deeds budget realignment to meet office needs; a $58,000 allocation of ARP funds from the Eastern Carolina Council for services for aging (split between vouchers and grant expenditures, with no local match required); and an action to donate a surplus 15-passenger van from the sheriff’s office to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) structured day program.

Also under the consent agenda, the board approved a motion to establish a public hearing on Jan. 21, 2025, at 9:15 a.m. in the commissioners’ meeting room to receive public comment on an economic development agreement between Wayne County and the Wayne County Development Alliance. The agreement concerns development of a pad-ready site and construction of a warehouse on Lot 6 of the Wayne County Business Campus in Goldsboro.

Separately, by motion the board accepted a state ARPA grant offer of $205,000 (Resolution 2025-1) to pay for parking-lot drainage improvements at the Wayne Executive Jetport. Finance staff also presented a budget amendment to appropriate interest earnings from the county’s ARP fund: $708,916 in total interest, with $623,916 proposed to return to the general fund and $85,000 set aside to purchase a mobile home at the jetport as housing tied to a lease with UNC for personnel supporting a new pediatric helicopter service.

Board members also approved scheduling the commissioners’ budget-and-goals retreat for Jan. 23, 2025, with a planned 8 a.m. start time.

The board’s action on the consent agenda meant that items tied to the removed Amendment 177 will return later after staff follow-up; the remaining consent items passed without additional recorded amendment.

Votes at a glance - Removal of Budget Amendment 177 for further research — motion recorded and approved to remove from consent agenda; final action on the amendment deferred (mover/second not specified in transcript). - Consent agenda as amended (removal of 177) — approved (mover/second not specified in transcript). - Donation of surplus 15-passenger van (sheriff’s office) to JCPC structured day program — approved as part of consent agenda. - Public hearing set for Jan. 21, 2025, 9:15 a.m. — approved as part of consent agenda. - Resolution 2025-1 — accept ARPA grant of $205,000 for Jetport drainage improvements — approved as part of consent agenda. - Budget amendment for ARP interest appropriation (total interest $708,916; $623,916 to general fund; $85,000 for jetport housing project) — presented; included in consent approval. - Retreat date Jan. 23, 2025 — approved.

What happens next Staff will research and return with details on Budget Amendment 177, including whether some sewer-related change-order charges should have been billed to the city rather than the county. Finance will also proceed with implementing the approved ARP transfers and the Jetport drainage grant acceptance.