Craven County commissioners approve transport franchise, multiple grant applications and budget amendments; lease to expand Cove City Library parking

The Craven County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 20 unanimously approved a package of actions that included granting a franchise for a nonemergency medical transport provider, submitting state transit grant applications, authorizing multiple budget amendments for public safety and public-health programs, approving a water-main relocation to be reimbursed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and signing a 25-year lease to expand parking at the Cove City Library.

Why it matters: The measures together affect county health and transport services, infrastructure work tied to a state road project, library access in western Craven County and the sheriff's office reentry and treatment work. Several items use grant or reimbursable funding, limiting immediate county budget exposure but creating near-term implementation tasks for county staff.

Most significant votes and details

Votes at a glance

- Franchise for nonemergency transport (Caroline Medical Transport): Approved. The board accepted a recommendation from the EMS Advisory Council and granted a county franchise allowing Caroline Medical Transport to operate basic-level convalescent nonemergency transport within Craven County; the company may transport patients outside the county under private contracts. No changes to service scope were made at the meeting.

- CARS: State Maintenance Assistance Program (SMAP) application: Approved. Craven Area Rural Transit (CARS) was authorized to apply for $130,920 allocated to the county for fiscal year 2025–26; the funds must be used by June 30, 2026. No public hearing was required.

- CARS: Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) application (consolidated EDTAP/employment/RGP): Approved. The county was allocated $100,276 for EDTAP (elderly and disabled), $19,645 for employment, and $113,325 for rural general public (RGP), for a total FY26 allocation of $253,246; staff were authorized to submit the county’s portion of the application and required certified statements.

- Sheriff’s Office: COSAT grant budget amendment: Approved.…