Halifax County adopts FEMA map updates, approves local grant and grant-plan funding and moves forward on regional projects

Halifax County commissioners on Monday adopted changes to the county—s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance to accept updated Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood insurance rate maps and approved several funding and intergovernmental actions affecting social services, community grants and regional infrastructure.

The board voted to adopt ordinance amendments that incorporate FEMA—s revised flood insurance rate maps and the accompanying flood insurance study for 56 panels identified in the agency—s review. Chris Rountree, Planning and Development Service director, told commissioners the map updates and ordinance revisions are required to keep the county from being suspended from the National Flood Insurance Program. "The purpose of this ordinance is to, of course, promote health, safety, and welfare of the general public and help protect, public and private losses due to flood conditions," Rountree said.

The changes, Rountree said, are limited to specified sections of chapter 34 of the county code and reflect FEMA—s most recent panel updates. The board opened a legislative hearing as required and, after no public appeals were reported, adopted the ordinance amendments.

The ordinance amendments identified in the materials provided to commissioners were limited to sections 34-3, 34-31, 34-58, 34-81 and 34-82 and, according to staff, contained no significant panel shifts affecting homes in the county. Commissioners asked staff to confirm whether residential properties were affected; staff said the FEMA process produced mainly agricultural and stream-constrained areas and that no appeals were filed during the 90-day appeal window.

On funding and social services, Dana Hart Gardner, deputy director of Halifax County Department of Social Services, presented the Halifax County Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) funding plan and grant agreement for fiscal year 2025-26. Gardner said the Halifax County Council on Aging was notified of a prior-year allocation of $654,675 and that the HCCBG advisory committee recommended funding current providers listed in the county plan. "The funds for the block grant funding plan are contingent upon the balancing of the state budget," Gardner said. The board approved the funding plan and authorized county officials to sign necessary documents.

Deputy County Manager Christina Webb presented the county—s community grants review and recommended awards from the $50,000 allocation the board set aside for fiscal 2025-26. The committee considered 17 applications requesting $235,677.68 and recommended allocating the $50,000 across multiple nonprofit projects. Among the recommended awards were:

- KEDA (community services and housing counselor): recommended $15,000 of a $50,000 request. - CARE/John 3:16 Center (pickleball/tennis courts and program in Littleton): recommended $4,000 of an $8,187 request. - Edward Cheek House Museum (renovations/Improvements): recommended $4,000 of a $50,000 request for specific identified improvements. - Halifax County Arts Council (Artist in You): recommended $3,000 of a $4,500 request. - Hannah—s Place (playground at a shelter site): recommended $2,500 of a $2,670.68 request. - Hattie Palmer Estate and Senior Center (congregate/homebound meals): recommended $4,500 of a $12,760 request. - Health for Hands and Hearts (mobility scooter for residents in the Lake Gaston region): recommended $1,500 of a $2,000 request. - Running River Partners (trail/camping platforms in Halifax County): recommended $3,000 of a $5,000 request. - Grama Valley Adult Day Center (activity space for memory-care participants): recommended $4,500 of a $10,000 request. - Union Mission (Room at the Inn renovations for temporary housing): recommended $4,250 of a $5,000 request.

Webb said the committee tried to maximize the county—s return by funding projects that would spend funds locally when possible and prioritized projects that demonstrated readiness and financial documentation. The board approved the committee—s recommendations with a single motion.

The board also approved a resolution to amend the Halifax County personnel policy to remove a paragraph that had been intended for deletion during a prior personnel policy update. County Manager Dia Denton said the resolution deletes a provision regarding exempt employees being designated as on-call for a holiday and the associated on-call pay; staff requested the change to align the published policy with the board—s earlier intent.

On economic development and transportation, the board adopted a resolution supporting continued funding and development of the Weldon-to-Raleigh passenger rail corridor and directed staff to forward the resolution to state and federal officials. Kathy Scott, county economic development staff, said the corridor remains listed on the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for planning and that keeping the corridor visible to state leaders helps position it for federal rail planning and potential funding.

The board set a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, to hold a legislative hearing and consider proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance related to mining operations. The special meeting was scheduled to allow the planning board to review the draft amendments at its September meeting and to ensure the county—s temporary moratorium (approved Aug. 4) on permitting for mining operations expires with a process in place to consider ordinance changes.

On a regional infrastructure item, the board approved execution of a first amendment to the existing memorandum of understanding with the Town of Weldon on a proposed regional water-treatment facility site search. County Attorney Manuel explained the amendment clarifies cost-sharing for site-selection expenses such as appraisals, environmental studies and escrow or option deposits; the amendment directs equal cost-sharing and a 30-day reimbursement timeline when one party advances costs. The county attorney also told commissioners staff had circulated a separate draft three-party interlocal agreement that could include Northampton County if that county decides to participate.

Other board actions approved with little or no debate included a reappointment (a waiver of term limits) to the Scotland Neck Planning Board for Linda Clark and tabling a Parks & Recreation advisory board appointment pending more information.

Votes at a glance: - Open legislative hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 34 (Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance): motion to open by Commissioner Redding; second by Commissioner Silver; hearing opened. - Adopt amendments to Chapter 34 (adopt FEMA panels and flood insurance study): motion by Commissioner Silver; second by Commissioner Redding; outcome: approved. - Approve HCCBG County funding plan and grant agreement (FY 2025-26): motion by Commissioner Silver; second by Commissioner Webb; outcome: approved. - Approve FY 2025-26 community grants committee funding recommendations (total awards = $50,000): motion by Commissioner Jimmy Silver; second by Commissioner Redding; outcome: approved. - Adopt resolution amending personnel policy (delete on-call paragraph for exempt employees): motion by Commissioner Redding; second by Commissioner Barrett; outcome: approved. - Adopt resolution supporting Weldon-to-Raleigh passenger rail corridor: motion made from the floor; second by Commissioner Webb; outcome: approved. - Schedule special meeting for legislative hearing on zoning amendments related to mining (Sept. 29, 5:30 p.m.): motion by Commissioner Silver; second by Commissioner Redding; outcome: approved. - Approve execution of first amendment to MOU with Town of Weldon (regional water-treatment site search cost-sharing): motion by Commissioner Silver; second by Commissioner Barrett; outcome: approved. - Reappoint Linda Clark to the Scotland Neck Planning Board (waive term limit): motion made and seconded; outcome: approved.

Why this matters: The flood-ordinance adoption keeps Halifax County in compliance with FEMA mapping and the National Flood Insurance Program requirements; that affects property owners— insurance requirements and development constraints in mapped flood-prone areas. The HCCBG plan and community grants direct state and county dollars to local senior, health and housing services. The regional-water MOU amendment and rail-corridor resolution signal the county—s effort to coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions and state officials on infrastructure that county leaders say could drive economic development.

The board scheduled additional hearings and outreach: the Sept. 29 special meeting will focus on mining-related zoning amendments following a limited moratorium; staff said they will advertise the meeting and encourage public participation. The county also signaled continued intergovernmental coordination on the regional water project and the Weldon-to-Raleigh rail corridor.

Staff and commissioners said follow-up items will appear on future agendas with supporting materials, and staff noted certain funding plans remain contingent on state budget actions.

(Reported from the Halifax County Board of Commissioners meeting; public comment period had no speakers signed.)