Craven County commissioners approve $3.6M meter change-out, multiple budget rollovers, contract awards and appointments

Craven County commissioners on Aug. 18 approved a series of budget amendments, a contract award and appointments during their regular session, including a $3.6 million appropriation for the county’s automated meter-installation program.

The board approved a budget amendment of $3,600,000 to buy remaining meters and fund the initial installations for the next phase of the countywide AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) meter-change-out project. County staff said the next phase will install slightly more than 3,500 meters in the Havelock/Township 6 area and that the purchase will leave installation and some antenna/collector costs to be contracted in stages next year. Vice Chairman Jones recused himself from discussion and left the room for the meter item; the recorded roll call on the meter funding showed four commissioners voting yes and one recusal.

The board also approved two items from the Soil and Water Department: a rollover budget amendment of $140,755 for the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (STRAP Round 2) and an associated contract award. After a request-for-proposals process, the county awarded the debris-removal contract to J and J Environmental LLC and authorized a project not-to-exceed construction budget of $119,641.75. Brody Brown, who presented the requests, told the board the company’s bid of $57,014.35 allows the county to perform an additional $62,624.40 of upstream work within the allocated construction budget.

Social Services asked to roll forward ARPA-funded home-care/community block grant funds of $25,955 for senior-center renovations, meals, health-promotion materials and caregiver-education materials; the board approved the rollover. Social Services also received approval to roll forward $94,329 in adoption-promotion funds, used for foster-parent recruitment and related activities. Jeffrey Merritt presented both Social Services items.

The sheriff’s office received three approvals: a donations-fund rollover of $15,025, a rollover for ordered equipment and parts totaling $31,853, and an employee payout to cover vacation and holiday pay for a departing detention officer. The motion recorded the payout amount as $54,003.66. Sheriff Hughes also briefed the board on hurricane-season readiness and school coverage.

Other routine business included approval of the consent agenda (minutes, tax releases and refunds, various department budget items and requests for public hearing), multiple board appointments (including reappointments by acclamation) and authorization of the upset-bid process for a county-owned surplus parcel (parcel ID 3021022) with an initial offer of $3,200. The county attorney asked the board to authorize the upset-bid procedure to publish and advance the sale process.

Before adjourning to closed session, the board voted to convene a closed session to discuss pending opioid litigation under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(3).

Votes at a glance (selected actions) - Approve agenda: motion passed by roll call (all present voted yes). - Consent agenda: approved by roll call (all present voted yes). - Soil & Water: budget amendment rollover $140,755 — approved by roll call (all present voted yes). - Soil & Water: contract award to J and J Environmental LLC, not to exceed $119,641.75 — approved by roll call (all present voted yes). - Social Services: roll forward $25,955 (home-care/community block grant, ARPA funds) — approved. - Social Services: roll forward $94,329 (adoption-promotion funds) — approved. - Sheriff: donations rollover $15,025 — approved. - Sheriff: equipment POs rollover $31,853 — approved. - Sheriff: employee payout $54,003.66 — approved. - Water Department: temporary customer-service clerk 1 (to cover leave) — approved. - Water Department: budget amendment $3,600,000 for meter change-out (Vice Chairman Jones recused) — approved (4 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain, 1 recused). - Appointments to several boards and committees (including reappointment of Kelly Forrest to Riverbend Board of Adjustment) — approved by acclamation or roll call. - Surplus property (parcel ID 3021022): authorized upset-bid process; initial offer $3,200 — approved. - Motion to go into closed session under NC GS 143-318.11(a)(3) to discuss pending opioid litigation — approved.

Why it matters: The meter change-out project is intended to improve read accuracy, provide automatic leak detection and reduce county water loss; the $3.6 million purchase significantly advances the program. The STRAP contract and rollovers preserve previously approved funding for environmental debris removal and social-services programming. The closed session reflects ongoing county involvement in opioid litigation.