Residents press commissioners on shortened public-comment period, vehicle pursuits and contracted medical transport

HARNETT COUNTY — Multiple residents used the meeting’s public-comment period to urge the Harnett County Board of Commissioners to restore the longer public-comment allowance and to press county officials on public-safety issues including high-speed vehicle pursuits and perceived problems with contracted medical transportation.

Several speakers criticized a change that reduced the public-comment period from one hour with five-minute slots per speaker to 30 minutes with three-minute slots. ‘‘Let us revert back to the hour and 5 minutes so that our constituents can speak,’’ one commenter said. Other speakers said the shorter period limited public ability to raise issues about county policy and operations.

During public comment, Chase Seals described a recent crash near Coats Irwin School and urged the county and sheriff’s office to reduce or better manage vehicle chases for low-level offenses. ‘‘Nobody in here deserved to lose their family to any chase for whatever reason,’’ Seals said, urging policy changes to avoid long, high-speed pursuits through neighborhoods.

A different commenter alleged problems with a medical transport broker (referred to in the record as Motive Care or motor/"mode" care) that picks up county residents and subcontracts out-of-state companies; the commenter provided photographs and emails and alleged customers were mistreated, including an image described as a person sitting on a vehicle floor. That commenter also raised concerns about compliance with a Department of Transportation good-faith certification and working with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) vendors for DOT-provided vehicles.

Commissioners and staff acknowledged the complaints and, in at least one case, suggested the matter be referred to the sheriff’s office for investigation. The sheriff’s office was referenced during public comments as having operational control over pursuit policy; speakers contested whether county commissioners could direct the sheriff’s office, noting the sheriff’s operational independence even though the board provides county funding. County staff and commissioners did not adopt new policy at the meeting on pursuits or medical transport; several residents asked for further inquiry.

"Why can't we do better at these chases? Because nobody in here deserved to lose their family to any chase for whatever reason," Chase Seals said.

The meeting did not produce a formal vote on pursuit policy or on contracting for medical transport; several speakers requested follow-up and investigation.