Greenville council approves budget amendments to fund Fire Station 8, confirms Dickinson Avenue art placements and dismisses Camping World lawsuit

The Greenville City Council on Oct. 6 approved a set of fiscal and administrative measures including a budget amendment that provides initial design funding for Fire Station 8, formalized public-art placements on Dickinson Avenue and authorized the voluntary dismissal of a lawsuit against Camping World Property, LLC following new state legislation.

The council voted 5-0 to adopt budget amendment number 3 after a presentation by Chief Financial Officer Jacob Joyner. Joyner told the council the amendment increases the general fund for technology infrastructure and community partnerships by $45,000 and appropriates restricted funds of $145,495 for police equipment. The capital project fund will be increased by $650,000 to cover the design of Fire Station 8; the amendment also includes $80,000 for additional costs at the live-fire training facility, a $550,000 appropriation for sanitation office renovations and a $70,000 increase in the housing fund tied to NC Tri Grama revenue. "This will increase the general project fund and the capital project fund by $650,000," Joyner said as he described the Fire Station 8 design appropriation.

The council also voted 5-0 to accept a staff recommendation to voluntarily dismiss the city's lawsuit naming Camping World Property, LLC as defendant after City Attorney Emmanuel McGirt told the council that House Bill 926, now in effect, contains a provision limiting local government authority to regulate the display of American flags on private property. "The city attorney's office is of the view that the case I just mentioned should be dismissed in light of House Bill 926," McGirt said. He recommended council authorize the city attorney or outside counsel to take a voluntary dismissal.

The council approved a public-art request from the East Carolina Council/County Arts Council to formalize placements and to begin purchasing selected sculptures for permanent installation along Dickinson Avenue and on a new walkway to Fickland and Ninth Street. Executive Director Holly Garrett described plans to use a juried Downeast Sculpture Exhibition selection and to purchase smaller works by local sculptor Jonathan Bowling. "The civic arts committee's recommendation is to continue working with staff and, actually work to curate his work a little more," Garrett said. Council member Blackburn moved approval; Mayor Pro Tem Daniels seconded and the motion passed 5-0.

Votes at a glance - Motion to add to the agenda: add item 8 (City of Greenville v. Camping World Property, LLC) — moved by Council member Blackburn, second by Council member Robinson; passed 5-0. - Consent agenda (interlocal with Pitt County Sheriff's Office for shared Sally Port roll-up doors and fingerprint machine; declare 32 vehicles/equipment surplus and authorize replacements; accept DHS firefighter assistance grant for defibrillators and thermal imaging cameras and training; opt in to new opioid settlements with Purdue and certain secondary manufacturers) — moved by Council member Blackburn, second by Council member Robinson; passed 5-0. - Public art request: Dickinson Avenue sculptures (authorize placement/purchases and proceed with civic arts committee recommendations) — moved by Council member Blackburn, second by Mayor Pro Tem Daniels; passed 5-0. - Budget ordinance amendment No. 3 (operating fund, capital project management fund, sanitation fund and housing fund increases, including $650,000 for Fire Station 8 design) — moved by Council member Blackburn, second by Council member Robinson; passed 5-0. - Authorization for city attorney to voluntarily dismiss City of Greenville v. Camping World Property, LLC in light of House Bill 926 — moved by Council member Blackburn, second by Council member Robinson; passed 5-0.

Why it matters: The budget ordinance amendment includes the first city funding action to move Fire Station 8 toward design and construction, a capital investment tied to the city's growth plans. The public-art approvals commit the city to formalizing long-standing installations on Dickinson Avenue and to purchasing artwork for permanent placement. The voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit follows a state law change that staff said curtails local regulatory authority in the area raised by the case.

Council members and staff said other items on the consent agenda — including interlocal public-safety equipment purchases and opioid-settlement opt-ins — were routine but important administrative measures that clear the way for procurement and settlement participation.