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Craven County commissioners approve routine business, multiple budget amendments and project contracts
Summary
The Craven County Board of Commissioners on April 21 approved multiple budget amendments, awarded a contracting method and selected a construction manager at risk for downtown property redevelopment, and confirmed its auditor for the coming year.
The Craven County Board of Commissioners on April 21 approved a slate of routine and project-specific items, including budget amendments for the water system and Havelock Health Center, a design-task order for a county facilities project, selection of a construction manager-at-risk for the former Sudan Temple property, and the county's annual audit contract.
Why it matters: The votes allocate operating and capital resources, authorize delivery methods for a major downtown redevelopment and preserve the county’s annual financial audit arrangement.
The board approved the consent agenda, adopted resolutions recognizing Baptist on Mission volunteers, and took votes on multiple funding and contracting items described below. Most votes were approved by roll call with all commissioners recorded as voting yes.
Votes at a glance (motions, outcomes and key tallies): - Consent agenda (minutes of 04/07/2025, tax releases/refunds, emergency services insurance, budget amendment, planning, EDBG Doctor project, Resilient and Thriving Communities Week proclamation): Approved by roll call; Commissioners Mark, Mitchell, Smith, Howard, Hunt, Vice Chairman Jones and Chairman Bucher recorded as yes.
- Water Department budget amendment ($305,000 requested to cover energy, maintenance, leak repairs and pump work for remainder of fiscal year): Motion approved by roll call; all seven named commissioners recorded as yes.
- Final plat approval: Hickory Run at River Trace Phase 3 (34 lots on 22.69 acres; vegetative buffer required; cash bond $177,812): Final plat approved by roll call; all seven commissioners recorded as yes.
- Harley Volunteer Fire Department: Board granted permission to purchase two new vehicles and to proceed with loan financing; motion approved by roll call; all seven commissioners recorded as yes. (Loan/price figures were discussed in the meeting as estimates; the record contains inconsistent figures—see full article.)
- Havelock Health Center expansion: Budget amendment of $58,715 to cover waterproofing remediation, built-in desks in two offices and lab expansion: Approved by roll call; all seven commissioners recorded as yes.
- Craven County Government Center East: Budget amendment of $650,000 to issue a task order to Oakley Collier Architects (OCA) to start design for a proposed 9,000-square-foot facility: Approved by roll call; all seven commissioners recorded as yes.
- Authorization to use Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) delivery method for redevelopment of the former Sudan Temple property: Board found CMR the preferred delivery method and approved moving forward; formal selection of a CMR (Barnhill Contracting Company) also approved by voice vote/affirmation.
- Selection of Barnhill Contracting Company as CMR for the Sudan property project: Approved by voice vote; board instructed staff to negotiate contract terms and fee.
- Annual audit contract (Thompson Price, Scott Adams & Company, P.A.) for FY2025, not to exceed $81,500 (co-billed to Coastal Carolina Regional Airport and the Craven County Tourism Development Authority): Approved by roll call; all seven commissioners recorded as yes.
- Multiple board appointments and reappointments for advisory committees and boards: Approved by acclamation or motion, as noted on the agenda.
Meeting disposition: The board recessed and entered closed session citing state statutory authority for economic development matters.
The individual articles in this package provide details and speaker attribution for each of the larger items above.
