Craven County commissioners on Nov. 17 approved a budget amendment to pay United States Infrastructure Corporation (USIC) for locating underground fiber and utility lines.

Steve Bennett, an information-technology staff member, told the board the county maintains about 40 miles of underground fiber connecting county buildings and water infrastructure and that work related to development along I‑42 has exhausted existing locating funds. The amendment covers costs for the remainder of the fiscal year; Bennett said the county will reassess whether to retain USIC or hire permanent locating staff next year.

Commissioners asked whether the county planned to rely on the contractor long term and whether developers or state projects would reimburse costs; Bennett said the county does not expect reimbursement and characterized the expense as part of maintaining county infrastructure. The board approved the amendment by roll call.

The new spending will allow the county to continue marking and locating fiber and utilities before construction activity, a step county staff said reduces the risk and cost of repairing damaged infrastructure.