Greene County commissioners approve multiple routine measures, back grant applications and update personnel policy

The Greene County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved a slate of routine measures, including certification of local funds for two NCDOT grant applications, resolution support for a $175,000 building-reuse grant and a personnel-policy update that county officials said implements a new criminal-history statute.

The board opened a public hearing on fiscal year 2027 local-share certification for NCDOT programs referenced in the transcript as "5311" and a new "5310" grant aimed at seniors and people with disabilities. A presenter for county transit said Greene County will apply for the FY27 5311 administrative and capital grant and the 5310 grant and that the 5310 program carries a 50% local match that the county may satisfy with road-fund dollars. After no public comment, the commission voted to approve the local-share certification.

"This is new for us," the presenter said of the 5310 grant and added the county will need to replace radios, vans and some office equipment if the capital funds are awarded.

The board also voted to support a $175,000 building-reuse grant application to the Newell County Department of Commerce, a request presented by Mister Cash. "The amount of request will be a $175,000," Cash said, and the application includes a 5% cash match; commissioners agreed to adopt a supporting resolution.

In personnel matters, the county manager asked the board to amend county personnel policy to comply with a statute cited in the meeting as "general statute 153A-94.2(b)," which requires a criminal-history record check via the SBI for applicants who will have contact with children. The commission approved the change.

The county attorney later addressed a follow-up question, saying he had reviewed the statute and that it appears to apply to "any person who has contact with minor children," including interns who are not technically employees.

The board approved a reappointment to the ABC board, reappointing Bobby Taylor to a three-year term after the ABC board reviewed four applicants and recommended Taylor. Commissioners also approved a request allowing net proceeds from past store sales—described in the meeting as nearly $150,000—to remain with the ABC board to complete a capital project, with the board to submit profits to the county beginning after the 2025 fiscal year as described by county staff.

Other routine actions included approving the consent agenda, accepting a recreation advisory board recommendation to proceed with contractor S and S Metal Works on a grant-funded shade-structure project at the county recreation concession area, and adopting a resolution to surplus multiple county vehicles under the county's eight-year replacement plan; staff said surplus vehicles will be sold on govdeals.com.

Before adjourning, commissioners voted to enter a closed session for attorney–client privilege, then reconvened and moved to adjourn.

Votes at a glance

- Addition to agenda to hold a closed session after reports: motion approved by voice vote. - FY27 NCDOT local-share certification (5311 and 5310 grants): motion approved by voice vote. - Consent agenda: approved by voice vote. - Resolution support for $175,000 building-reuse grant (Newell County Department of Commerce): approved by voice vote. - Personnel-policy update to add criminal-history checks per statute: approved by voice vote. - Reappointment of Bobby Taylor to ABC board (three-year term): approved by voice vote. - Allow ABC board to retain net proceeds (~$150,000) for capital project through FY25: approved by voice vote. - Recreation advisory board recommendation for shade-structure work with S and S Metal Works: approved by voice vote. - Resolution to surplus vehicles: approved by voice vote. - Motion to enter closed session for attorney–client privilege: approved by voice vote.

What it means

County officials said the transportation grant applications, if funded, would pay for vehicles, radios and other equipment and require local matching funds. The personnel-policy change brings county hiring practices in line with the statute cited during the meeting; the county attorney said that interns who have contact with minors appear to fall within the statute's coverage. The ABC board request will let the local beverage-control board retain short-term proceeds to finish a capital project before remitting future profits to the county as described by staff.

The board did not take controversial or contested votes at the meeting; most actions passed by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tallies provided during the session. The meeting included routine announcements, including a ribbon-cutting for a Charters of Freedom monument and a Boys & Girls Club fundraiser scheduled for Oct. 2.

Next steps

Staff will submit the county's grant applications to NCDOT and the Newell County Department of Commerce as described. The personnel-policy language will be added to the county personnel manual and applied in hiring processes. The board scheduled no specific follow-up votes during the meeting.