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Manager and attorney give updates on airport transition, capital projects and opioid settlement; public commenter criticizes county spending
Summary
County manager reported the airport transition, library construction and courthouse work; county attorney updated the board on tax boundary work, a schools funding agreement and pending opioid settlement distributions. A public commenter accused the board of misplaced spending priorities.
County manager and county attorney used the July meeting to update commissioners on multiple county operations while a public commenter raised concerns about county priorities.
Manager Madden said the county effectively transitioned operations at the Lincoln County Regional Airport on July 1 and is aligning engineers and projects with the county transition team. "There are interviews for the airport manager have been concluded, and I should have an update on the status within another week or 2 for the board on that position," Madden said. He also reported Information Technology moved to a new location on McBee Street and staff expect construction to begin soon on the Seine Family Library once steel is delivered.
County Attorney Megan Gilbert told commissioners the tax office is coordinating final numbers with Catawba County following a boundary adjustment; she said the schools funding agreement between the two counties will come before the board on Aug. 4 so affected students can remain in their existing schools. Gilbert also said a set of deed issues in a county subdivision identified last year have been resolved and that additional opioid settlement funds are forthcoming through the NC Department of Justice MOA; she said the county's share of nationwide manufacturer settlements and the Purdue/Sackler settlement has not yet been finalized.
During public comment, Gunny Hall of North Poplar Street criticized the board's spending priorities and alleged inappropriate use of taxpayer funds, including a claimed $15 million for an animal shelter; the chair closed public comment after no further sign-ups.
The manager and attorney did not ask for board action on these updates but noted follow-up items — including returning the schools funding agreement for an August meeting and finalizing airport staffing and grant implementation — that will be brought to the board as staff work continues.
