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Commissioners establish Government Center East project, approve budget amendment to proceed with design
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Summary
The board approved a project ordinance and $3.41 million budget amendment to establish Government Center East after staff advised purchasing an existing property in Havelock to host county services and an early-voting site, citing cost savings over new construction.
Craven County commissioners on April 20 authorized creation of a Government Center East project and approved a budget amendment to allow staff to proceed with design and program planning.
Facilities briefed the board on the February and December actions that led staff to acquire the property at 1208 East Main Street in Havelock; staff and Oakley Collier Architects determined the site provided more parking and reduced construction costs compared with a ground-up build. Hodges said the purchase closed Dec. 30, 2025, and the current program includes costs associated with securing the property and an architect/engineering budget.
Staff requested a project ordinance and a budget amendment of $3,412,662 to establish the project in county records and move forward with design. County staff indicated the new facility would consolidate several state and county services currently located on Miller Boulevard — magistrate, adult probation and parole, a full-size Division of Motor Vehicles office and portions of social services — and would provide a 150-space parking lot and a flex space intended to be an early-voting site for Havelock.
Commissioners asked for clarification on which departments would move; county staff and the manager pointed to the magistrate's office, DMV functions, probation/parole and social services functions as primary occupants and noted potential on-site testing capabilities for DMV functions.
On motion and roll-call vote the board approved the project ordinance and budget amendment to formalize Government Center East so staff can proceed to architect and engineer design and plan for early bidding in early summer. The board noted the amendment includes interfund transfers that make the amount appear doubled in the agenda narrative.
