Martin County commissioners record final middle school debt payoff, OK $90,000 for farmers market and two contracts

The Martin County Board of Commissioners met in a special session on June 25 in Williamston and unanimously adopted a package of year‑end budget amendments, a capital project ordinance for Community Development Block Grant — Coronavirus (CDBG‑CV) funds, and two county contracts.

The board recorded the final principal payment on the county’s middle school building debt through Budget Amendment #46, moving previously restricted sinking‑fund assets into the Debt Service‑Principal account so the trustee could make the final payoff. County Manager Drew Batts explained the change as an accounting entry: "Because the funds are already held in the sinking fund, no new County cash is being transferred or paid out as part of this budget amendment." The ordinance increases Debt Service‑Principal by $14,059,519.30 and recognizes fund balance appropriation of $13,120,956.61; the motion to adopt Amendment #46 passed unanimously (5‑0) after a motion by Commissioner Ronnie Smith and a second from Vice Chairman David "Skip" Gurganus.

The board also adopted Budget Amendment #47 to appropriate an additional $90,000 in CDBG‑CV grant funding for Farmers' Market improvements and subsistence payments (Administration $12,768; Subsistence Payments $77,232). County Manager Batts said the supplemental request for the Farmers' Market project was granted; the board then adopted a Capital Project Budget Ordinance for CDBG Grant No. 20‑V‑3504 under Section 13.2 of Chapter 159 of the North Carolina General Statutes. Commissioner Dempsey Bond Jr. moved to adopt the amendment; Commissioner Jeremiah Taylor seconded and the vote was 5‑0.

Two other budget amendments were approved to keep appropriations within authorized limits. Budget Amendment #48 increased General Fund appropriations by $112,100 across several departments (including the county manager, court facility, register of deeds, hospital building, sheriff and communications); Vice Chairman Gurganus moved for adoption and Commissioner Taylor seconded. Budget Amendment #49 increased Water Fund appropriations by $50,000 ($25,000 each for Water Districts #1 and #2) funded from water fund balance appropriations; Commissioner Bond Jr. moved and Vice Chairman Gurganus seconded. Both motions carried unanimously (5‑0).

On contracts, the board approved a professional services agreement with Allies4Outcomes to provide an Intensive Support Social Work Team for fiscal years 2025–2026 and 2026–2027. The contract specifies that Allies4Outcomes employees will remain employees of A40 but, when working for Martin County, will be supervised by the county’s Department of Social Services director, Wes Stewart, citing NCGS § 108A‑14 and NCGS § 7B‑302. Vice Chairman Gurganus made the motion to approve the contract and Commissioner Taylor seconded; the motion carried 5‑0.

The board also approved the county’s annual auditing contract with Carr, Riggs & Ingram P.L.L.C., following a recommendation from the Finance Office. Commissioner Ronnie Smith moved to approve the audit contract; Vice Chairman Gurganus seconded and the motion carried unanimously (5‑0).

The meeting concluded quickly. At 5:47 p.m. Commissioner Dempsey Bond Jr. moved to adjourn; Commissioner Ronnie Smith seconded and the motion carried 5‑0.

What happens next: the budget ordinance amendments and capital project ordinance become part of the county’s fiscal records and the county’s Finance Officer is directed to maintain project accounting and report quarterly on grant expenditures, as stated in the adopted capital project ordinance for the CDBG‑CV grant.