The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners packet for its Nov. 2, 2026 meeting listed routine procedural business and a mix of budget, lease and policy items including a $2.19 million schools reimbursement request, lease amendments for county properties, a 10-year Estuarium lease, use of a $174,353.83 anonymous donation for animal services, and adoption of a Bath Township Resilience Strategy.
Discussion Points
•10-year initial term and expectation to negotiate renewal if Tenant not in default.
•Add CPI-based annual rent adjustment capped at 5% per year.
•Amendment effective May 1, 2026.
•Convert two-year lease to automatic one-year extension terms through April 30, 2036.
•Historic deed conveyed the parcel for public landing use with a 25-year restriction and reserved right to convey post-25 years.
•Landlord accepts Tenant’s services and prior investment as consideration rather than monetary rent.
•Packet notes the Board approved a Data Center Moratorium and recommends forming a committee to study/implement moratorium-related work.
•Packet recommends board approval of the attached resolution.
•Phases 1–2 completed; adopt Resilience Strategy to become eligible for Phase 3 engineering/design funds.
•Request to forward reimbursement distribution requests to the State to draw down grant funding.
•Request to pay invoices totaling $2,190,505.77 across three reimbursement packages.
•Resolution endorses Operation Green Light for Veterans and designates Nov. 4–Nov. 11, 2026 as observance days.
•Selected project 'Old Wastewater Spray Field Redevelopment' to be advanced; Town of Bath will apply for Phase 3 because property is town-owned.
•Staff requested direction on pursuing a lease to a nonprofit or moving toward sale by public auction under statutory procedures.
•Suggested committee membership and request to set tentative date/time for first meeting.
•Tenant responsible for maintenance, operation, permits and insurance including $1,000,000 liability limits.
•Use $25,000 of donation to fund spay/neuter initiative at $300 per dog (about 83 procedures).
•Use $33,000 of donation for secure intake entrance and meet-and-greet room enclosure; updated quotes indicate $33,000 or less.
September 24, 2026, Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda 092426. Minutes
Beaufort County Economic Development Advisory Committee met on Sept. 24, 2026, to receive an economic development update covering new manufacturing hires in Chocowinity, infrastructure projects at county industrial parks, Opportunity Zones nominations, recruitment activity and workforce outreach; committee members gave brief local updates before adjournment.
Discussion Points
•Company expects to be operational in early October
•Company reports hiring ~35 employees and onboarding 5-6 per week
•County to continue support and monitor hiring progress
•Project intended to improve site access and readiness for development
•Project will provide access to ~35 additional acres
•RFQ issued for engineering services for Phase I access road
•Wooten Company preparing to send project out for bids
July 28, 2026, July 28, 2026 Board of Health Meeting. Minutes
Beaufort County Board of Health received a mosquito-control briefing, approved routine minutes, policies, budget amendments and small clinic fees, authorized a $3,937.30 debt write-off, reviewed FY27 finances, heard a cyclospora update and discussed potential local regulation of kratom.
Discussion Points
•17 accounts over one year old totaling $3,937.30 proposed for write-off.
•Board emphasized services won't be denied due to unpaid balances.
•Board voted unanimously to accept the package.
•Community kiosk operational with 19 transactions; press release planned for Aug. 11.
•Director requested Board input on pursuing a local rule under GS 130A‑39 and outlined a multi-step process including data gathering and public comment.
•EHR evaluation includes Athena Health; interest in OASIS ultrasound technology.
•Kratom pharmacology and adverse-event concerns discussed.
•Larval control via larvicide when breeding sites identified; adulticide spraying only under defined conditions.
•List of grant awards and rollover funds presented by Health Director.
•New hire welcomed; recruitments open for nursing positions.
•Pre-spray outreach and route-mapping to avoid beehives and fish farms.
•Rationale: program without state funding; fees only for those at zero on sliding-fee scale.
•Routine trapping at five county sites and sending samples to ECU for species identification.
•Staff explained collection limits and reinstatement policy; member expressed access concerns.
•Statewide increase in cyclospora with 718 cases since May 2026.
•Symptoms include prolonged diarrhea and other GI complaints; parsley and cilantro commonly cited in interviews.
July 23, 2026, Beaufort County Economic Development Advisory Committee Agenda. Minutes
Beaufort County Economic Development Advisory Committee met July 23, 2026. Members discussed an Opportunity Zone 2.0 nomination, a local moratorium on data centers in the Town of Bath, brief project updates across the county, and a staffing change following the death of the previous Mid‑East Commission director.
Discussion Points
•Announcement of the death of Bryant Buck and interim appointment of Pat Harris.
•Blackland Farm Managers Tour scheduled Aug. 5, 2026.
•Staff reported two census tracts were nominated for Opportunity Zone 2.0 and distributed nomination materials and a letter of support.
•State approved community college budget; classes start Aug. 18.
•Town of Bath has placed a temporary moratorium on new data center development; county has only received exploratory calls from site selectors.
•Washington school near completion; teachers to move in ahead of August start.
Directions
•Staff to monitor Treasury’s announcement later this fall and report back to the committee.
Beaufort County Board of Commissioners met for a regular July session where commissioners heard a report and voted on a four‑year opioid settlement spending authorization, approved school reimbursement draws and a large change order for Washington Elementary, adopted an abandoned manufactured‑home ordinance (effective 2027), agreed to move county ordinances to CivicPlus, approved a procurement resolution favoring local vendors when lawful, received public comment alleging misconduct in child‑welfare systems, and appointed an interim tax assessor.
Discussion Points
•Board debated 1‑ vs 4‑year authorization, and whether to increase allocations to recovery court and reentry programs.
•Board requested compensation recommendation for the interim role and plan to advertise for a permanent position.
•Board sought clarity on handling leftover county funds.
•CivicPlus offers a republishing workflow, ADA/WCAG compliance, and cross‑jurisdictional ordinance access; American Legal charges per page.
•Commissioners asked for a review of repealed ordinances and clarity about in‑house capability to host.
•Commissioners pressed for separate votes on change orders versus pay requests.
•County must wait for statutory waiting period before criminal penalties can be enacted in same session.
•Current tax assessor to depart July 24; interim appointment effective July 25.
•Fee schedule included and effective date set to 01/01/2027 to allow outreach.
•Historic significance and community investment required for restoration.
•Implementation envisioned for purchases below formal thresholds or as tie‑breaker guidance.
•No formal county action taken at the meeting; materials recorded in the public record.
•No formal funding decision recorded; request entered in public record.
•Ordinance and fee schedule adopted with effective date of 2027‑01‑01.
•Resolution adopted.
Directions
•Clerk and IT to transmit a publishing copy to CivicPlus and to oversee republishing; return with timeline information.
•Commissioners acknowledged receipt of materials and asked staff/county attorney to review; no formal vote to commence an audit recorded.
•If commissioners desire material category changes, staff to conduct renewed stakeholder engagement as required by Option B.
•Public Works to work with communications staff to publicize the ordinance and fee schedule.
•Purchasing staff to identify and solicit local vendors for smaller procurements and report back on outreach.
•Schools to return with final closeout documents and recommendations for remaining county funds.
•Speakers to follow up with county leadership about funding options and next steps.
•Staff to return with a compensation recommendation and recruitment plan at next meeting.
•Staff to submit adopted spending authorization and provide documentation on how potential reallocations would be handled; bring back a revised budget page (page 28 style) if commissioners request increases for recovery court/reentry.
•Superintendent to provide a page‑28 style revised budget that shows balances reflecting any change order adjustments.
July 06, 2026, July 6, 2026 Board of Commissioners Meeting. Minutes
Beaufort County Board of Commissioners met July 6, 2026. Major items: a heated review and adoption of a four-year opioid settlement spending plan (including a last-minute motion to boost Recovery Court and reentry funding), approval of two school construction reimbursements and a contested change order for Washington Elementary, a switch to a new vendor to host county ordinances online, several ordinance votes (including an abandoned manufactured‑homes ordinance), and a slate of consent items and appointments.
Discussion Points
•Amount currently going to Recovery Court ($10,000/yr) versus requested increase
•Amount of unspent/lapsed prior spending authorization (~$1.3M)
•Concerns about administrative overhead and need for direct assistance
•Concerns about procurement process and late upgrades without prior Board input
•How much of the settlement money is directly reaching recovery/reentry participants
•Length of Option B (4 years) and ability to amend
•Projected final project cost and remaining county commitment
•The requirement to re-run stakeholder engagement to materially change strategy selection
•Where settlement funds are going (peer support, prevention, harm reduction)
•Whether change order items should have been included in original contract or allowances
•Whether lapsed funds could be redeployed earlier
•Whether to approve a four-year Option B authorization vs. a one-year approach
Decisions
•Approved reallocation of $160,000 toward Recovery Court and reentry programs (unanimous)
•Approved reimbursements and separately approved change order for added work
•Board adopted Option B and later approved a reallocation of $160,000 to Recovery Court and reentry programs
Directions
•Adopt Option B; staff to offer a process to adjust amounts within categories and return requests for reallocations
•Behavioral Health Task Force to administer reentry RFA process
•Board directed staff to prepare updated budget pages for any approved in‑meeting reallocations
•Contractors to present final reconciliation and project closeout in the fall
•Staff to ensure better notification to Board before future upgrade commitments
•Staff to return with updated budget page balancing increased Recovery Court/reentry allocations and sources to cover $160,000
June 01, 2026, June 1, 2026 Board of Commissioners Meeting. Minutes
Beaufort County Board of Commissioners meeting on June 1, 2026, included a retirement recognition for County Manager Brian Alligood, a presentation from Trillium Health Resources, debate and final action on the FY2026 budget, a 90‑day postponement of a planned sale of the Durham Creek boat landing, approval to include Town of Belhaven territory in the Rescue Service District, acceptance of a $2.87M home elevation HMGP MOU, and votes to pursue contracts and vehicle purchases.
Discussion Points
•Adoption of a proclamation recognizing Alligood's service and retirement effective June 30, 2026.
•Arguments ranged from enhancing local representation (districts) to potential manipulation of small districts and political power-sharing concerns.
•Award totals $2,870,858 to elevate 14 homes and to support pre‑construction work on additional properties under the state‑centric model.
•Commissioners asked about intensive outpatient services and court‑directed referrals.
•Commissioners requested clear contract terms to avoid open‑ended county staffing obligations; staff suggested review mechanisms and contract language to address future staffing needs.
•Counsel advised leases to private individuals would be difficult; a structured nonprofit lease might be lawful with appropriate insurance and public purpose certification.
•County role will focus on homeowner outreach, administrative coordination and limited recipient management costs; state administers construction and funds.
•Debate centred on how to use revaluation gains and fund balance; some commissioners urged returning funds to taxpayers while others prioritized continued services and capital needs.
•Deed restriction requires auction if County disposes after 25 years; Wildlife Resources declined due to wetlands and safety.
•Effective date likely July 1, 2026 to align with fiscal year and tax roll processing.
•Manager's recommended half‑cent tax increase removed; board approved 3% COLA and other staffing adjustments.
•Preliminary framework called for three additional telecommunicators funded by the City during the contract period.
•Presentation of the Order of the Longleaf Pine on behalf of the Governor to Brian Alligood.
•Process requires town resolution and statutory notice to property owners; county staff followed statute.
•The Board discussed court rulings, risk of litigation, and the merits of district vs. at‑large voting.
•Trillium outlined membership counts, local programs and the CFSP children’s specialty plan.
Decisions
•90‑day postponement of June 23 auction approved; staff to accept proposals and report back.
•Board authorized staff to draft agreement and negotiate terms.
•Board authorized study/plan; no change enacted at this meeting.
•FY2026 budget adopted as amended; effective within FY26 timeline.
•Inclusion approved; county to levy rescue tax inside town and town to reduce its prior direct payment.
•MOU accepted and county points of contact designated.
•Proclamation adopted recognizing Alligood; retirement date recorded as June 30, 2026.
Directions
•County Attorney to produce a sketch plan including legal steps, costs and timelines for changing the election method.
•Finance to finalize budget ordinance and file accordingly; staff to implement approved budget changes beginning July 1.
•Give community 90 days to propose nonprofit stewardship or other options for the landing.
•Staff to draft contract, include review/adjustment provisions and return to Board for approval.
Beaufort County Board of Commissioners held its June meeting, featuring a retirement recognition, a presentation from Trillium Health Resources, debate and votes on property sales and the fiscal 2026–27 budget, and several departmental approvals including disaster recovery funding for home elevations.
Discussion Points
•Board increased COLA from 2.5% to 3.0 and approved several positions partly offset by grants or state funds.
•Commissioners and residents urged delaying sale to see if a nonprofit or community group would assume stewardship.
•Commissioners debated returning prior revaluation collections and size of fund balance.
•County attorney explained statutory limits for lease to private individuals and options for properly structured nonprofits.
•Local services include mobile clinics, Narcan distribution and intensive outpatient treatment for substance use.
•Manager’s budget recommended a half-cent increase to cover reduced federal SNAP administration reimbursement; board removed it.
•No public commenters from Belhaven signed up; mayor and manager were present.
•Staff explained deed restricted sale process and Wildlife Resources Commission refusal.
•State consolidation reduced number of managed-care organizations; Trillium now covers 46 counties.
•Statutory requirements (report filed, notices sent, newspaper notice) were completed.
•Town of Belhaven previously paid an equivalent $0.05 to receive rescue services; the town asked to be formally included.
•Trillium governance includes service recipients on its board (25%).
Decisions
•Board approved incorporation of Belhaven territory into rescue service district.
•Budget ordinance adopted for FY 2026–27 with board changes.
•Sale postponed for 90 days; staff to follow up.
Directions
•Implement levy change effective July 1, 2026; staff to prepare necessary ordinance/clerical steps.
•Postpone auction for 90 days and ask staff/county attorney to return with legal pathways and community proposals.
•Staff to prepare implementing documents and return for vote clarification as needed (next meeting referenced June 8).
May 28, 2026, Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda . Minutes
Beaufort County Economic Development Advisory Committee met May 28, 2026. Members heard a Bath Beacon presentation urging a countywide moratorium on large data centers, reviewed Opportunity Zone 2.0-eligible census tracts and agreed by consensus to nominate tracts 9310.02 (Chocowinity Industrial Corridor) and 9308 (Richland Township/Aurora Industrial Park).
Discussion Points
•Bath Beacon proposed countywide moratorium on data centers citing energy, water, noise and emissions concerns.
•C100 interested in building a facility to attract industry.
•County Manager and Chair recommended further research and municipal outreach before policy steps.
•High construction costs are currently a deterrent.
•Invitation to ribbon cutting for new regional center.
•Mayor Hendrix advocated for Aurora's tract due to local industrial park needs.
•Mayor Hendrix welcomed Agape Health Care to Aurora.
•Members debated nomination strategy given state limits on selections.
•Questions from committee on whether Beaufort County would be targeted; Pearsall cited electricity and land availability.
•Staff explained Opportunity Zone 2.0 criteria and tract-level qualifiers.
Decisions
•Consensus to pursue nomination of tracts 9310.02 and 9308.
Directions
•Staff to compile materials for formal nomination and liaise with municipal officials.
•Staff to gather information on local impacts, municipal positions, and legal feasibility of moratoriums.
Beaufort County Board of Commissioners held a budget workshop to consider expansion items and discretionary funding requests. Commissioners voted to add a 3% COLA (up from 2.5%), approve several staffing additions (including a health practitioner and DSS positions) and make multiple outside-agency grants; the board also removed a recommended half-cent tax increase and left the overall tax rate unchanged.
Discussion Points
•Financial offsets including a three‑year grant and billing revenue
•How to cover county share of DSS positions given state reimbursement changes (HR 1)
•Local provider support and expected reductions in emergency‑department use
•Policy question whether county should provide direct clinical services
•Whether certain outside agencies (some with taxing authority) should receive county supplements
•Whether the county should expand direct health‑care provision versus relying on private providers
•Whether to increase COLA to 3% and the budgetary impact
Decisions
•Approved 3% COLA; added health practitioner; added DSS on‑call social worker and security guard; removed manager’s recommended half‑cent tax increase from the proposed budget
•Board approved adding the health practitioner to the budget
Directions
•Staff to earmark recovery court funds for Beaufort County residents if adopted
•Staff to incorporate approved expansions into revised budget worksheet and prepare ordinance for public hearing
•Staff to incorporate the position and the revenue offsets into the budget ordinance
Beaufort County held a budget workshop focused on proposed expansion items from county departments and outside agencies; commissioners scheduled a straw vote for May 26 and a public hearing on June 1.
Discussion Points
•Health Department reported a rural community health grant to fund a new provider position for three years.
•Multiple departments presented staffing expansion requests to address operational gaps (Animal Services, Public Works, Tax Office overlap).
•Presenter cited program data (participants served, dollars expended, recidivism comparison) to justify county funding.
•Providers described service expansion and increased operating costs, and noted prior one-time ARPA funds have been exhausted.
•Several speakers emphasized transportation challenges and rural service delivery costs.
•Staff reviewed continuation budget approach and explained expansion requests reflect new items or increases over prior year.
•Sutton framed reentry investment as cost-saving for county services and beneficial for workforce participation.
Decisions
•No formal budget votes taken; procedural motion to excuse a commissioner was signaled.
•No formal decision; request will be included in budget refinement and public hearing consideration.
•No funding decisions were reached; staff will incorporate requests into the budget-refinement process.
Directions
•Public hearing scheduled for June 1; adoption tentatively calendared for the following meeting if needed.
•Staff will prepare refined budget options for a nonbinding straw vote on May 26.
May 19, 2026 Budget Workshop - General Fund and Enterprise Funds
Budget workshop covering proposed FY budget items for Beaufort County including a $600,000 capital reallocation to the community college, $500,000 for Beaufort Promise, a 2.5% COLA recommendation, sheriff and EMS budget changes, and several enterprise and capital fund updates.
Discussion Points
•2.5% COLA recommended based on February-to-February CPI of 2.41% used in March budget work.
•$500,000 recommended for Beaufort Promise.
•April CPI rose to 3.81%, which postdates the expenditure build.
•Correction to Allied Health building interest rate figures in packet.
•County will assume EMS services starting July 1, moving EMS tax revenues to the county budget.
•Recommendation to reallocate $600,000 from capital reserves to community college capital projects.
•Sheriff's budget holds FTEs at 109 and is set on an average jail census of ~70.
•Vehicle replacement strategy: 21 sheriff vehicles (enterprise), EMS vehicles to be purchased outright.
Directions
•Staff to incorporate capital transfer into recommended budget and provide supporting documentation at next meeting.
•Staff to provide quarterly updates on jail-related cost lines and population trends.
Beaufort County staff presented a general fund budget overview at a budget workshop, proposing a half‑cent tax increase to offset reduced federal SNAP reimbursements and projecting $81,172,586 in general fund revenues while discussing school capital, foster‑care cost pressures, and a $500,000 transfer to Beaufort Promise.
Discussion Points
•DSS staff said ~84.7% of DSS budget is mandated and foster care is the primary cost pressure.
•Schools flagged a $2.9M capital request not included in the recommended budget and noted $2.0M may be eligible for lottery funds routed through the state.
•Staff described classification‑based reimbursement differences for foster placements and difficulty in recruiting foster parents.
•Staff described planned transfers and potential returned school capital funds due to bids coming in under estimate.
•Staff presented general fund revenue assumptions including ad valorem, sales tax, permits and transfers.
•Staff recommended a half‑cent tax adjustment to offset reduced SNAP reimbursement.
•Staff reported a possible DPI insurance coverage change for buildings titled to the county.
•Superintendent reported bids lower than expected and potential returned funds of $1.5M–$1.8M.
Directions
•Board to resume budget workshop on Tuesday to continue with community college, public safety and enterprise funds, and Thursday for outside agencies and service expansions.
•Staff to provide final bid numbers and bring a list of potential contingency spend items (e.g., playground equipment) and to provide appraisals/surveys on Aurora and Washington school properties if the board considers surplus options.
•Staff to provide more detailed foster‑care projections and a federal/state/local funding per‑client table for board review.
May 11, 2026, May 11, 2026 Board of Commissioners Meeting. Minutes
Beaufort County commissioners met May 11, 2026. The meeting covered the county budget and revenue-neutral tax presentation, a heated exchange over whether the Board raised revenue after revaluation, the proposed FY26-27 budget (including a half-cent tax increase to cover DSS mandates), a schools construction update and reimbursement request for Washington Elementary, public-safety requests including an ARPA-funded hydrant for Bath Volunteer Fire Department, several capital and procurement approvals, and routine consent items.
Discussion Points
•Chocowinity EMS integration and reporting changes that affect comparative budget figures.
•Effects of Iryna's Law on pretrial release leading to increased detention populations.
•How the revenue-neutral tax rate is calculated (statute requires an adjustment for average growth).
•Playground procurement lead times and order timing relative to opening.
•Potential reimbursement methods and insurance limitations (Medicaid stops on booking).
•Project progress, WIMCO invoice and state/county split of reimbursement.
•Rationale for half-cent increase tied to HR1 reimbursement reduction for DSS.
•Requests for independent audit and review.
•Rising medical, safekeeping and out-of-county housing costs.
•Safety concerns about refilling apparatus at the road shoulder along US 264 and national statistics about struck apparatus.
•Solid waste fee increase and community college capital uses.
•Training benefits and insurance implications for nearby residents.
•Use of contingency funds and timing of contingency approvals.
•Whether the public was misled about the impact of revaluation on aggregate vs. individual tax bills.
Decisions
•Board approved an ARPA grant of $54,450 to Bath Fire for a hydrant installation.
•Payment for Reimbursement #17 approved; playground purchase approved; further contingency draws to be considered after final invoice.
•Unanimous approval of the requested budget amendment.
Directions
•Bath Fire to provide the detailed contractor quote to the county for the record and to staff.
•Board approved $656,264 amendment and asked Sheriff to pursue available reimbursements and report back.
•Board to hold budget workshops and consider adjustments over the coming weeks.
•Staff to make statutory calculation materials available and continue to explain difference between aggregate revenue neutrality and individual tax impact.
•Staff to present contingency status and upcoming final invoices at next meeting/workshop.
Beaufort County commissioners met in May to hear staff presentations on the revenue-neutral tax-rate calculation and the proposed FY26-27 budget, to consider several capital spending items (including Washington Elementary playground equipment), and to vote on budget amendments and contract awards. The meeting included a contentious exchange over whether the countyrevenue-neutral calculation raised taxes.
Discussion Points
•Commissioner Richardson argued that levy-to-levy comparison shows a 7.48% effective revenue increase and called for tax relief or refunds.
•Commissioners asked for contractor bids and line-item breakdowns for the Bath hydrant project before execution.
•Higher jail population and medical costs have driven the shortfall; out-of-county safekeeping placements add per-diem costs.
•Many items were time-sensitive (school playground) or grant-funded (911 Motorola consoles, Washington Elementary reimbursement).
•Mitigation options include checking inmate insurance and working on programs to reduce reliance on safekeeping.
•Most approvals used fund transfers within capital projects or grant/restricted funding rather than new general-fund appropriations.
•Staff and other commissioners said the statutes formula and the published revenue-neutral number were followed and urged use of provided documentation for public understanding.
•Staff presented how to calculate the revenue-neutral rate using audited valuations and a growth factor (2.33%).
•State-level changes in pretrial decision-making were cited as a contributing factor to longer stays.
Decisions
•Budget amendment ~ $656,000 approved by voice vote to carry detention operations through fiscal year end.
•Multiple procurement and transfer actions approved by the board to proceed.
•No immediate tax-rate change adopted at meeting; further consideration to occur during budget workshops.
Directions
•Finance to post reimbursements and update capital-project ledgers.
•Sheriff to provide detailed population and cost data and present mitigation options to the board prior to budget adoption.
•Staff to provide contractor quotes and bid breakdowns to commissioners where requested.
•Staff to provide the LGC spreadsheet, audited valuations, collection-rate assumptions and the underlying workpapers to commissioners and publish them for public review before budget workshops.
April 23, 2026 Board of Commissioners Work Session
Beaufort County commissioners heard a presentation from Enterprise Fleet Management proposing a leased fleet program for the sheriff's office and discussed assuming EMS services from the Town of Chocolate; the board took no final contract action on the fleet but authorized staff to advertise and recruit paramedics to prepare for an in‑house EMS takeover and passed a resolution opposing state interference with local property tax authority.
Discussion Points
•Commissioners repeatedly emphasized oversight: cost, maintenance and mileage data must be accessible to county stakeholders and commissioners (SEG 732–748, SEG 974–976).
•Enterprise outlined operations and programs including a $6/month maintenance management offering, fuel card integration, telematics options and remarketing channels claiming above‑market resale value (SEG 551–559, SEG 583–590, SEG 219).
•Enterprise presented an equity leasing model and a 10‑year proof‑of‑concept projecting roughly $250,000 net savings for the sheriff's fleet; detailed phase‑one proposal called for 21 replacement vehicles in year one (SEG 449–451).
•Staff presented a model resolution from the county association opposing changes to county tax authority; commissioners supported local control (SEG 1607–1636).
•Staff reported the Town of Chocolate's board declined to budget EMS for the coming year; county staff recommended taking EMS in‑house and sought authorization to advertise and recruit nine paramedics to staff a paramedic ambulance beginning July 1 (SEG 1374–1386, SEG 1467–1478, SEG 1582–1596).
•Staff requested permission to advertise and recruit nine paramedics to staff a paramedic ambulance 24/7 with appropriate supervisory coverage (SEG 1467–1478, SEG 1582–1596).
•Town of Chocolate informed county staff it would not budget to provide EMS next fiscal year; county managers proposed assuming the service to preserve coverage (SEG 1374–1386).
Decisions
•Board adopted a resolution opposing modifications to county property tax authority (SEG 1607–1636).
•Board adopted the model resolution opposing state changes to county property tax authority.
•Board approved authority to recruit up to nine paramedics; staff to report back on hiring progress.
•Board authorized staff to begin recruitment activities for up to nine paramedics to ensure staffing capability starting July 1 if the town does not provide EMS (SEG 1582–1596).
•No contract was approved for Enterprise at this meeting; board requested follow‑up materials and financial comparisons (SEG 1328–1335).
Directions
•Authorized Emergency Services/HR to advertise and recruit up to nine paramedics and prepare contingency staffing plans for July 1 implementation if the town’s decision becomes final (SEG 1582–1596).
•Clerk/Administration to transmit adopted resolution opposing modifications to county property tax authority to the county association and appropriate contacts (SEG 1607–1636).
•Clerk to transmit adopted resolution to association and record it in meeting minutes.
•Emergency Services/Human Resources authorized to advertise and recruit up to nine paramedics to prepare for county assumption of EMS in the Town of Chocolate, contingent on the town’s final decision (SEG 1582–1596).
•Staff to obtain comparative analyses (cash purchase vs. financing) and return with a contract and detailed data‑access language (fleet) for board consideration in a future meeting (SEG 1320–1324).
April 06, 2026, April 6, 2026 Board of Commissioners Meeting. Minutes
The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners met April 6, 2026. Items included approval of a land sale to a swimming‑pool manufacturer that pledges 75 jobs, updates on the county foreclosure review, bids for the county mega‑site, school construction reimbursement and lottery draw requests, a national opioid settlement opt‑in, and several lease and service‑district matters.
Discussion Points
•Additional national settlement for six regional defendants totals $97,625,000 nationally.
•Belhaven currently pays EMS equivalent via transfer and seeks to be taxed directly in the district.
•Board discussed the reversion clause and appraisal value of industrial park lots.
•County share estimated to be roughly $14K–$15K; county attorney had reviewed paperwork.
•Grant is $304,500 from DEQ to study essential services and radio in schools.
•Mega‑site projects posted for bid on April 1; mandatory pre‑bid April 14 and proposals due April 30.
•Project is 70% complete; vendor invoice and grant share figures provided.
•School board requested lottery draw to address gym intercom system; procedural questions about tabling and need were raised.
•Staff confirmed the county would regain title and any fixtures if investment obligations are unmet.
•Staff reported outreach to local contractors and that Garrett‑Moore will run pre‑bid.
•Staff requested a reclassification to add a Foreclosure Specialist to the team.
•Statutory requirements include town resolution, notices to town residents, a public hearing, and a county report.
•Study will provide engineering to inform putative Phase 4 construction funding requests.
•Tax office reported the number of referred and cleared foreclosures and described a plan to review older problem parcels.
Decisions
•Board agreed to proceed with including Belhaven in the Rescue Service Tax District and to start the statutory process.
•Board approved reclassification of a position to strengthen collections.
•Board authorized electronic signature for opt‑in.
•Board voted to authorize county staff to proceed with property sale.
•Contract with RK&K approved; work funded by grant.
•Reimbursement #16 approved for payment; Board approved drawing down $31,417.66 from restricted lottery funds for intercom.
Directions
•Approve RK&K contract and proceed with planning/engineering under grant.
•Chairman authorized to sign participation/opt‑in form electronically.
•Finance to process the approved vendor reimbursement and administer lottery transfer to the schools.
•Land Records, Assessor, and Collections to conduct joint reviews of older cases.
•School board asked to provide representative details on intercom project if asked in follow-up.
•Staff authorized to move forward with sale and execute closing documents.
•Staff to conduct pre‑bid and evaluate proposals after April 30.
•Staff to proceed with notice mailings, schedule and hold public hearing and produce required report.
Beaufort County Board of Commissioners discussed a proposed land sale to an international pool manufacturer, updates to tax-foreclosure procedures and staffing, school reimbursement and lottery-funded projects, several lease and grant contracts, and debated a resolution seeking tougher penalties for illegal drug dealers; a proposal to reduce next year's tax rate to return alleged overcollections was also raised and voted on.
Discussion Points
•Acknowledgement that legislature would likely amend any draft law
•Clarification of the reversion clause and what returns to the county if commitments are not met
•Concerns that young or low‑level offenders could face unduly harsh penalties
•Coordination with the City of Washington for municipal approvals
March 26, 2026, Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda. Minutes
The Beaufort County Economic Development Advisory Committee met March 26, 2026, to review business attraction and industrial park projects, workforce and university partnerships, new data tools for employer outreach, upcoming job fair logistics, and local infrastructure updates. Members approved minutes and adjourned at 3:53 PM.
Discussion Points
•21 vendors registered and students to attend morning session
•Bath wastewater project nearing completion
•Engineering agreement executed with Wooten Company for Industrial Drive roadway and utility expansion (~35 acres)
•Funding secured to relaunch an internship program similar to Rise29
•Job and Resource Fair scheduled for April 16 at Washington Civic Center
•Meeting with ECU School of Business and Cunanan Center to discuss workforce needs
•Office relocation to 117 W. 3rd Street and its value for business recruitment
•Staff priorities to support business attraction and workforce partnerships
•Staff's February meeting with company owners
•State discontinued STEP grant for trade-show assistance
•VSSL Boats locating at 1151 Page Road and plans to hire locally
Workshop on draft ordinances to address abandoned manufactured homes, junk/nuisance vehicles and derelict vessels in unincorporated Beaufort County; staff and commissioners debated definitions, enforcement timelines, costs, and municipal jurisdiction and agreed to stagger ordinances and hold public hearings.
Discussion Points
•Clarifying 'business enterprise' and addressing railroad or NCDOT right-of-way issues
•How to define 'abandoned' (180 days vs. other indicators such as disconnected utilities or observed vacancy)
•How to treat vehicles on private property and whether county enforcement should be used
•Sequence of penalties: notice → civil penalties → county abatement with lien
•Whether criminal penalties should remain as an option
•Whether enforcement should be complaint-driven vs. proactive sweeps
•Whether ordinance should allow county enforcement inside municipal boundaries or rely on municipalities to adopt language
•Whether screening/fencing should satisfy visibility requirements instead of requiring a building or garage
•Whether statutory time thresholds (24 hours/7 days/5 years) are appropriate for local enforcement
Decisions
•Board agreed to refine language and return with updated Chapter 53 for public hearing; no vote on adoption occurred
•Board agreed to stagger ordinance work and return Chapter 54 for further revision and legal review; no adoption occurred
Directions
•County attorney to review appeal language and confirm statutory conformity
•Staff to consider revising language to require 'screening from public view' rather than a building enclosure and to consult county attorney about business-exemption language and enforcement limits on rights-of-way
•Staff to revise draft to consolidate definitions and move duplication into a single definitions section
•Stagger ordinance adoption starting with Chapter 53 and schedule public hearings
