Craven County, North Carolina

Board of Commissioners

The Craven County Board of Commissioners will vote on several budget amendments, including a $400,256 amendment to relocate about seven miles of fiber‑optic cable for the NCDOT I‑42 project. Other items include a $25,000 drone purchase funded by a Duke Energy grant, a $27,891 purchase of a central server for the Havelock Pharmacy, and a $6,894 WIC office‑furniture purchase. The board will also consider a request for a public hearing on a proposed limited‑obligation bond financing.

• $400,256 budget amendment to relocate ~7 miles of fiber‑optic cable for NCDOT Project R‑5777C
• $25,000 budget amendment to buy a DJI Matrice 30T drone using a Duke Energy grant
• $27,891 budget amendment to purchase a central server for the Havelock Pharmacy
• $6,894 budget amendment for WIC office furniture (two desks and storage drawers)
• Request for public hearing and preliminary resolution on a proposed limited‑obligation bond financing

Board of Commissioners

The Craven County Board of Commissioners holds a regular session on July 6, 2026. They will vote on a consent agenda including tax refunds and small budget amendments for fire services and IT. Departmental matters include a drone budget amendment, a pharmacy server funding increase, and several beginning-of-fiscal-year budget amendments for school capital outlay, economic development groups, and a workforce program. The board also considers adopting an information technology on-call policy.

• Consent agenda includes $25 payment increase to Harlowe Volunteer Fire Department
• Budget amendment of $1,266 for fire departments' workers' compensation insurance
• Budget amendment of $12,648 for rescue squads' workers' compensation insurance
• IT budget amendment of $10,000 for expanded Polimorphic AI services
• Beginning of fiscal year budget amendments for School Capital Outlay, Allies for Cherry Point's Tomorrow, Highway 70 membership, Craven 100 Alliance, and Realize U 25 2

Board of Commissioners

The Board will consider consent agenda items including tax refunds, an airshow lease, and a $15,000 budget amendment for school PILT payments. Departmental matters include budget amendments for sheriff inmate medical expenses, public transportation safety, register of deeds, water inventory, facilities at 3491 Martin Drive, grant writer funding, industrial park improvements, rescue squads, schools fines, and opioid settlement fund spending. Also proposed are a living shoreline project resolution for Cypress Bay and changes to healthcare coverage for retirees.

• Approve tax releases totaling $2,973.51
• Approve $15,000 budget amendment for PILT school payments
• Approve rent-free lease for 2026 Downtown New Bern Airshow
• Authorize opioid settlement fund spending (amount not specified)
• Consider living shoreline project resolution for Cypress Bay

The Board of Commissioners approved multiple budget amendments for the Sheriff's Office, Register of Deeds, and school system. They also adopted a resolution to act as grant administrator for the Cypress Bay Living Shoreline Project and approved an updated transit safety plan.

• Approved agenda (7-0)
• Approved consent agenda including tax releases and PILT budget amendment (7-0)
• Approved $200,000 budget amendment for inmate medical expenses (7-0)
• Approved updated CARTS Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (unanimous)
• Approved $147,000 budget amendment for Register of Deeds (7-0)
• Adopted Cypress Bay Living Shoreline Project Resolution (unanimous)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget of $168,611,778, which maintains the current property tax rate of 44.48 cents per $100 valuation. The board will also consider adoption of the budget ordinance. Other agenda items include a consent agenda, a school board lease extension, and several departmental budget amendments.

• Public hearing on FY 2026-2027 proposed budget ($168.6M, no tax rate increase)
• Consideration of adoption of the FY 2026-2027 budget ordinance
• Craven County Board of Education Apple lease extension request
• Budget amendments for Social Services (HCCBG), Solid Waste, Recreation & Parks, and Planning (Sandy Ridge Mobile Home Park)
• Finance – Public School Building Capital Fund application

The Craven County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the agenda and opened a public hearing on the FY 2026-2027 budget. They adopted a resolution for a multi‑year Apple lease extension for county schools. The board also approved budget amendments for the Home and Community Care Block Grant, Solid Waste operations, Recreation & Parks utilities, and cleanup at Sandy Ridge Mobile Home Park. A motion to approve the Public School Building Capital Fund Application was made and seconded, but the vote outcome is not recorded in the minutes.

• Approved agenda (7-0 roll call)
• Opened public hearing on FY 2026-2027 budget (7-0 roll call)
• Approved Apple lease extension resolution for schools (7-0 roll call)
• Approved Home and Community Care Block Grant budget recommendation (7-0 roll call)
• Approved Solid Waste budget amendment of $35,000 (7-0 roll call)
• Approved Recreation & Parks budget amendment of $44,000 (7-0 roll call)
• Approved Sandy Ridge Mobile Home Park cleanup budget amendment of $32,200 (7-0 roll call)
• Motion to approve Public School Building Capital Fund Application made and seconded; outcome not recorded

Board of Commissioners

The Craven County Board reached consensus to fund a $25,000 Pre‑K modular renovation and to decline funding for the school bus garage HVAC replacement. The Board also agreed not to support the proposed changes to the ABC Board appointment rules and to back the County Manager in communicating that position. The meeting was adjourned unanimously.

• Approved $25,000 Pre‑K modular renovation (consensus)
• Did not approve HVAC replacement for school bus garage (consensus)
• Consensus not to support proposed changes to ABC Board appointment rules
• Supported County Manager in communicating Board's opposition to those changes (consensus)
• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

Board of Commissioners

The Board voted to approve a five‑year body‑camera contract lease for deputies, passing by a majority vote. Commissioners also voted unanimously to close the solid‑waste convenient sites on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Additional actions included not approving a $19,600 emergency‑services drone purchase, freezing the vacant SRO position at Riverside Charter School, and declining to add a new garage position.

• Approved five-year body‑camera contract lease (majority vote)
• Closed solid‑waste convenient sites on July 4 2026 (unanimous)
• Did not approve $19,600 emergency‑services drone purchase
• Frozen vacant SRO position at Riverside Charter School
• Did not add new garage position

Board of Commissioners

The Craven County Board of Commissioners reconvened on May 18, 2026 for a budget work session. Commissioners and staff reviewed the FY 26‑27 recommended budget, revenue trends, expenditures, and capital improvement projects. No formal approvals, denials, or vote tallies were recorded in the minutes.

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners will receive the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget presentation from the County Manager. The meeting includes several budget amendments for county departments and requests to close out planning grants.

• Proposed FY 2026-2027 Budget presentation
• Budget amendment of $405.00 for a Juvenile Crime Prevention Council printer
• Havelock lease extension for Health Department
• MOU with City of Havelock for Permitting and Building Inspection Services
• Requests to close out Stream Debris Removal, Emergency Watershed Protection, and Hazard Mitigation Grant projects

The Craven County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the meeting agenda. They also approved the consent agenda, which covered the May 4 minutes, tax releases and refunds, and a $405 printer purchase for the Area Day Reporting Center. No other substantive actions were voted on; the FY 2026‑2027 budget was presented but not decided.

• Approved meeting agenda (7-0 roll call vote)
• Approved consent agenda (7-0 roll call vote)
• Approved minutes of May 4, 2026 (part of consent agenda)
• Approved tax releases and refunds (credits $4,092.88) (part of consent agenda)
• Approved $405 printer purchase for Area Day Reporting Center (part of consent agenda)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners will receive budget presentations from the Board of Education, Craven Community College, and the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. Consent agenda items include tax releases and refunds, a sheriff's office cash donation of $120, and health department state funding of $828. Commissioners will also consider appointing a representative to the Attainment NC Cohort Initiative and approving a related memorandum of understanding.

• Board of Education budget presentation by Superintendent Dr. Matthew Cheeseman
• Craven Community College budget presentation by President Dr. Raymond Staats
• Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) budget presentation by Chairman Albert Lester
• Sheriff's Office cash donation of $120 budget amendment
• Health Department additional state funding of $828 for car seats and playpens

The Craven County Board of Commissioners approved the meeting agenda by a 7‑0 roll‑call vote. They then approved the consent agenda—including April 20 minutes, tax releases and refunds, a $120 cash donation to the Sheriff’s Office, and an $828 state health funding award—by a 7‑0 roll‑call vote. No other actions were voted on during the session.

• Approved agenda (7-0)
• Approved consent agenda (7-0)
• Approved tax releases and refunds (credits $5,046.17; refunds $119.93) (7-0)
• Approved sheriff cash donation budget amendment ($120) (7-0)
• Approved health additional state funding budget amendment ($828) (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Craven County Board of Commissioners will consider multiple agenda items, including approval of a Sudan Property Redevelopment Project ordinance amendment, budget amendment, and related agreements; approval of a Government Center East Project ordinance and budget amendment; and approval of the purchase of land on Highway 101 for a new park. Other items include an FAA grant for the airport, amended CARTS policies, a Social Services budget amendment, and the annual audit contract for FY2026. The consent agenda includes minutes, tax releases, and budget amendments for volunteer fire insurance and senior center donations.

• Approval of Sudan Property Redevelopment Project Ordinance Amendment, Budget Amendment, Reimbursement Resolution, and Related Agreements
• Approval of Government Center East Project Ordinance and Related Budget Amendment
• Highway 101 Land Purchase for New Park (Recreation)
• FAA Grant Funding Approval for Airport
• Annual Audit Contract for Fiscal Year 2026 (Finance)

The Board approved the agenda and consent agenda unanimously. It accepted a $1,213,700 FAA grant to build a new air traffic control tower. Commissioners also approved amendments to procurement and drug‑testing policies. The Sudan Property Redevelopment Project Ordinance, related budget amendment of $6,190,988, and reimbursement resolution were approved, authorizing work to begin in June.

• Approved agenda (7-0 roll call)
• Approved consent agenda, including tax releases and budget amendments (7-0 roll call)
• Approved FAA Federal Contract Tower grant of $1,213,700 for new ATCT (7-0 roll call)
• Approved amended Procurement Policy and Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy (7-0 roll call)
• Approved Sudan Property Redevelopment Project Ordinance amendment and budget amendment of $6,190,988 (7-0 roll call)
• Authorized execution of agreements with Barnhill Contracting for Sudan project (7-0 roll call)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing regarding a building reuse agreement for Project Enterprise. They will also consider a Memorandum of Understanding to expand the Metropolitan Planning Organization boundary to include all of Craven County.

• Public hearing for Project Enterprise building reuse agreement for manufacturing expansion
• Proposed Memorandum of Understanding to expand MPO planning area to all of Craven County
• Budget amendment for Health Department hospice electronic medical record system lease
• Budget amendment for Sheriff's laptop and radar purchase using forfeiture funds
• Budget amendment for Veterans Services NCDMVA grant award

The Craven County Board approved its agenda by a 7‑0 vote and held a public hearing on Project Enterprise, which had no public speakers. The Board then unanimously approved the Metropolitan Planning Organization boundary expansion Memorandum of Understanding, creating a Craven County MPO effective July 1, 2026. A 7‑0 roll‑call vote also approved the consent agenda, covering tax releases, a veterans services budget amendment, a sheriff laptop donation and proclamations honoring Dorothy Hawkins Bryan and Line Worker Appreciation Day.

• Approved agenda (7‑0 roll‑call vote)
• Authorized public hearing on Project Enterprise (unanimous)
• Closed public hearing on Project Enterprise (unanimous)
• Approved MPO boundary expansion MOU and resolution (unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda items (7‑0 roll‑call vote)
• Approved Veterans Services $5,000 travel/training budget amendment (part of consent agenda)
• Approved Sheriff Panasonic laptop donation (part of consent agenda)
• Approved proclamations honoring Dorothy Hawkins Bryan and Line Worker Appreciation Day (part of consent agenda)

Board of Commissioners

The Board approved a $5,991 budget amendment to use interest from a sheriff’s grant for a trailer purchase. It also approved $256,371 for school HVAC repairs funded by the NC Lottery Repair and Renovations Fund and $6,000 for Solid Waste storm‑damage repairs. Commissioners unanimously authorized the Chairman to sign the resolution submitting the County’s application for a Community Development Block Grant‑Economic Development project that could provide up to $2.5 million. Information on a $30,000 County match for Partners in Education athletic programs was received.

• Approve $5,991 budget amendment for Sheriff’s Office trailer purchase using grant interest
• Approve $256,371 budget amendment for school HVAC repairs via NC Lottery Repair and Renovations Fund
• Approve $6,000 budget amendment for Solid Waste Department storm‑damage repairs
• Authorize Chairman to sign CDBG‑ED resolution for up to $2.5 million grant application
• Receive information on $30,000 County match for Partners in Education athletic programs

The Board approved the regular agenda and the consent agenda, which included tax credits and refunds, a sheriff's grant‑interest budget amendment, and a proclamation declaring April 2026 National County Government Month. Commissioners ordered the 2025 delinquent tax liens to be advertised in the Sun Journal on April 28, 2026. The Board also approved a $30,000 match for Partners in Education grant funds and received a presentation on extending the child‑support contract with YoungWilliams, P.C.

• Approved agenda (7‑0 roll‑call vote)
• Approved consent agenda covering tax credits/refunds, sheriff grant‑interest amendment and proclamation (7‑0 roll‑call vote)
• Adopted proclamation declaring April 2026 National County Government Month
• Ordered advertisement of 2025 delinquent taxpayers in Sun Journal on April 28, 2026 (unanimous)
• Approved $30,000 match for Partners in Education grant (no vote tally recorded)
• Child Support Contract extension with YoungWilliams, P.C. presented for approval (no decision recorded)

Board of Commissioners

The Craven County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing to receive comments on a $2.19 million application for Community Development Block Grant-Economic Development (CDBG-ED) funds. The grant would finance site and infrastructure improvements at Clarks Road. The Board will also consider approving a $256,371 budget amendment for school HVAC repairs and renovations.

• Public hearing for $2.19M CDBG-ED grant application
• Approve $256,371 for school HVAC repairs and renovations
• Approve amended minutes from January 20, 2026
• Approve tax releases and refunds
• Set public hearing for Project Enterprise on April 6, 2026

The Board approved its agenda unanimously and entered, then closed, a public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant‑Economic Development application. Commissioners approved a $256,371 budget amendment for HVAC repairs at four county schools. The consent agenda, including a $6,000 solid‑waste budget amendment and a resolution honoring Lance Corporal Dmitri W. Senatus, was approved. The Board also approved the resolution authorizing the County to submit the CDBG‑ED grant application.

• Approved agenda (7-0)
• Entered public hearing on CDBG‑ED application (unanimous)
• Closed public hearing (unanimous)
• Approved CDBG‑ED grant resolution authorizing application (7-0)
• Approved $256,371 school repair and renovation funding (7-0)
• Approved consent agenda, including $6,000 solid‑waste budget amendment (7-0)
• Adopted Military Service Person of the Quarter resolution (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners will hold three public hearings regarding Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications and program amendments. The meeting also includes a presentation of the county's annual audit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025.

• Public hearings for FY2026 CDBG applications, CDBG-CV COVID funds for EMS equipment and parks, and a 2021 CDBG-NR program amendment
• Presentation of the 2025 Annual Audit by Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co, P.A.
• Requests to add Forest Oaks Subdivision, Indian Woods Subdivision, and South Castle Drive to the State Maintained Secondary Road System
• Industrial Park Improvements Project ordinance and budget amendment
• Kayak rental agreement between Craven County Tourism Development Authority and Whenever Water Sports

The Craven County Board of Commissioners discussed the Capital Improvement Plan and the 2026 Legislative Agenda, reaching consensus to fund all FY27 projects and to revisit any tax increase later. After the discussion, Commissioner Tim Mason moved to adjourn, the motion was seconded by Commissioner E. T. Mitchell, and the Board carried it unanimously. No other formal votes were recorded in the minutes.

• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners is discussing the adoption of a Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance and reviewing disaster debris contract renewals. The body is also deciding on budget amendments for legal fees and water infrastructure.

• Proposed adoption of the Craven County Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance
• Budget amendment of $80,415 for the replacement of the Davis Well Pump on Dover Road
• Budget amendment of $4,000 for Sandy Ridge Mobile Home Park legal fees
• Property lease to Herrin Enterprises, LLC for a BBQ competition at a fee of $240
• Approval of property conveyance for Parcel Number 3-021-022 following a $15,000 upset bid

The commissioners approved the regular session agenda and amended the consent agenda to include a resolution honoring Eula Mae Gooding. The resolution recognizing Gooding’s 100th birthday was adopted. The Board then adopted the Craven County Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance with a unanimous vote.

• Approved agenda as presented (6-0 roll call)
• Amended consent agenda to add Gooding resolution (6-0 roll call)
• Adopted resolution honoring Eula Mae Gooding on her 100th birthday
• Adopted Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance (6-0 roll call)

Board of Commissioners

Commissioners will hear public comment on the Craven County Recreational Vehicle Park ordinance. The board will receive a 4‑H presentation and award certificates to Elizabeth Peluso and Lexi Gilkey for national poultry competition honors. A consent agenda will approve the December 15, 2025 minutes, tax releases, several public‑hearing requests for Community Development Block Grant applications, and a $10,750 budget amendment for the Sheriff’s Office. A budget amendment for the Davis Well pump replacement will also be considered.

• Public hearing on Craven County Recreational Vehicle Park ordinance (Chad Strawn and Donnie LaVelle presenting)
• 4‑H presentation and certificate awards for Elizabeth Peluso and Lexi Gilkey
• Consent agenda: approve minutes of Dec 15 2025 and tax releases
• Budget amendment approving $10,750 for Sheriff’s Office donations and calendar check
• Water department budget amendment for Davis Well pump replacement

The Board approved a resolution to sell tax parcel 3-021-022 to the highest upset bid of $15,000, authorizing execution of the quitclaim deed. The Board approved an $80,415 budget amendment to replace the Davis Well Pump on Dover Road. The Board approved the Sheriff’s donation budget amendment of $10,750. The Board postponed consideration of the Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance until the next meeting.

• Approved sale of Parcel 3-021-022 for $15,000 (5-0)
• Approved $80,415 budget amendment for Davis Well Pump replacement (5-0)
• Approved Sheriff’s donation budget amendment $10,750 (5-0)
• Approved consent agenda including tax releases and CDBG hearing dates (5-0)
• Approved agenda (5-0)
• Entered and closed public hearing on RV Park ordinance (unanimous)
• Tabled RV Park ordinance adoption (unanimous)
• Reappointed Sherry Hunt to Juvenile Crime Prevention Council by acclamation