Craven County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Craven County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Medicaid Expansion Administrative Mandates and Staffing
New federal and state rules require Craven County Social Services to handle much tighter work requirements, frequent eligibility reviews, and verification checks. To prevent penalties and backpay, the board approved 13 new positions and computer equipment costing $622,880, which is fully covered by state and federal funding.
Craven Community College Health Sciences Expansion
College leaders requested a 5.29% funding increase for FY27 and highlighted major capital projects like the Corporate Training Center and Public Safety Training Center.
Election Voting
Early voting kicks off Thursday morning in Craven County, giving you a chance to cast your ballot early and dodge those annoying election day lines. Plan ahead and map out when you're going to vote!
NCDOT Traffic Reconfigurations and James City Congestion
Craven County is spending $400,256 to relocate over seven miles of fiber-optic cables along Highway 70 due to the I-42 expansion. NCDOT will reimburse most of the cost, leaving the county to cover a portion that doubles network capacity.
FY26 CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization Grant
The county authorized $32,200 for court-ordered trash removal and demolition of dilapidated mobile homes at Sandy Ridge Mobile Home Park to protect community health and safety.
CARTS Route Reductions and OnDemand+ Pilot Program
CARTS is proposing to restructure its fixed bus routes from three to two, introduce an OnDemand+ same-day microtransit pilot program, and launch the Greenville Express medical and life-necessity transit service. These changes aim to improve efficiency, reduce headways, and expand regional mobility.
GREAT Grant Broadband Expansion Match
The county approved a $250,000 ARPA fund match to Brightspeed to complete broadband expansion across unserved rural areas, reaching over 1,800 locations.
School HVAC Upgrades and Capital Funding
The board acknowledged a $251 million school facility needs survey and approved $369,120 in lottery funds to replace broken air conditioning units at three schools.
Water System Assessment Studies and AMI Meter Project Rollovers
The county approved funding to replace a failed 1992 water well pump on Dover Road to maintain reliable water service in Northwest Craven County.
Government Center East Project & Construction Contract
Craven County purchased an existing building at 1208 East Main Street in Havelock to serve as Government Center East, saving millions over new construction. It will house state and county services, a DMV, and an early voting site.
Foster Care and Adoption Placement Needs
Social services leaders highlighted an ongoing shortage of local foster homes, noting that many children are placed out of county.
Landfill Battery Safety and Recycling
Commissioners discussed worsening illegal roadside dumping across the county and coordinated with the Sheriff's Office to utilize inmate labor for litter cleanup. Additionally, the regional landfill approved a major cell construction project.
Animal Shelter Estate Donation and Future Use
The animal shelter received a massive $655,147 estate donation from Shirley Callahan, which the board transferred into a capital reserve fund. Commissioners also discussed potential future uses, including funding for a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program.
Coastal Carolina Regional Airport Expansion Grants
The airport received over $2.1 million in federal grants to design runway safety improvements, realign Williams Road, and construct a new corporate aerospace taxiway and apron. These upgrades support economic development and a major new 60,000-square-foot hangar project.
Consolidation of County Maintenance Facility on Martin Drive
Craven County is purchasing and consolidating its maintenance department into 3491 and 3493 Martin Drive, funded through a $679,955 budget amendment and future borrowing. This move frees up the old New Street offices for future court services.
Jail Overcrowding and Inmate Medical Costs
The county jail is currently operating about 100 inmates over capacity, driving up required medical spending and prompting a $200,000 budget amendment. Commissioners discussed future facility expansion needs and the ongoing challenge of housing state and local offenders.
Industrial Park Expansion and Grant Funding
The county is purchasing 76 acres on Clarks Road from Weyerhaeuser for $475,000 to expand the industrial park and attract new economic development projects.
Havelock Building Inspections Consolidation
Craven County will take over building permitting and inspection services inside the City of Havelock starting June 1, streamlining services under the county planning department.
Sudan Property Redevelopment & Parking Construction
The county is moving forward with demolishing the old Sudan building and building a 213-space parking lot for county and court use. The project includes historical preservation work mandated by the HPC and temporary parking lot rentals.
Project Enterprise Building Reuse Agreement
Chatsworth Products is expanding its manufacturing operations in Craven County with a $9.5 million capital investment and 45 new jobs. The board accepted a $360,000 state Building Reuse Grant and approved an $18,000 local match to support the project.
Metropolitan Planning Organization Boundary Expansion
The county approved expanding the MPO boundary to include all of Craven County, making the county the lead planning agency and renaming it the Craven County MPO. This change aims to streamline transportation planning and local cost shares across municipalities starting July 1, 2026.
340B Pharmacy Expansion and Funding
The county health department is expanding its successful 340B pharmacy services to Havelock, requiring a $250,000 budget amendment to cover high demand and prescription costs. Commissioners praised the service for providing affordable medications directly to patients.
Hurricane Disaster Recovery and Housing
A local resident spoke out about ongoing housing delays and alleged administrative failures related to state disaster recovery programs following Hurricane Florence.
Historical Deed Preservation Project
The Register of Deeds office is launching a test scanning project for old handwritten deed books to protect county history, though the long-term preservation of all records will require substantial future funding.
Craven County Nature Park Development
Construction is moving forward on the new Craven County Nature Park, bolstered by a $50,000 foundation grant and a county match, with trails, restrooms, and a kayak launch expected by June.
Craven County Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance Adoption
The county adopted a new ordinance to regulate the design, density, setbacks, and infrastructure standards for recreational vehicle parks, ensuring proper health, safety, and environmental compliance.
Sandy Ridge Trailer Park Conditions
Residents raised serious concerns about squatters, trash accumulation, utility tampering, and drug activity at Sandy Ridge Trailer Park on Keener Avenue, urging the county to take further action.
Natural Disaster Response
Hurricane Florence caused severe flooding and stranded hundreds in New Bern, forcing urgent rescue missions. You'll want to stay tuned to local emergency alerts if you know anyone in the impacted zone.