Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Craven County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
11 issues with medium priority
Trillium Health Resources Annual Report
Trillium manages behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disability, and substance use services for Craven County residents — over 4,000 county members were served in the last fiscal year. The report covers service spending, the new Children and Families Specialty Plan, and how to access services.
Abandoned property concerns in James City
An 82-year-old James City resident, speaking through her niece, asked for help with a neighboring abandoned house that's collapsing onto her property, drawing rodents and snakes. Commissioners agreed to follow up.
Renaming the Havelock Bypass as Major General Hugh R. Overholt Highway
The board unanimously backed asking NCDOT to rename the Havelock Bypass after Major General Hugh R. Overholt, credited with winning federal and state support for U.S. 70 corridor projects.
Mayor Retirement
Trent Woods’ mayor is retiring after 19 years, so the town is about to get new leadership. Depending on local rules, that could mean a special election or an appointment to fill the seat. It’s a small-town change, but it affects who runs one of Craven County’s municipalities.
Election
Early voting is starting soon in Craven County, meaning it's time to check your local polling schedule and get your ballot cast. Make sure you know where and when to vote before heading out.
Animal Shelter Spay/Neuter and TNR Funding
Residents advocated for using recent animal shelter donations to establish a low-cost spay and neuter program for owned animals and dedicated trap-neuter-return funding for community cats. Commissioners noted the topic will be discussed at an upcoming work session.
ENC Tech Bridge Grant Rollover
The county approved a $225,000 grant rollover to keep the ENC Tech Bridge program running, supporting regional defense partnerships, university projects, and K-12 STEM education.
Sheriff's Office Forensic Van Purchase
The Sheriff's Office received a generous $20,000 donation from a private citizen to help buy a new forensic van for the crime lab. Existing vehicles were too small to carry all necessary equipment, and using donation money saves taxpayers cash.
Tax Foreclosure Property Dispositions
The county attorney presented three initial purchase offers for tax-foreclosed properties and one finalized conveyance after an upset bid period. These properties are co-owned with the City of New Bern.
On-Call Compensation Policies for County Staff
The county adopted a new IT on-call policy and updated maintenance on-call pay rates to match water department standards, providing structured after-hours compensation.
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council FY27 Funding Plan
The JCPC requested level funding of $320,335 for local youth programs, which the commissioners unanimously approved.