Nearly two weeks after Pitt County officials approved a budget without an additional salary bump for Sheriff Paula Dance, supporters continued to advocate for the sheriff.
The county Board of Commissioners should go beyond the 12 percent raise sought by Dance and increase her pay by 25 percent, a $42,500 increase, Linda Robinson said during the public comment portion of the June 17 meeting.
“She has since then done outstanding things in this community,” said Robinson, one of two residents speaking on behalf of the sheriff. “Since then everything has gone up astronomically, since then Greenville has grown.”
There are hundreds of new houses along N.C. 33 between Greenville and Grimesland, she said, among other areas in the county that have grown.
Dance launched the Sheriff’s Heroin Addiction Recovery Program, better known as Dance S.H.A.R.P, and the Women’s Empowerment And Recovery program, better known as W.E.A.R., to help detainees in the Pitt County Detention Center with substance issues.
She’s also recruited East Carolina University staff to work with detainees with mental health issues.
“To have to ask for something after she has already proven herself does not seem right to us,” Robinson said.
Dance asked the commissioners for a 12 percent raise in May, citing local and national awards her office has received for its work. The budget approved by commissioners on June 4 gave Dance the the same raise as all other county employees, 5 percent.
Dance’s current salary is $168,767. Her 5 percent raise goes into effect on July 1.
“I have worked with Paula for a long time and she has done an exceptional job,” said Minerva Freeman, a Falkland resident. “I feel she deserves recognition and many times in this country we recognize people through salary. … I was very disappointed with you all for not honoring her with that increase. Think about it.”
Homeless partnership
In other business, the commissioners voted 8-1 to partner with the City of Greenville to offer temporary housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Pitt County Planning Director Jonas Hill said city officials approached the county about working with them on issues of homelessness. The city receives Community Development Block Grant funding to provide short-term hotel assistance to aid people who need emergency shelter when space isn’t available at the Community Crossroads Center.
The county will receive $21,574 from the city’s grant to facilitate the effort. The board voted 8-1 to accept the proposal. Commissioner Tom Coulson cast the no vote.
More broadband coming
County Manager Janis Gallagher reported that the N.C. Department of Information Technology has awarded Brightspeed more than $10 million to bring high-speed internet to 3,130 homes in Pitt County.
That will leave only 170 homes without access to high-speed internet, Gallagher said. “We’ll continue to work through future funding opportunities to get those homes served,” Gallagher said.
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