The Pitt County Board of Commissioners has approved a contract and budget amendment totaling more than $200,000 to replace a failing portion of the county office building’s brick veneer.
The office building at 1717 W. Fifth St., Greenville, once the Pitt County Memorial Hospital building, is nearly 74 years old and large cracks are visible in the brick mortar.
“If you haven’t or have noticed, on the north side of the building there is part of the brick veneer that is about to fall down and it’s in urgent need of repair. It’s been getting worse over the years,” said Tim Corley, county engineer.
A consulting engineer was brought in to examine the building and recommended removing and replacing the damaged brick, he said.
“I know we are trying to limit the amount of funds put in this building as we hopefully have future plans to replace it in the next few years, but this is a project that really needs to be done just from a safety standpoint,” Corley said.
Custom Building Company submitted a bid of $201,388 to do the repair work. Staff is recommending the money come from the general fund into the Building and Grounds budget.
Commissioner Tom Coulson asked why staff didn’t explore another alternative instead of replacing brick.
The consultant discussed other alternatives and from a cost perspective, new brick was the best choice, Corley said, because the surrounding structure consists of brick, steel and concrete.
Corley said he was surprised by the $201,388 bid because he thought it would be more expensive. The commissioners’ vote was unanimous.
Rhodes honored
Commissioners presented a resolution of appreciation to Assistant County Manager for Planning and Environment James Rhodes at Monday’s meeting. Rhodes, who is retiring next month, was accompanied by his wife, Linda, their three children and spouses and granddaughter.
“James Rhodes has established a place for community health and recreation needs within the land-use policies that govern Pitt County,” County Manager Janis Gallagher said while reading the resolution.
Rhodes has worked more than 35 years with Pitt County Department of Planning and Development. He joined the organization as a senior planner and assumed the director’s position in 1996.
He was named assistant county manager for planning and environment in 2022, joining the county’s senior leadership team.
During Rhodes’ tenure Pitt County replaced its number addressing system with enhanced 911 block addressing, receiving a state award for its implementation.
The county also implemented zoning regulations in unincorporated areas during his time. It also implemented its first hazard mitigation plan in 2000. Three years later Pitt County received the North Carolina Emergency Management’s Community of the Year award for Outstanding Achievement in Hazard Mitigation and the American Planning Association-NC’s Outstanding Planning Award for Plan Implementation in a Small Community. Through the planning department’s partnerships with other offices, Pitt County has also received awards for developing the district park and team building.
“James, you are a legend,” said Commissioner Mark Smith, chairman of the board. “Thank you on behalf of the board of commissioners for your dedicated and long service.”
“Thank you for your support through the years,” Rhodes said. “We’ve been through a lot. Countywide zoning, hazard mitigation plans, housing homelessness initiatives. A lot going on. The real part of it is the excitement,” Rhodes said.
He said he is proud the board recently voted to create a county department of parks and recreation with the goal of funding it in the fiscal year 2024-25 budget.
Rhodes also thanked the county planning staff.
“What a great bunch of folks. It’s good to come to work with folks who want to be good public servants,” Rhodes said. “You can teach folks a lot of things but you can’t teach them how to provide good service. These guys are top-notch.”
He also praised his family. “They make me proud everyday,” he said. “Between my three kids, Kelsey, Caroline and Will, they’re five ECU degrees and one degree from PCC (Pitt Community College). That’s another reason I stayed here for 35 years.”
It was worth it because they are all three professionals who live and pay taxes in Pitt County, he said.
He also thanked his wife, Linda.
“My wife had endured a lot of stuff,” he said. “Whether we are at the grocery store, restaurant, church and people want to talk business. I thank her for her patience.”
Other action
The board recognized the county employee of the month, Amanda Garcia, lead child support agent for Pitt County Social Services.
Gallagher announced that Chicod School fifth-grader Olivia Wallace was one of 12 students nationwide who had art selected to appear in the National Association of Counties “I Love My County” art contest calendar.
The board unanimously appointed William Monk, Diane Taylor, and Anand Tewari to serve five-year terms on the ECU Health Medical Center Board of Trustees.
The board unanimously approved the first appointees to the Pitt County Pre-Trial Services Advisory Board. The board was created in November 2023 to advise the county commissioners on steps to be taken with regard to creating a pre-trial services program in the county.
The appointees are: Superior Court Judge Marvin Blount, District Court Judge Daniel Hines Entzminger, Pitt County Sheriff’s Office Major Ray Waters, Greenville Police Department Major Ken Laws, Pitt County District Attorney Faris Dixon and Pitt County Commissioner Melvin McLawhorn.
Commissioners also need to appoint a local defense attorney, a behavioral health professional, log magistrate, an at-large member with prior experience in the judicial system and an at-large member.
Pitt County Commissioner Mary Perkins-Williams said she had a candidate to serve as an at-large member. Gallagher advised her to have the individual submit an application to serve on the board.
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