Report: January Beaufort County Commissioners | Eastern North Carolina Now

These comments are about the January 7th, 2019 general meeting.

    The fiscal year that ended on June 30. 2018 audit was presented. Like all other government audits it reported a glowing success for the commissioners and staff. It is really hard to fail when one pays someone to make them look good. However there are two items of concern.

    We have a fund balance goal of 35 percent of expenses. The North Carolina Local government Commission requires us to have a minimum of 8 percent. Neither of these numbers are acceptable. Eight percent too too low and 35 percent is too high. We really need about 20 percent. This would free up about 8 million dollars to be returned to tax payers.

    The auditor reported that some payments for travel were being make without the employee submitting receipts. I know that commissioners have always had to submit receipts in order to be paid expenses. During December I looked at some travel reports and found that some people were being paid without submitting expense receipts. It is hard to chase this down since the finance officer insists it is not happening. I guess my eyes are lying again.

    We set up a project ordinance for a grant to study shore line stabilization for the "County Park' at Wrights Creek. We paid $400,000 for this dredge pond. The condition of the shore line was attested to by some commissioners as not needing stabilizing. Now that we have owned this property for more than one year, the shore is suddenly washing away. Looks to me like another two or three hundred thousand in shore line stabilization. Just how many people are going to travel to Wrights Creek for a pic nick at our million dollar park?

    We finally approved a trip for one commissioner to go to Washington, DC to lobby representatives to require FEMA to release the new county flood maps. When approved by the commissioners there will be significant savings in flood insurance in Beaufort County. There could be as much as five million dollars in reduced premiums. That money goes directly into the citizens pockets.

    Beaufort County buys medical insurance for out 390 employees from the state employees medical plan which is administered by Blue Cross. They administer the paper work. The state and county writes the checks. The State Treasurer, Dale Folwell, has determined that there are deficiencies in the administration of the plan and those deficiencies are costing us a lot of money. I made a motion to support Treasurer Folwell in his efforts because it will save Beaufort County tax payers money. The motion failed 5 to 2. Frankie Waters made the statement that he could not support the motion because it would cost Vidant 40 million dollars. Frankie has been a water boy for Vidant, helping to close the Belhaven hospital among other things. Franke Waters should decide who he is representing, Vidant or the Beaufort County citizens. Frankie promised the Beaufort County Republican executive Committee that he would raise taxes if he were re elected. I guess we are getting what we voted for.

    The Beaufort County Sheriff is over staffed and wastes a lot of money. I asked for a study comparing Beaufort County to other counties of similar size. This motion failed 4 to 3. I guess the voters want an expensive sheriff's department.

    The budget retreat, to be held at the end of January, is usually videoed and broadcast to the public. Commissioners failed to approve the filming. This is a continuation of their secret government policy. However ,the public is invited. Contact the Beaufort County Clerk for details.