BY MILES LAYTON
COLUMBIA — This story goes out to Tyrrell County folks…
First, Commission Chairman Nathan Everett noted the recent passing of James Cahoon, a man beloved by many who served as Columbia’s mayor, a Sunday School teacher, and a longtime school administrator.
“We shall miss him greatly,” he said at the opening of Tuesday’s meeting.
In other news, Tyrrell County Sheriff R. Kevin Sawyer awarded certificates for Intermediate and Advanced Law Enforcement to TCSO Chief Investigator Frank Mitchell. The Advanced Law Certificate is the highest achievement a NC Law Enforcement Officer can receive.
“It is my honor to present these awards,” Sawyer said.
More about Mitchell’s extensive career appears a little bit later in the story. Congratulations Frank!
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In other news, the county is owed more than $361,190 in past due property taxes. Bills were sent out in July — real and personal property tax payments were due September 1 and payable through January 5 of the following year without interest. On January 6, interest is added and delinquent collection remedies are started.
County Manager/Attorney David Clegg said the county’s collection rate is around 98 percent, so he’s optimistic these past due taxes will be paid – he also offered praise to the tax office for their collection efforts.
If memory serves me correct, once upon a time the county was owed a lot more in delinquent taxes – so since that number is around $361,000 or so, that means somebody is doing something right to collect what’s owed.
Commission appointed Joy Cooper to the county’s Library Board of Directors. Speaking of the library, anyone who remembers Jared Jacavone when he was at the library, well, he got a job up north – click this link.
In other news, the state’s Division of Water Infrastructure is moving forward with the sewer extension along old US 64. Clegg said the amended timetable calls for the county to receive bids on the project in June.
“We’re one step closer again,” Everett said.
Speaking of infrastructure, Newlands Road is being built up to be able to hold a heavier weight limit and there’s bridge work at Cross Landing Road.
Commission Chairman Everett points to that spot on the map where travel may lag a bit because of recent infrastructure projects.
Commissioners Everett and Jordan Davis talked about the challenges — where if there’s high water and/or bridge work being done in the southern end of the county, well, folks will have to travel pretty long past Creswell to get around that mess — that could be a problem if there is a need for a quick ambulance or law enforcement response.
In other news, commissioners approved a resolution regarding the Fisheries Management Plan for spotted Seatrout during Tuesday’s meeting.
A recent draft of an amendment to the management plan notes that a 19.9% reduction of harvest is required to end overfishing of the spotted seatrout stock. The plan, created by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, was updated in August 2024 and is currently up for review.
The Marine Fisheries Commission is expected to vote on the plan at its Feb. 19-21 meeting in Kitty Hawk.
Also, Commissioner Darryl Liverman wants the commission to approve an updated code of ethics – the last one was approved in 2020.
Back to Mitchell — he started his career in 1996 as a reserve tele-communicator for the Craven County Sheriff’s Office as well as New Bern Emergency Communications – he later became full-time and served in that role for 10 years.
In 2008, Mitchell attended Basic Law Enforcement training at Carteret Community College in Morehead City. After completing his training, Mitchell started as a deputy sheriff with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office where he worked his way up to patrol supervisor and to being in charge of the Highway Safety Program. Mitchell is very knowledgeable about electronics and he was able to bring better technology to the JCSO.
Mitchell left JCSO to work for the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, where he resides, for three years before signing on to serve as a patrol officer for the Plymouth Police Department where he moved up in the ranks to corporal, then investigator and later to chief investigator.
In March of 2021, Mitchell started work as a patrol sergeant for TCSO where he assisted in investigations before becoming chief investigator in 2023. He attended General Instructor Training and became a law enforcement instructor for the state. During Mitchell’s career, he has completed 1,380 hours of training.