BY MILES LAYTON
PLYMOUTH — When the Washington County Board of Commissioners will convene at 6 p.m. Monday, August 4 for its regular monthly meeting, they will discuss a packed agenda featuring updates on county services, economic development, and community health efforts.
The meeting, set to take place in the Commissioners Room at 116 Adams Street, will begin with standard procedures including the invocation, pledge, and approval of the agenda, followed by a consent agenda vote on several routine items. Among those are the reappointment of Sherri M. Wilkins as the county’s Tax Assessor/Collector, a proclamation declaring August as Child Support Awareness Month, and the approval of county delegates for the Southern Albemarle Association’s October Executive Meeting.
Wilkins, who has served in the assessor and collector role since 2015, is slated for another two-year term ending in June 2027. Her continued leadership is also the subject of two key presentations later in the meeting: an update on the Keystone tax system and her annual settlement report on tax collections.
Following Wilkins’ reports, the commissioners will turn their attention to senior services, starting with a departmental update from Senior Center Director Renee’ Collier who will present a proposal planning, preparing (painting, cleaning, etc) and moving into the county’s senior center in Roper.
Rubi Blanco Orduna, Program Director for A New Direction Local Reentry Council (ANDLRC), will provide updates on the council’s work assisting formerly incarcerated individuals as they transition back into the community.
Another key issue on the agenda is the ongoing use of opioid settlement funds. Miranda Keel of the Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department will provide an update on how the county is utilizing its share of the state’s opioid settlement funds to address addiction and recovery services.
Economic Development Director Kelly Chesson is scheduled to deliver two presentations — first being on economic development incentives being considered for potential businesses and job creation in the region. Later in the evening, Chesson will also introduce a new “Community Conversations” initiative during the “Other Items” section of the meeting.
Assistant County Manager Jason Squires will present bids received for elevator work—likely part of ongoing infrastructure improvements to county facilities.
Finance Officer Missy Dixon will close out the main portion of the meeting with a report on current budget amendments and transfers.
Commissioners will also consider staff requests to close county offices during two upcoming employee appreciation events: a “Fall Fling” scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, September 26, and the annual Holiday Luncheon on Friday, December 19.
Transportation planning will also be discussed, with attention given to project submissions for the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s 2028–2037 State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP). Commissioners are expected to review which local priorities to submit for possible inclusion.
A closed session will follow under North Carolina General Statutes §§143-318.11(a)(3) and (a)(6), covering attorney-client matters and personnel discussions.
The meeting is open to the public and is expected to address a wide range of topics affecting Washington County residents.
