By Nicole Bowman-Layton

EDENTON — The Chowan County Board of Commissioners convened on January 5, 2026, with Vice Chair Larry McLaughlin presiding in the absence of Chairman Bob Kirby. The meeting covered topics ranging from election preparations to major construction updates and new personnel introductions.

Elections Office Reports Declining Voter Registration

Elections Director Kristi Nixon presented the annual elections report, revealing that voter registration has declined by approximately 742 people over the past year, dropping from over 10,000 registered voters to 9,965. Nixon attributed the decrease primarily to deaths and residents moving out of the county, though Mclaughlin questioned whether college students registering elsewhere might also be a factor.

The November municipal election saw relatively low turnout, with only 16.9% of Edenton’s 4,054 registered voters participating. A total of 685 ballots were cast across early voting (309), election day (363), absentee (10), and provisional (3) votes.

Looking ahead, Nixon reported that preparations are underway for the March 3 primary election. Because local candidates were unopposed within their parties, the primary ballot will feature only federal and state races, including U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, North Carolina Court of Appeals, and state House races. Absentee voting begins Jan. 12, with early voting scheduled for Feb. 12-28.

Nixon also addressed ongoing challenges with voter registration compliance, noting that approximately 135 registered voters still lack required driver’s license or Social Security numbers on file — an issue the office continues working to resolve.

New Library Director Introduces Herself

Anna Kallas, the county’s new librarian, formally introduced herself to the board during public comment. Apologizing for missing her scheduled November introduction due to busy nights at the library, Kallas expressed enthusiasm about serving Chowan County residents and learning about the community.

“I’m having a grand time learning Edenton, learning Chowan County, the residents and how to serve them,” she told commissioners.

Emergency Management Seeks Railroad Mapping Grant

Commissioners approved allowing Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Palmer to apply for a $10,000 grant from North Carolina Emergency Management to update railroad maps originally created in 2017. The maps, developed jointly with Perquimans County through the Local Emergency Planning Committee, document railroad crossings, switches, access points, and contact information for railroad companies.

Palmer explained that the maps are integrated into the Computer-Aided Dispatch system used by first responders and help identify potential hazards from materials transported by rail. While no hazardous chemicals were regularly transported through the county in 2017, Palmer acknowledged this may have changed.

When Commissioner Tony Shaffer asked about advance notification of hazardous materials, Palmer explained that first responders can use placards and serial numbers on rail cars to look up contents through a federal database application, rather than receiving automatic notifications from railroad companies. The board unanimously approved the grant application.

Board Appointments Approved

Commissioners approved several reappointments to county boards:

• Shelly Simmons to the Chowan County Board of Adjustments
• Mike Williams to the Chowan County Planning Board
• Four appointments to the Tourism Development Authority: Amber Hardy (Seat 4), Bryan Buns (Seat 2), Timmy Turner (Seat 8), and Karen Thurman (Seat 1)

Financial Updates Show Project Progress

Finance Officer Kathy Smith presented budget amendments totaling $51,146.52, including $30,000 in opioid settlement funds for the court program and $21,146.52 in discretionary income for November.

Through five months of the fiscal year, the county’s general fund shows revenues of approximately $11.97 million (45% of budget, slightly ahead of the 42% target) and expenditures of $8.2 million (31% of budget, well below the 42% target), resulting in net revenue over expenditures of $770,646.

Smith provided a detailed update on the John A. Homes High School construction project, which has expended $64,073,212 to date through grant funds ($50 million), county contribution, and bond proceeds ($14,071,712). The project maintains a contingency balance of $3,135,160.

Chowan County Manager Kevin Howard confirmed that students will begin attending classes at the new high school on January 26, though the project won’t be fully complete until demolition of old buildings and construction of parking lots is finished. He expressed cautious optimism about preserving most of the contingency fund, noting that major concerns typically diminish once construction moves above ground, though parking lot work could reveal soil issues.

New Initiatives and Personnel Updates

Shaffer announced he is working to establish a regional taskforce focused on the Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base program, which includes significant education funding. After attending an event with the Secretary of Defense at Newport News, Shaffer said he plans to coordinate with local schools, including College of the Albemarle, to align technical education programs with Navy requirements.

Howard announced the hiring of a new animal shelter director, who started on Friday. The shelter is currently operating with reduced hours due to staffing shortages.

Howard also reported that the employee appreciation luncheon was well-received and reminded commissioners to consider dates for the annual planning retreat scheduled for late February or early March.