By Miles Layton

EDENTON — Edenton Town Council members will face a full agenda Tuesday night, with public safety trends, downtown economic development initiatives, infrastructure projects and a proposed new administrative position all scheduled for discussion during the council’s regular meeting.

The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the council chambers at 504 S. Broad Street.

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Among the most detailed presentations on the agenda will be a decade-long statistical overview from the Edenton Police Department outlining changes in calls for service, crime, arrests, and enforcement activity from 2015 through 2025. Council members are expected to use the report to help guide future decisions on staffing, budgeting and public safety priorities.

According to the report, Edenton police officers answered or investigated 13,181 calls for service in 2025, the highest total recorded during the 11-year period. That figure represents a dramatic increase from 4,072 calls in 2024 and exceeds totals reported earlier in the decade, including 11,475 calls in 2017.

While calls for service increased sharply in 2025, the number of criminal cases opened for investigation has generally declined over time. Police opened 580 cases in 2015, compared with 302 cases in 2023, 199 cases in 2024, and 252 cases in 2025.

Several major crime categories showed long-term declines. Larceny cases dropped from 99 in 2015 to 22 in 2025. Breaking and entering cases fell from 50 in 2015 to just nine in 2024, before rising again to 37 cases in 2025. Assault cases also trended downward, decreasing from 26 in 2015 to 12 in 2025.

Drug-related cases fluctuated throughout the decade, with 28 cases reported in 2015 and 37 cases recorded in 2025. Vandalism cases declined significantly, falling from 45 cases in 2015 to zero in recent years, according to the report.

Council members will also review enforcement data showing significant changes in arrest and traffic citation activity. Arrests totaled 299 in 2015 and exceeded 300 in several mid-decade years before declining steadily to 71 arrests in 2024. Arrests increased to 152 in 2025, though totals remain well below earlier levels.

Traffic enforcement has also declined sharply. Town-issued tickets dropped from 698 in 2015 to 47 in 2024 and 37 in 2025. Corresponding ticket revenue decreased substantially over the same period, falling from more than $11,000 in 2016 to $1,160 in 2025.

The report emphasizes that a growing share of officer activity involves non-criminal calls. In 2025, police responded to 496 alarm calls, 186 escort requests, 85 fire assists, and more than 10,500 miscellaneous service calls. Domestic-related calls remained relatively steady over the decade, with 253 reported in 2025, compared with 338 in 2015.

Town officials have said the data helps illustrate the expanding scope of services provided by the police department beyond traditional law enforcement.

In addition to the police presentation, council members will receive an update from Hotel Hinton, presented by Dawson Tyler, owner of Down East Preservation. The hotel, which is owned by SAGA, has been a focal point of Edenton’s downtown revitalization efforts, and the update is expected to cover operations and progress since the previous report.

The council’s new business agenda includes several economic development and quality-of-life items, beginning with a commemorative bench request for Sunfish Park submitted by Public Works Director David Myers. Council members are expected to consider the request and determine whether it meets town criteria for placement in a public park.

Council will also consider adopting the Creating Outdoor Recreation Economies (CORE) Plan, a strategic initiative to leverage outdoor recreation assets to support economic development. The plan will be presented by Assistant Town Manager Dewayne Whealton and will outline strategies to enhance recreational opportunities while supporting tourism and local businesses.

A presentation on the CORE report findings was given within recent months to town council.

Another major item on the agenda is a resolution related to a Rural Downtown Economic Development Grant (RDEDG) for a Main Street lighting project. The project, presented by Whealton and Main Street Edenton Director Ches Chesson, aims to improve downtown lighting infrastructure, enhance safety and aesthetics, and support the continued revitalization of the town’s core commercial area.

Staffing and administrative support will also be a focus of Tuesday’s meeting, as council considers approval of a new Office Administrative Specialist job description and pay scale.

The proposed position offers a hiring range from $43,340 to $61,914, depending on classification and experience. According to the job description, the Office Administrative Specialist would perform a wide range of clerical, secretarial, public information and program support duties within the town’s Administration Department and executive offices.

The position would serve as the initial point of public contact, handling reception duties, answering phones, greeting visitors, scheduling appointments and responding to both routine and non-routine inquiries. Responsibilities also include word processing, data entry, records management, and maintaining departmental files.

In addition to clerical functions, the position would play a significant role in public communications. Duties include composing the town’s quarterly newsletter for the billing department, administering the town’s social media accounts, updating the town website, distributing emergency management communications and maintaining the online meeting calendar.

The Office Administrative Specialist would also assist with mail distribution, document review, permit file maintenance, report preparation and office supply management. The position is expected to involve heavy public contact and customer service responsibilities and to serve as backup support for other departments as needed.

According to the recruitment guidelines, candidates should have a working knowledge of office practices and procedures, grammar and spelling, and computer systems. The position requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage records and compile data for reports.

Minimum qualifications include a high school diploma and some clerical or secretarial experience emphasizing public contact and file management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A valid North Carolina driver’s license is required, and Notary Public certification may be needed.

Town officials have indicated that the new position is intended to strengthen administrative operations and improve communication with residents as town services and public engagement demands continue to grow.

Tuesday’s meeting is expected to draw interest from residents concerned about public safety trends, downtown development and town staffing. The meeting is open to the public.