By Miles Layton
WILLIAMSTON — Martin County commissioners were presented Thursday night with a sweeping picture of the county’s present challenges and future direction, as discussions ranged from the possibility of a voter-approved tax increase to support emergency medical services, to workforce development partnerships, enrollment growth at Martin Community College, and changes to county operations.
County Manager Drew Batts discussed financial realities related to EMS staffing, including the potential need for a tax increase if the county moves forward with expanded paramedic services.
“Just based on the numbers that were given at the previous study where they came out and told us exactly what it would cost the county on a yearly basis, we would be looking at a referendum to increase the tax rate in order for the county to afford that service,” Batts told the board. “I just wanted to put that out there. And that discussion can be had, but that would require a referendum to the current tax rate.”
Batts said the cost estimates provided in the earlier study suggest a noticeable impact on the county’s tax rate.
“You’re looking at anywhere from four to five cents per hundred,” he said. “For reference, right now the county’s at 72 cents per hundred tax rate. We would be looking somewhere around 76 to 77 cents per hundred with that revenue.”
Batts emphasized that the information was shared to address questions raised by commissioners and the public at a previous meeting.
“I just wanted to throw that information out there so that the questions that came in the last meeting could be somewhat addressed as far as where we’re at on that conversation,” he said.
The discussion followed Batts’ update on EMS call volume across the county, which showed an increase in activity in 2025.
Based on data from Michael Bryant, Deputy EM /Deputy Fire Marshal, Batts showed the number of EMS run totals for 2025 by agency.
According to Batts, Jamesville recorded 511 runs, Williamston had 2,733, Hamilton had 222, Oak City had 240 and Robersonville had 987.
“These numbers showed an increase of 206 from the 2024 run totals,” he said.
Batts also highlighted the level of care currently available in Martin County.
“Martin County has advanced EMS in the county,” he said. “That’s not something that everywhere has. So that gives us the ability to provide a higher level of care than a standard EMS rated service.”
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Beyond EMS, Batts briefed commissioners on the county’s need to comply with state public records laws related to social media.
“Since I started, we have gotten multiple public information requests that are around our social media sites that the county has got into,” Batts said. “There are quite a few general statutes that regulate archiving and what we are supposed to do with these sites.”
Batts said Sheriff Drew Robinson shared those concerns, prompting the county to explore a third-party archiving service.
“Anything that ever hits our social media site is archived and we can go back and get it if we need to,” Batts said.
Under North Carolina law, Batts said social media posts made in the course of public business are public records.
“These communications are all considered public records as soon as they’re posted and they must be preserved,” he said.
Batts warned that content can be lost when posts or comments are deleted, making it impossible to respond to records requests.
“This tool will preserve that record as soon as it hits that Facebook page or whatever social media platform it is,” he said.
The proposed service would cost $4,188 per year, a figure Batts described as reasonable compared to the cost of dedicating staff time to manual archiving.
“It is not feasible to think that we can stay under regulation by doing what we’re currently doing,” he said. “We’ve gotta do something different.”
The board also heard from Martin Community College President Tabitha Miller, who delivered a comprehensive State of the College presentation focused on enrollment growth, new programs, and workforce development.
“Our goal is to build better futures for Martin County residents and Bertie County residents,” Miller said. “The key was to take people from where they are and then take them as far as they can go, and as far as they want to go.”
One of the most significant developments, Miller said, is full legislative approval of the Martin County Early College High School.
“By bringing on the Early College High School designation, not only does funding occur so that Martin County Schools can fully fund it, but we now get to work with 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders,” she said.
That change allows students to begin college coursework earlier and potentially graduate high school with an associate degree.
“It enables them then to possibly complete the associate’s degree by the time they graduate high school,” Miller said. “And that’s all free.”
Miller said the college has also gained national recognition.
“We became eligible, we were one of 600 schools across the nation to be eligible to apply for a $1 million prize,” she said, referring to the Aspen Institute.
She noted the college’s strong transfer performance.
“At one point, we were number one in the state for transfer success,” Miller said. “We’re not number one anymore. We’re like number four now, but we’re still in that top five.”
Enrollment growth has followed.
“In the fall of 2025, we actually had a 9% increase,” Miller said. “For spring, we’re at a 10% increase.”
Fall enrollment has grown from 810 students in 2023 to 949 in 2025, she said, and May 2025 marked the largest graduating class in the college’s history.
“We had graduates that were 15 years old and 62 years old,” Miller said.
Financially, Miller told commissioners the college remains stable.
“For the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2025, the college’s financial position remains stable,” she said. “The total net position increased 57,234, which reflects the strength of the college.”
Miller also detailed recent investments, including cybersecurity upgrades, a renewable energy solar house funded by a $2.7 million grant, a wellness therapy center and walking track open to the public, and a virtual reality EMS simulation lab.
“They can simulate an actual active emergency down to the sounds, the smells, everything,” she said.
Despite progress, Miller said housing remains a challenge for both employees and students.
“Finding homes for young professionals is difficult,” she said. “Anything that we can do to help our students be able to still have access to a school even if they have transportation issues would be beneficial.”
Workforce development was further emphasized by Commissioner David “Skip” Gurganus, who spoke from his experience in heavy industry.
“What I do for a living, and have for years, is work as a maintenance and engineering manager or project manager in heavy industry,” Gurganus said. “The problem that every industry is having, including every industry in our county, is having qualified people to do maintenance.”
Gurganus said the shortage affects operators and skilled trades essential to keeping facilities running.
“If somebody don’t run the machine, nothing gets done,” he said.
He described how Martin Community College began developing apprenticeship programs to address that need, and how the closure of the Weyerhaeuser mill in New Bern created an opportunity.
“Equipment that, in my field, the maintenance field, I knew could be used to teach people how to do the work that they need doing,” Gurganus said.
He said the effort led to a partnership involving the college, Martin County Schools and Weyerhaeuser.
“Weyerhaeuser donated about $350,000 worth of equipment, just gave it to the college and the school system, and there’s more to go yet,” Gurganus said.
The equipment will be used to train students on the same machinery used in industry.
“For us to get industry in Martin County, we have to be able to train a workforce,” he said.
Gurganus stressed the importance of trade skills alongside traditional college education.
“College is a super important thing. I have a college degree, but I made my living for years with the trade skills that I have,” he said. “Everybody don’t go to college, everybody don’t have the aptitude but they know how to work on a car. They’re just as important as every next guy.”
Chairman Joe R. Ayers praised Gurganus’ efforts, calling the equipment donation “quite a feat,” though Gurganus deflected credit to Weyerhaeuser and the college.
More from Thursday’s meeting will appear in a future story. If you want to reach out to me, my email address is mileslayton1969@gmail.com