By Nicole Bowman-Layton

Part 2 of 2: This story covers the remainder of Monday’s meeting. Read Part 1 for details on the county’s proposed regional water treatment plant.

EDENTON — As Chowan County commissioners worked through a wide-ranging agenda Monday night, one observation underscored the meeting: Decisions affecting residents are often made in front of only a handful of people.

During the end of the meeting, Commissioner Ellis Lawrence noted that public attendance is typically low, even when the board is discussing issues with broad impact — a point reflected again April 6 as commissioners addressed taxes, recreation spending and a potential property transfer.

Public comment raises familiar questions

Only one person spoke during public comment, but the questions touched on several ongoing county issues.

Chowan County resident Kim Ringeisen asked about the future of Red Banks Farm (located off West Queen Street), the cost of the John A. Holmes High School project and whether the county would publish a revenue-neutral tax rate ahead of upcoming budget discussions. The cost of the high school project was to be discussed at a joint meeting of the county commissioners and Edenton-Chowan School Board of Education held later in the week. The Albemarle Observer was unable to attend the meeting in person but is working to gather information for a story.

The questions reflected continued public interest — as well as the challenge of keeping residents informed about issues.

Commissioners discussed live-streaming meetings or creating videos explaining issues, all of which will cost money. They also discussed that if they moved forward, they would have to address sound quality, as their meetings are held in a large area of the Public Safety Building that tends to have poor acoustics.

Tax liens approved, concerns raised

Commissioners unanimously approved the annual order to advertise delinquent 2025 property taxes, as required by state law.

The discussion turned to the cost of publishing those notices and others in a local newspaper that does not reach all Chowan County residents.

“It just doesn’t taste quite right,” Chairman Bob Kirby said, noting that taxpayers ultimately bear the expense, even if the county attempts to recover the cost through added fees.

Swain Auditorium: progress and caution

One of the night’s most significant discussions centered on Swain Auditorium, a county-owned building that the Town of Edenton has asked to acquire.

Commissioners agreed to move forward with exploring a transfer but made clear that key details — particularly the future of the Senior Center housed in the building — still need to be negotiated.

“This is one of those things kind of outside the box,” County Manager Kevin Howard said, noting that any agreement would require additional legal work and board approval.

Howard said the likely structure would involve the town taking ownership while the county leases space to continue operating the senior center.

The proposal follows action by the Edenton Town Council in March, when members voted to formally request ownership of the building as a first step toward preserving it and determining its long-term use. Town leaders have emphasized that accepting the property would not immediately commit the town to major spending, but would allow time to explore grants, partnerships and potential redevelopment options. The proposal was part of council’s January planning session.

Mayor Hackney High described that approach as a phased process.

“The first being the preservation and protection of that building… and then… what do we want to do with the community with that space,” High said during the March meeting.

The building, located at 200 E. Church St., has long served multiple roles in the community. It houses the Chowan County Senior Center and once functioned as a major performance venue, hosting concerts, school events and community gatherings. Before than it was Edenton High School and E.A. Swain Elementary School.

Recent planning discussions have also included a proposal to convert the space into a cultural center and theater, potentially serving as a regional hub for performances and events.

During Monday’s meeting, commissioners raised questions about the county’s role in maintaining services within the building, including the senior center.

“The senior center is open to all county residents,” Howard noted, adding that its funding and operations are tied to county responsibilities.

No final decision was made Monday, but the board’s action signals the start of negotiations that could determine both the future of the historic building and how responsibilities are shared between the county and town.

Recreation funding approved, landscaping delayed

Commissioners approved $70,500 in capital improvements for Hicks Field, including repairs to the concession stand, grandstand and scoreboard.

A separate proposal to remove and replace landscaping was tabled after commissioners requested cost estimates before taking action. The proposal is currently to remove trees and bushes along the baseball stadium on Freemason and Woodard streets.

The commissioners noted that the landscaping there includes trees that are between 12 and 15 feet tall.

“Everything’s gotten a little big too big for us to maintain and keep up,” Howard said. “… We haven’t seen (a landscaping plan) yet, but what it’s going to do is mimic what’s already being done in the high school with a few changes.”

“I’ve got to have some idea of estimate or something,” Kirby said.

They also noted that the netting at Hicks Field is supposed to be replaced and raised by about 30 to 40 feet to protect the new school building. That work is expected to be completed by the end of June.

Other items, including the purchase of two trucks for the water department and the sale of a county vehicle to the Town of Edenton, were approved with little discussion.