By Nicole Bowman-Layton

EDENTON — Chowan County commissioners held their regular monthly meeting Monday night, June 1, 2026, tackling a range of issues including a proposed $500,000 grocery store incentive, school construction change orders, financial reports, and a rezoning request — while also fielding pointed public criticism over taxes and government transparency.

Information on the public hearing about the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget appears in a separate article.

Grocery Store Incentive

County Manager Kevin Howard announced that the board will hold a public hearing during its June 15 meeting on a proposal to contribute $500,000 toward attracting a new grocery store to the community, structured as $100,000 per year over five years.

The announcement comes as the long-discussed redevelopment of the Edenton Village Shopping Center on North Broad Street appears to be gaining real momentum. Ches Chesson, executive director of Main Street Edenton, announced at a recent Edenton Town Council meeting that the shopping center redevelopment is moving forward, with a grocery store anchor having signed a letter of intent. In a previous report, Chesson described the prospective tenant as a full-service grocery store offering a scratch bakery and butcher services at all of its locations. The store is expected to occupy the former Food Lion space near Tractor Supply on North Board Street, which has sat vacant for several years.

Howard said the county would likely channel its funding through an agreement with the Town of Edenton, which would then administer the funds associated with the project. He noted the county is not required to hold a public hearing on the matter but believes public input is important given the size of the proposed commitment.

“We know the public wants it,” Howard told commissioners of the potential second grocery store.

Howard acknowledged that existing county policy does not specifically provide funding for this type of economic development project, since it does not directly add to the tax base in the traditional sense.

Officials declined to identify the grocery chain by name, saying they could not discuss further specifics about the prospective tenant.

Board Chairman Bob Kirby encouraged residents to attend the June 15 hearing.

“Do you want a grocery store or do you not want a grocery store?” Kirby said. “This is where you get a chance.”

Fireworks Display Approved

The board approved a request from Wetzel Pyrotechnics and the Chowan Edenton Optimist Club to hold a fireworks display at Hayes Plantation on July 4. County Clerk Susanne Stallings noted that all required documentation had been submitted and that the county’s fire inspector would conduct a final on-site inspection and issue the permit the day of the event.

School Construction Change Orders

The board approved two change orders for the ongoing John A. Holmes High School construction project, both to be paid from project contingency funds.

Change Order 20, totaling $38,922.95, covers a concrete slab for a greenhouse being added to the school’s Career and Technical Education program. Schools Superintendent Tammy Ward explained that the greenhouse itself is being funded separately through CTE (Career and Technical Education) funds and is expected to arrive and be installed before the end of June. Commissioner Larry McLaughlin raised a question about drainage in the greenhouse slab, specifically whether there was a cleanout on the drain line. Several commissioners noted that the drain would have to be included in the certified drawings. Ward said she would follow up with the specific cleanout location.

Change Order 21, totaling $16,464, covers additional fencing at the CTE area, including eight-foot fencing with aluminum privacy slats under the canopy and six-foot fencing with two gates in the courtyard area.

Howard noted that with limited contingency funds remaining, it made sense to address these items now rather than seek separate funding later.

Rezoning Approved

The board held a public hearing and unanimously approved a rezoning request from Daniel Mahoney and Jennifer McQuilken to rezone approximately 5.45 acres at 251 Cowpen Neck Road from CU-R-5 (Conditional Use Residential) and A-1 to straight A-1 Agricultural. No members of the public spoke during the hearing, and no neighboring property owners raised objections.

Planning Director Robert Daniel presented the staff report, noting the property — the site of the proposed Cypress Point — was partially rezoned to CU-R-5 in 2007 in connection with a condominium development that never materialized. The applicants have indicated they wish to operate a commercial marina on the property, a use permitted under A-1 zoning but not under the current CU-R-5 designation.

County Attorney Lauren Arizaga-Womble cautioned the board that their decision should be based on the zoning district itself, not the applicants’ stated intentions, since the property could be sold and developed under any permitted A-1 use. The Planning Board had previously voted 5-0 to recommend approval, finding the request consistent with the county’s 2018 Land Use Plan and the surrounding area’s lower-density character.

Financial Reports

Finance Officer Cathy Smith presented financial reports through April 30, 2026, along with three budget amendments.

The general fund showed revenues at 80 percent of the adjusted budget and expenditures at 65 percent through 10 months of the fiscal year that ends June 30, reflecting a net surplus position of approximately $3.9 million. The JAHHS Replacement Fund showed expenditures at 80 percent of the budget, with the project drawing down loan proceeds.

The board also received a sales tax analysis through the most recent payment received in May, covering the period ending March 31. Sales tax revenue is running approximately 10 percent below the full-year budget projection, with Howard and Smith noting that three months of collections remain and the final outcome is uncertain.

Total cash and investments decreased by approximately $2.3 million from March to April, with the majority of that decline attributable to drawdowns on the JAHHS construction loan proceeds account.

The board approved all three budget amendments, covering bleacher repairs at D.F. Walker Recreation Center, a vehicle purchase for the Soil and Water department, and a list of deferred maintenance projects across several county facilities — all funded through interest income from the county’s ARPA fund. The maintenance list includes back-flow valve repairs, HVAC work, a water heater replacement, and a privacy fence at the agricultural building.

The board also authorized the Finance Officer and County Manager to perform year-end FY 2025-26 budget cleanup amendments, to be presented to the board as informational items at a future meeting.

Other Business

Kirby reported on a recent meeting of the NC Coastal Counties Fisheries Commission in Morehead City, which monitors state legislation that could affect commercial fishing in coastal counties.

McLaughlin noted an upcoming cookout at the Senior Center on June 12.

Howard updated the board on several pending matters, including repairs to a boat ramp — the first phase of which is nearly complete — and ongoing efforts to finalize a contract arrangement with the regional jail, with legislation still pending in the General Assembly.

Stallings reminded commissioners to respond to an email about available dates for the Board of Equalization and Review appeal hearings, noting that appellants need at least two and a half weeks’ notice of scheduled hearing dates.

Kirby also called attention to a vacancy on the county’s Community Advisory Committee for nursing homes, describing it as a meaningful opportunity for resident involvement that currently lacks participation.

During public comment, Lisa Laws suggested that the county include newsletters in utility bills to better inform residents of government issues.

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 15 at 6 p.m. at the Chowan County Public Safety Center, and will include the grocery store public hearing. An additional budget work session is scheduled for Thursday, June 4 at 9 a.m., with the final budget vote anticipated at the June 15 meeting.