By Nicole Bowman-Layton

EDENTON — Edenton Town Council unanimously approved a letter Monday, June 27, 2026, supporting the Town of Hertford’s application for federal funding to improve electrical infrastructure before committee members turned their attention to the town’s budget, a proposed Electric Department relocation and traffic safety near John A. Holmes High School.

The council’s only official action during the evening came during a brief special meeting, when members endorsed Hertford’s application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration for funding to construct an electrical substation serving the Perquimans Marine Industrial Park.

The proposed substation would provide sufficient electrical capacity for future development throughout the industrial park on Harvey Point Road near the US 17 interchange.

The request returned to the council after members previously voiced concerns that the project primarily benefited one company relocating from Edenton to Hertford. Town Manager Corey Gooden said subsequent discussions with Hertford and Perquimans County leaders clarified that the grant would support infrastructure serving the entire industrial park rather than a single business.

“We have done some due diligence on the project,” Gooden said. “One of the things that we have thought of is the ability to show them that the increased (economic development) in northeast for any one of our cities would greatly improve the area as a whole.”

Edenton-Chowan Partnership Executive Director Ches Chesson said requests for letters of support have recently become a standard part of EDA grant applications.

“The word from Electricities is that this is the first time that U.S. EDA has asked for any sort of letter support,” Chesson said. “This is now their standard over the past six months.”

The council approved the letter unanimously.

Budget review begins

Following the special meeting, council members convened committee meetings, where they began reviewing revisions to the town’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget following the General Assembly’s decision to delay Chowan County’s scheduled property revaluation.

Gooden explained that the budget adopted in June was based on the 2026 revaluation. After the state delayed implementation of those values, the town was forced to revise its financial plan using lower taxable values. The result is a tax rate of 55.5 cents per $100 value if the budget stays at the current funding levels.

Rather than rushing to adopt a new budget, council members indicated they want to carefully review expenditures and identify savings before presenting a revised budget for formal approval. The hope is that these cuts will help decrease the tax rate.

Mayor Hackney High said he believes the town should pause spending wherever possible while continuing to invest in employees.

“I would like to see some sort of version of a substantial pause or full pause on any spending over and above last year, except as it relates to spending on our people and the training,” High said.

Gooden agreed that employee development should remain a priority even as the town looks for reductions elsewhere. High suggested a hiring freeze or pause on capital expenditures, like new equipment or vehicles.

“We want to continue to focus on the staff,” High said. “We want to make sure folks can get certifications and training they need.”

Council also discussed asking department heads to prioritize requested capital purchases, staffing requests and training needs to help guide future budget discussions.

Although state law gives the town until Jan. 1, 2027, to adopt an amended budget, several council members expressed a desire to complete the process much sooner.

Electric Department looks to the future

The Utilities Committee also reviewed a proposal to purchase approximately 14.2 acres near Old Hertford Road for the future relocation of the town’s Electric Department.

Gooden said the department has outgrown its current facility, which serves more than 4,300 electric customers throughout Edenton and much of Chowan County. Larger trucks, equipment and inventory have placed increasing demands on the existing property.

Electric Department Superintendent Hunter Chamberlain said the proposal represents an opportunity to secure about 14.5 acres of land from a property totalling about 200 acres for the department’s long-term future.

“We’re a growing department. It seems like trucks get bigger, transformers get bigger, poles get bigger, and we’re still in the same lot that we’re from the forties,” Gooden said.

Chamberlain emphasized that the proposal is only for the purchase of property and would not begin immediate construction.

“This was just land acquisition,” he said. “This was just an opportunity to acquire some land at a reasonable rate.”

The cost calls for $45,000 in cash and about $40,000 in in-kind services to install three-phase electric service for some well pumps on the farm.

Council members generally supported the concept but raised questions about neighborhood impacts and traffic access.

Councilman Elton Bond expressed concern about additional traffic on Old Hertford Road, where children frequently play and ride bicycles.

Chamberlain responded that the town hopes to use Hubley Drive off US 32 as the primary access point, minimizing traffic through the residential neighborhood while preserving a substantial wooded buffer between the future facility and nearby homes. The electric department hopes to plant trees around the property to create a buffer between the facility and residences.

“We want to be as far back on the property as possible so we don’t disturb residents,” he said.

Mayor High encouraged council members to visit the property before the proposal returns to the full council.

“If anybody wants to do a site visit before the next meeting, let’s do that and make sure these concerns are addressed, and we can see it with our own eyes,” High said.

School traffic discussed

Public Works Committee Chair Aaron Coston asked that council table a request to reduce the speed limit along North Oakum Street, between Blades and Freemason streets, near the new John A. Holmes High School.

Rather than immediately endorsing a reduction from 35 mph to 25 mph, council members discussed whether additional pedestrian safety improvements—including crosswalks, school-zone signage and flashing warning lights—might better address concerns about students walking between the high school and College of The Albemarle.

“I think there are some other opportunities that we could potentially explore,” High said.

Police Chief David LaFon said the request originated from concerns about increased pedestrian traffic following the opening of the new high school campus. Town officials noted that additional safety improvements have already been discussed with Chowan County as part of the school’s traffic planning.

Committee discussions will continue over the coming weeks before recommendations are presented to the full Town Council for consideration at future regular meetings.