Snow Hill Commissioners Appoint Harrell to Board Vacancy, Reelect Wilkes as Mayor Pro Tem
The Snow Hill Board of Commissioners held two connected meetings on Monday, January 12, 2026, at the G. Melvin Oliver Town Hall in Snow Hill. The proceedings began with the conclusion of the recessed regular meeting from December 8, 2025.
Recessed December 8, 2025, Meeting
The recessed portion of the December 8, 2025, regular meeting convened at 5:00 p.m., with Mayor Dianne Andrews calling the meeting to order. The agenda was approved unanimously. The board then entered closed session for the purpose of receiving legal advice.
Following the closed session, the board addressed the sole remaining item on the recessed agenda: selection of the Mayor Pro Tem for the current term. Rosa Wilkes was re-elected by the board to continue serving as Mayor Pro Tem. With no further business to conduct, the recessed December meeting was adjourned.
Regular January 2026 Meeting
At approximately 6:00 p.m., Mayor Andrews called the regularly scheduled January meeting to order. The agenda and consent agenda were approved unanimously. The consent agenda included approval of the minutes from the December 8, 2025, regular meeting.
Fiscal Year 2024–2025 Audit Presentation
Jay Parris of Barrow, Parris & Davenport, P.A., presented the audit report for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2025. Parris stated that the audit process went “very well” and described the final report as a particularly strong audit for a municipality of Snow Hill’s size. He reported that the audit received an unmodified opinion, commonly referred to as a “clean audit,” meaning the town’s financial statements fairly present its financial position in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Parris emphasized that the audit contained no findings, no deficiencies, and no recommendations, including no findings related to internal controls or segregation of duties. He explained that this is a notable accomplishment for a small municipality, where limited staffing often makes segregation of duties difficult. The absence of any findings reflects strong financial oversight, sound procedures, and cooperation across departments.
He confirmed that the audit was submitted to the North Carolina Local Government Commission by the revised December 31 statutory deadline, placing the town in full compliance with updated state requirements.
Parris reviewed key financial results in detail. The town’s general fund recorded a surplus of approximately $91,000 for the fiscal year, increasing the fund balance to more than 100 percent of annual operating expenditures. He explained that maintaining a fund balance at or above this level places Snow Hill in a strong financial position compared to similarly sized municipalities and is viewed very favorably by the Local Government Commission.
He further noted that Snow Hill has demonstrated a consistent pattern of growing its fund balance over multiple years, describing this trend as commendable and indicative of disciplined budgeting, conservative spending, and effective long-term financial planning.
The water and sewer fund, accounted for as a proprietary fund using full accrual accounting that includes depreciation, reported a profit of approximately $62,000 on the town’s budgetary basis. Parris described the utility fund as financially stable and well-managed.
Parris also reviewed major capital projects active during the audit period, including completion of the splash pad, initiation of the largely grant-funded $4.45 million wastewater treatment plant improvement project, and completion of a $300,000 lead service line inventory and study.
The board unanimously approved the audit report.
Appointment to Fill Board Vacancy
The board next addressed the vacancy on the five-member Board of Commissioners created by Mayor Dianne Andrews’ election to the mayor’s seat in November 2025. The appointment was to fill the remaining two years of the unexpired term.
Town Attorney Brian Pridgen outlined the legal framework for filling the vacancy, explaining that state law and the town charter grant the board broad discretion in making appointments. He emphasized that the board is not required to follow prior election results and may make the appointment at its discretion, provided the appointee meets statutory eligibility requirements.
Former Town Commissioner Geraldine Shackleford was nominated by Commissioner Faye Daniels and seconded by Commissioner Lorraine Washington. Daniels and Washington voted in favor, while Mayor Pro Tem Rosa Wilkes and Commissioner Deborah Harper voted against, resulting in a 2–2 tie. Mayor Andrews voted against the nomination, defeating the motion.
Mayor Pro Tem Rosa Wilkes then nominated Courtney Harrell, with Commissioner Deborah Harper seconding the motion. Wilkes and Harper voted in favor, while Daniels and Washington opposed. The vote again resulted in a 2–2 tie, which Mayor Andrews broke by voting in favor of the appointment. Harrell was appointed by a 3–2 vote.
Easement Access Request
The board considered a request from a resident associated with parcel number 0304977 seeking permission to utilize the town’s unused easement off Chelsea Drive for access to the property. Town staff explained that the parcel currently has two existing access points, one off Edgemont Drive near Ramblewood Mobile Home Park and another from a separate side, but neither provides direct or efficient access to the rear portion of the property.
Staff noted that the Chelsea Drive easement, which has remained undeveloped and unused by the town, would offer a more direct and practical route to the back portion of the parcel. They further explained that the town has no current or planned use for the easement and that allowing limited private access would not interfere with town operations or future infrastructure planning.
The board discussed potential liability, maintenance responsibilities, and long-term implications of granting access. Staff clarified that approval would be contingent upon the resident entering into a formal agreement, assuming full responsibility for clearing trees, underbrush, and debris, as well as ongoing maintenance of the access path. The agreement also requires the resident to fully indemnify the town against any claims, damages, or liability arising from use of the easement.
Following discussion, the board approved the request subject to execution of the agreement, emphasizing that the approval does not transfer ownership of the easement and does not obligate the town to perform any maintenance or improvements.
Subdivision Preliminary Plat Approval
The board next considered the preliminary plat for a proposed 32-lot residential subdivision submitted by Greene County Commissioner Bobby Taylor. The proposed development is located off Greenridge Road, between Greenridge Road and Kingold Boulevard, and situated behind Ribeyes restaurant.
Town staff provided a detailed overview of the proposal, noting that the subdivision consists of 32 residential lots, each measuring at least three-quarters of an acre. The lot sizes meet or exceed the town’s minimum requirements under the existing zoning classification, allowing the development to proceed without the need for rezoning or a zoning public hearing.
Staff explained that because the property is already appropriately zoned, the approval process is limited to subdivision review, which focuses on factors such as lot configuration, road layout, access, and compliance with development standards. The town’s planning board reviewed the preliminary plat in advance and recommended approval.
Staff further noted that the owner intends to seek annexation of the subdivision into the town limits as development progresses. Annexation would place the subdivision under full municipal jurisdiction, allowing the town to provide services such as water, sewer, and road maintenance and ensuring consistency with town standards.
The board unanimously approved the preliminary plat, allowing the developer to proceed with detailed engineering and subsequent phases of development review.
Washington Reappointed as ECC Representative
Commissioner Lorraine Washington was reappointed as Snow Hill’s representative to the East Carolina Council of Governments, a regional organization that provides planning, technical assistance, and coordination services to member municipalities. No additional nominations were made.
Departmental Reports
Police Chief Josh Smith reported on December activities, including the Shop with a Cop program, which provided holiday assistance to a local family identified with assistance from Snow Hill Primary School.
Of 12 investigations in December, eight were closed by arrest, two remained open, and two were closed without arrest. The department issued 28 town ordinance violations, 12 state citations, investigated nine traffic crashes, and assisted with unlocking three vehicles.
A cadet is scheduled to begin Basic Law Enforcement Training, and background checks are underway for two certified applicants. A grant application has been submitted to the Governor’s Crime Commission for up to $40,000 to fund in-car cameras and a laptop.
Finance Officer April Williams presented monthly financial reports, noting increased ad valorem tax collections during the payment period and collections of more than $2,600 through debt set-off since implementation.
Public Works Director Travis Warters reported that crews were removing Christmas lights and banners, reinstalling the backing trailer, and installing new street signs to replace faded or damaged ones. Water samples were submitted on time, and several water leaks were repaired in-house.
A contractor for a gas company struck a water main near the county office complex, resulting in a three-hour water shutdown affecting several buildings and residences; post-repair testing showed no issues. At the wastewater treatment plant, only one of three sludge transfer pumps is operational and is functioning at approximately 50 percent capacity. Warters explained that if the remaining pump fails, the plant would be unable to move sludge, leading to a serious emergency and likely state violations.
Wastewater Pump Repair Options and Approval
Town Manager April Vinson provided further explanation on the sludge transfer pump issue at the wastewater treatment plant. She described the system as critical for moving sludge through the treatment process, noting that it typically requires three pumps for full operation. With two pumps already failed and the last one at only 50 percent capacity, the situation posed a high risk of complete failure, which could halt plant operations, cause backups, result in environmental violations, and potentially lead to public complaints or regulatory penalties from the state.
Vinson detailed the two repair options provided by the contractor, in coordination with Green Engineering, for reimbursement potential under the town’s $4.2 million state grant (SL 134 funding), which has been delayed for over a year and a half due to state administrative processes.
Option 1 involved installing just the replacement pump at a cost of $58,972.
Option 2 included both the pump replacement and necessary piping work at a cost of $85,752.
Vinson explained the savings and logic behind the options, stating that choosing Option 1 now would mean returning later for the piping, incurring at least another $58,000 in costs due to separate mobilization, labor, and shutdowns. In contrast, Option 2 addressed both components in one visit, avoiding redundant expenses and making it the more cost-effective choice overall; potentially saving the town thousands by preventing a second project phase. She stressed the need for a proactive approach rather than a reactive one, as waiting for the pump to fail could create an emergency with no time for planning or reimbursement coordination.
Staff had already submitted a request to the state for advance clearance to purchase and install the repairs, anticipating full reimbursement once grant funds are released. Vinson recommended Option 2 as the logical and imperative choice to mitigate risks and ensure compliance.
The board discussed the urgency briefly and then voted to approve Option 2, at an estimated cost of $85,752 for the pump and associated piping, with the expectation of reimbursement from the town’s $4.2 million state grant when funds are released.
Town Manager’s Report and Closing Comments
Town Manager April Vinson informed the board of numerous upcoming events and deadlines. A Community Economic Vision Workshop is set for January 22 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Town Hall and is open to the public. The Black History Parade is scheduled for February 7 at 2:00 p.m., with lineup at 12:30 p.m. and a rain date of February 14. An elected official’s community breakfast will be held on February 20 from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. at Bojangles. The board approved continued sponsorship of inflatables at the April RAM Fest at a cost of approximately $380.
Vinson also reminded the board of the need to schedule the required ethics training for the new officials and noted that she would send an email with proposed dates for a special session to complete the virtual course. She referenced the board meeting schedule and holiday closures included in the packets.
In her closing remarks, Vinson returned to the audit presentation and stated that even after nearly 20 years working in government, it is very hard for a small town to get segregation of duties removed as a finding from the audit. She noted that Snow Hill had no such finding this year, which she described as something the town should be very proud of.
Vinson credited the dedication of finance staff, including Finance Officer April Williams, along with contributions from other departments such as Police Chief Josh Smith who assisted with deposits when needed, for ensuring no one in the office handled money without proper segregation.
Mayor Andrews and board members commended town staff for their work, particularly in achieving a clean audit and maintaining effective financial controls. The meeting adjourned following these comments.
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