Kinston City Council hears concerns about youth activities, homelessness; approves budget changes and utility projects
The Kinston City Council on Tuesday approved several financial and administrative items, heard public concerns about summer options for teenagers and resources for people experiencing homelessness, and received a report on a coordinated law enforcement operation that executed dozens of search warrants across the city.
The council met March 3 at Kinston City Hall, with Mayor Kareem S. Moore presiding. The meeting agenda included the city’s annual financial report, budget amendments, several ordinances related to police forfeiture and donation funds, an engineering services agreement for an electric system upgrade, a cemetery master planning update, and appointments to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Citizen comments focus on summer youth options and public safety
During the citizen comment period, Tony Kinsey urged the city to prioritize keeping recreation gym spaces open on weekends during the summer, arguing that closures leave teenagers with “absolutely nothing to do” and increase risks for at-risk youth. Kinsey also criticized conditions at outdoor basketball courts and asked the city to address maintenance issues he said have gone unresolved for decades.
Quarla Blackwell also spoke, tying summer conditions to addiction and neighborhood safety. She asked council to begin discussing a cooling and warming station and said she has started a nonprofit, the Bridge Foundation, aimed at serving youth, families, people experiencing homelessness, people with addictions, and returning citizens. Blackwell announced an upcoming event on March 13 at the Lovitt Hines location, noting Parks and Recreation staff assisted with making the space available.
Police chief briefs council on search warrants tied to marijuana sales complaints
Council added a briefing from Police Chief Keith Goyette near the top of the agenda. In his remarks, Goyette said multiple agencies worked with the Kinston Police Department on a three-month investigation that resulted in 34 search warrants executed Tuesday morning. He said 26 warrants were served at commercial properties and eight were served at the homes of owners of those businesses. Goyette said the operation stemmed from ongoing complaints about illegal marijuana sales, including complaints involving sales to teenagers.
Goyette said officers seized firearms, cash and drugs and noted that, under North Carolina law, products above 0.3 delta-9 THC are illegal. He told council he expected additional totals within a few days once seized cash could be processed.
Council members thanked law enforcement for the operation and asked questions about participating agencies, canine involvement, and whether affected businesses would be shut down. Goyette said businesses would remain open if they were selling legal products and emphasized enforcement action rather than closing businesses.
Audit presentation: Clean opinion, no findings
CPA Matthew Finney of RH CPAs presented the city’s fiscal year 2025 audit results. Finney said the audit resulted in an unmodified opinion, the highest level of audit opinion, and that there were no findings.
Finney’s presentation also reported that the general fund balance increased by $1,519,489, ending the year at $20,668,233, and that enterprise funds net position increased by $1,849,041, ending at $183,161,835.
Interim City Manager Ralph Clark and council members discussed the timing of audit deadlines and broader financial planning topics, including the idea of developing a fund balance policy and reviewing longer-term trend data.
Budget amendment approved
Council approved an operating budget amendment for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Finance Director Donna Goodson said notable items included funding professional services related to the city manager search, matching funds for a multimodal planning grant, and moving field naming rights revenue toward future renovations at Grainger Stadium.
Separate police forfeiture and donation funds created for tracking and transparency
Goodson also presented a set of ordinances restructuring how the city tracks certain police-related proceeds. Council approved changes that separate funds into distinct categories for federal forfeitures, state-related proceeds, and police donations, with the goal of improving accountability, transparency, and tracking under different reporting requirements.
Council voted to amend the existing federal drug forfeiture-related project and to establish new projects for state forfeiture and KPD donations.
Engineering agreement approved for Cunningham substation transformer project
Council approved an engineering services agreement for the Cunningham substation transformer replacement project. Public Services Director Steve Miller told council the city plans to replace an existing 20-megawatt transformer with a 30-megawatt transformer to add capacity for current and future customers served by the Cunningham substation area, near Kinston High School.
Miller said the engineering services agreement was recommended in the amount of $463,530 and that the overall project will take about two years due to the lead time required to order, build and deliver a transformer. The agreement is part of work tied to $2 million previously approved to begin the project, with funding coming from the electric capital reserve.
Cemetery master planning update
Miller also provided an informational update on cemetery planning, including efforts to evaluate improvements at Southview Cemetery and to consider longer-term needs for available space and future burial options. He said the city is evaluating beautification ideas and access points and is using existing professional services funds to cover consulting work.
Council discussion included questions about how cemeteries are mapped and maintained. Miller said the city surveys its cemeteries and maintains coordinates for sections and grave locations.
Parks and Recreation Commission appointments
Council approved appointments and a reappointment to the Parks and Recreation Commission, including Jerry Burns, Sue Ellen Maddux and Roger Jones.
Council discusses gym access, early voting conflicts, and homelessness planning
In council discussion near the end of the meeting, members returned to the public comments about gym access. Parks and Recreation Director Scott Alston said gyms are heavily rented for family reunions during the spring and summer weekends, which affects availability, and said staff would discuss options with the Recreation Commission to bridge the gap.
Council members also raised concerns about recreation facility closures tied to early voting, saying it disrupts programming at certain sites. Alston said staff have been working with election officials to explore alternatives.
Councilmember remarks also addressed homelessness. One member requested an “inventory” estimate of the local homeless population to guide planning and discussed the role churches and nonprofits can play in providing shelters and warming options.
Council adjourned after completing the agenda.
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