Greene County commissioners handle tax appeal, proclamations, pay plan and grant closeout

SNOW HILL — The Greene County Board of Commissioners handled a property tax appeal, approved several appointments and proclamations, adopted a county pay plan, and closed out a youth sports grant project Monday during its regular meeting.

The board also adopted the county’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget and approved a resolution directing opioid settlement spending. Those items were addressed in separate action during the meeting.

Commissioners began by amending the agenda to remove a public hearing that County Manager Kyle DeHaven said had already been held at a prior meeting.

“We actually held that item at our last meeting and inadvertently stayed on the calendar for today,” DeHaven said.

Commissioners also pulled the June 1 meeting minutes from the consent agenda after Commissioner Derek Burress questioned whether the minutes properly documented the board’s prior closed session.

“It doesn’t mention who made the motion or anything,” Burress said. “The minutes don’t list why we went in the closed session last week.”

Burress said he was not criticizing the staff member who prepared the minutes.

“I’m not blaming Liz,” Burress said. “She’s done her job because it was just never stated.”

The board removed the minutes from the consent agenda and plans to bring them back at a later meeting after revisions.

No one spoke during public comments.

Tamsey Evans, administrative officer for Greene County Department of Social Services, presented a proclamation for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The proclamation recognized June 15, 2026, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Greene County.

Evans read language from the proclamation saying older adults “deserve to be treated with dignity” and that prevention includes maintaining social supports such as senior centers, human services and transportation.

County Attorney Kevin MacQueen later praised the county’s Adult Protective Services workers.

“They don’t always get the attention that CPS does, but they do a wonderful, wonderful job,” MacQueen said. “They really do look after the elderly folks of Greene County.”

Commissioners approved the proclamation.

The board also heard a property tax appeal from Lisa Tripp, who challenged the valuation of a garage on property she owns with Marc Tripp. Tax Administrator Stephanie Wiggins recommended no change, saying the county had applied the adopted schedule of values correctly. Commissioners voted to uphold the tax department’s recommendation.

Commissioners approved the reappointment of Caroline Miller to the Greene County Library Board. DeHaven said Miller’s application was endorsed by Sarah Seaver, interim director of Neuse Regional Libraries.

The board also approved the reappointment of William Connor to the Greene County ABC Board. Commissioner Ray Johnson noted that he serves as chairman of the ABC Board and recused himself from the matter.

Commissioners approved an updated classification and pay plan and personnel policy. DeHaven said The MAPS Group worked with the county on the study, which focused on compression within the organization rather than starting pay.

“It was my understanding from the Board of Commissioners that the direction was to address compression, not starting pay,” DeHaven said. “In our prior studies, we had addressed starting pay.”

DeHaven said the updated salaries were included in the budget commissioners had approved earlier in the meeting.

The board also approved a proclamation honoring the Rosenwald Center for Cultural Enrichment and its annual Juneteenth Festival. The proclamation says the Rosenwald Center has worked since the mid-1980s on economic development, historic preservation and cultural activities in Greene County.

The proclamation recognizes the Rosenwald Center’s sixth annual Juneteenth celebration, scheduled for June 19-21 in Snow Hill. Events are planned at Greene County’s courthouse freedom marker, Snow Hill Colored School, South Greene Gym and Lenoir Community College Workforce Development sites.

Commissioners also approved closing out a 2024-25 NC Amateur Sports Grant project. DeHaven said the grant supported shade around the concession area at the county recreation facility and improvements to the Greene Central High School softball field backstop.

“S&S Metalworks worked with the county and did a phenomenal job,” DeHaven said. “They did donate a lot of their time and efforts.”

The original grant award was $20,000. According to the grant information in the agenda packet, the project included a metal shelter for covered seating near the concession area at the Greene County Recreation Complex and upgrades to the Greene Central High School softball field, including backstop improvements, new netting, spectator seating and a press box.

Commissioners went into closed session for attorney-client privilege near the end of the meeting. They returned to open session and adjourned.