Lenoir County commissioners approve school relocation permit, road safety request
The Lenoir County Board of Commissioners approved several planning, public safety and county operations items during its July 20 meeting, including a school relocation permit, a road safety resolution, courthouse-related design work and a lease for county-owned flood buyout property.
Commissioners approved a special use permit for Ambleside Preparatory Academy to relocate to an approximately 83-acre site at N.C. 258 South and Will Baker Road. The private K-12 school already operates in Kinston and plans to transition to the new site over several years. The board approved the permit after holding a public hearing and voting through the required findings of fact.
Commissioners also approved a resolution supporting an NCDOT request to install a reduced conflict intersection at N.C. 11 North and N.C. 55. NCDOT officials cited crash history at the intersection, including 26 reported crashes over a 10-year period, with 12 involving injuries.
Several courthouse renovation-related items also moved forward. Commissioners approved contract amendments with JKF Architecture for temporary courthouse facility design, server relocation planning and additional courthouse renovation design work, including work tied to creating a fifth courtroom.
A separate special use permit request for a construction storage building at 3196 Hwy. 258 North was tabled until the board’s next meeting. Planning staff said the applicant is still working to obtain an NCDOT-approved driveway permit.
The board also approved a lease agreement for about 113 acres of county-owned flood buyout property on Neuse Road. A.G. Smith requested the lease for retriever training, hunt tests, youth shooting sports and potential educational uses for local schools, FFA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The lease listed in the agenda packet is $20 per acre for 113.25 acres, totaling $2,267.
Commissioners approved a franchise agreement with Friendly Medical Transport for non-emergency medical transport services in Lenoir County. Emergency services staff said the agreement comes at no cost to the county and would allow the company to transport people between homes, hospitals and adult care facilities.
The board authorized the county to apply for $250,000 through the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Clean Water State Revolving Fund Decentralized Wastewater System Pilot Program. Health Director Pam Brown said the funding would help eligible homeowners repair or replace failing septic systems. Brown said Lenoir County issued 75 repair permits in the past 18 months, with 12 not installed. The county expects the funding could assist 20 to 30 households, with a $5,000 match covered by public health funds.
Commissioners also approved a $91,155 professional services agreement with Allies4Outcomes to provide interim Department of Social Services director services after the resignation of DSS Director Naylor. County Manager Michael James said the agreement would allow Naylor, now an employee of Allies4Outcomes, to remain in the role during recruitment. The county hopes to fill the position by Oct. 31.
The board approved LaGrange Volunteer Fire Department’s purchase of a 2026 Spartan Freightliner fire engine for $690,530. Fire officials said the department will pay for the truck in full and that the purchase had already been approved by the town council.
Other approvals included the retirement of K-9 Justice, who will remain with Lt. Thurman Stroud, and acceptance of a donated bloodhound named Rocky for search and rescue use. The agenda listed Southern Police K-9 Training, LLC, but Sheriff Jackie Rogers said during the meeting that the donation came from East Coast K9. Rogers said the dog and training are valued at about $10,000 and come at no cost to the county.
During public information, Brown presented the Child Fatality Prevention Team report. She said the team reviewed child deaths from July 2024 through June 2025, including six infants, four children ages 2 to 5 and three teenagers. Brown said four deaths were related to perinatal conditions, four involved illnesses, three were accidents and two causes could not be definitively determined.
