Lenoir County commissioners hear updates on behavioral health, EMS response times and license plate cameras

Lenoir County commissioners moved through a wide-ranging Monday morning agenda that included updates on behavioral health services, emergency medical response times, the sheriff's office's license plate reader cameras and several routine county business items.

The Aug. 3 meeting opened with public-information presentations from Trillium Health Resources and Lenoir County Emergency Services before commissioners took up action items including a campground public hearing, sheriff's office vehicle replacements and an E-911 budget transfer.

Trillium reports local behavioral health reach

Victoria Jackson, representing Trillium Health Resources, told commissioners the organization is one of four public behavioral health plans in North Carolina serving people with the most severe behavioral health needs. She said Trillium served 103,556 unique individuals across its 46-county region from July 2024 through June 2025, spending more than $1.7 billion on services during that period.

In Lenoir County, Jackson said Trillium served 2,549 members. She said the county has strong local representation on Trillium advisory groups, including Commissioner June Cummings and Suzanne Nix on the regional advisory board, and April Houston and Archie DeKaiser on the consumer and family advisory committee.

Jackson also highlighted leadership changes at Trillium. She said she is moving into a new role while continuing to work with the counties she has served, and introduced Katrina McKinnon as the new regional vice president. She also said Joy Futrell is retiring after more than 30 years, with Sinitra Goodman expected to become Trillium's incoming CEO effective Sept. 1.

Commissioners used the presentation to underscore the county's relationship with Trillium and the importance of maintaining a public role in managed care. Cummings referred to concerns raised during a recent rural listening session about keeping the public sector involved rather than fully privatizing behavioral health services.

EMS response times improve

Norman Bryson, with Lenoir County Emergency Services, reported that EMS operational changes made Feb. 15 have reduced response times without adding staff. Bryson said the county shifted from five full-time ambulances, two peak-time trucks and two quick-response vehicles to six full-time ambulances, one peak-time truck and additional quick-response vehicle coverage.

Before the change, Bryson said, the average EMS response time in Kinston was 9 minutes and 39 seconds. After the change, it dropped to 8 minutes and 15 seconds, a reduction of 1 minute and 24 seconds. He said response times outside the city also fell by about 1 minute and 9 seconds.

Bryson said the county also sharply reduced periods when all ambulances were committed. In January, he said, the system averaged 1.6 such events per day, lasting an average of 21.4 minutes, with nine instances lasting more than 30 minutes. By June, he said, the county was below half an event per day, the average duration had fallen to 4 minutes and 3 seconds, and there were no events lasting more than 30 minutes.

Bryson also said EMS vacancies, once around 30 to 40 percent, are now averaging around 5 percent, with a waiting list of people interested in working for the department.

Commissioners praised the EMS results, saying the reduction in response time showed the value of adding ambulance coverage and reorganizing existing personnel.

Sheriff's office explains Flock cameras

The sheriff's office also gave commissioners an update on Flock license plate reader cameras, though that presentation was not listed as a public-information item on the basic agenda. Capt. Chrissy Smith said the sheriff's office purchased 16 cameras using federal forfeiture asset funds. She said the initial cost, including installation and the first annual term, was $105,750, with annual renewal costs of $48,000, or $3,000 per camera. The current renewal date is Sept. 10, 2027.

The cameras take still images of license plates and vehicle characteristics from public roadways, not continuous video. She said the system does not use facial recognition and does not capture names, addresses, phone numbers, driver identities, biometric identifiers or DMV records.

Lenoir County's policy limits access to authorized law enforcement users, requires training and a search reason, and retains data for 30 days. She said search records, including the user ID and search reason, are kept permanently for audit purposes. Asked how many deputies can use the system, Smith estimated about 35 of the department's 75 officers have completed the required training. Asked whether misuse had been found since the cameras began operating Sept. 11, 2025, she said none had been detected.

Smith said the cameras have helped investigators track a sex offender who left the state, locate missing persons, assist in homicide investigations, find stolen vehicles, assist the Highway Patrol with hit-and-run cases and help solve drug cases. One commissioner emphasized that the board previously discussed and approved the camera program by resolution on Dec. 2, 2024.

Public comment highlights community event

During public comment, Milton Foster announced an Aug. 15 community cookoff and 500-book-bag giveaway connected with the nonprofit County Kids. Foster said the event will begin at 1 p.m., with judging at 3 p.m., near the Barrister at 209 S. Queen St. in Kinston.

Board approves county business

In new business, commissioners approved setting an Aug. 17 public hearing at 4 p.m. to consider a special use permit request from Richard Gould to operate a campground on parcel 100468 off Cobb Road.

Commissioners also approved the sheriff's office request to trade in three county vehicles for three new leased 2026 Ford F-150 trucks. The agenda packet lists trade-in values of $10,000 for a 2016 Ford F-150 with 122,032 miles, $21,000 for a 2019 Ford F-250 with 105,111 miles and $27,000 for a 2020 Ford F-150 with 103,479 miles. Combined with negotiated savings off MSRP, the packet says the county realizes an overall financial benefit of about $73,421.

The board also approved a budget amendment moving $335,434.92 in E-911 eligible costs from the general fund emergency services budget to the E-911 fund. The agenda packet says the State 911 Board approved the funding for Motorola annual contracts covering UPS maintenance, infrastructure and an Astro Package.

Commissioners approved appointments to several boards on second reading, including Mike Horne to the Rural Transportation Advisory Board, Walter D. LaRoque IV to the Regional Aging Advisory Committee and Home and Community Care Block Grant, Betsy Griffin to Home and Community Care Block Grant, Joyce Hawkins to the Board of Health and Mark Swindell to Eastern Carolina Workforce Development. Elaine Patterson was listed on first reading for the Eastern Carolina Council and is expected to return at the next meeting.

Commissioners closed with brief comments on a Trillium regional meeting, a governor's rural listening session at Lenoir Community College and condolences for local families.