Kinston council approves police vehicle purchase, sets hearing on Maceo Parker Way

Kinston City Council approved the purchase of eight police vehicles, authorized a federal grant application for two additional officers assigned to housing communities and set a public hearing on renaming Springhill Street as Maceo Parker Way during its Tuesday, Aug. 4, regular meeting.

Council voted to hold the public hearing Sept. 1 on a proposal to rename Springhill Street in honor of Kinston-born musician Maceo Parker. Public Services Director Steve Miller said Lenoir County, which handles addressing, reviewed the proposed name and found no conflict for emergency response purposes.

Miller said the city will notify affected property owners and the U.S. Postal Service before the hearing. Springhill Street has three properties with addresses on the street, including one city-owned vacant lot and two privately owned properties.

Councilmember Sammy Aiken said Parker and other Kinston musicians helped shape the city's musical identity.

"We say that the funk sound is the Kinston sound," Aiken said.

Council also approved the purchase of eight police vehicles at a total cost of $497,091, including $115,000 for upfitting. Police Chief Keith Goyette said the purchase will replace damaged or nonoperational vehicles ranging from 13 to 19 years old, with mileage from about 135,000 to more than 200,000.

Six of the vehicles are Ford Explorers and two are pickup trucks. Two will be K-9 vehicles, which require additional equipment, including systems that open doors, lower windows and activate alerts if a vehicle shuts off while a dog is inside.

Councilmembers Antonio Hardy and Les Lipford emphasized that the purchase was already included in the adopted budget and was returning to council because the amount exceeds the interim city manager's approval authority.

Council also authorized Goyette to submit an application for the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program. Goyette said the department is seeking funding for two officers who would join two existing officers in a four-person team assigned to Kinston Housing Authority communities.

The officers would respond to calls for service, conduct foot patrols, attend community meetings and support youth outreach. Goyette said the department had 92 officers when he was hired in 2001 and has 62 today.

The grant would cover 75% of salary and benefits for each officer over three years, up to $125,000 per officer. Goyette said the total project cost is $457,774, with the grant covering $250,000 and the city's share totaling $207,774. If awarded, the city would not accept the grant until July 2027, meaning it would not affect the current budget year.

Council approved a resolution accepting the annual settlement of property taxes collected for fiscal year 2025-26. Finance Director Donna Goodson said the city's reported collection rate was 96.94%, down from 98.47% the prior year.

Goodson also addressed a discrepancy between that figure and a 96.97% figure in a Lenoir County settlement report, saying the difference came from how the county report treats tax releases. She said the city's calculation treats releases as a reduction of the levy rather than an additional payment.

Council approved several special event permits. Legacy Memory Care at Kinston received approval for a back-to-school event at Emma Webb Park on Aug. 22 from noon to 6 p.m. Ambleside Community received conditional approval for a 5K on Aug. 29, pending N.C. Department of Transportation approval and an insurance certificate.

Council also approved Kinston Teens' Sunday Dinner events for Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct. 18, Nov. 15 and Dec. 20. The events will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and include a temporary closure of a short section of Tower Hill Road.

Council reappointed Antonio M. Hardy, Joe Hargitt and Stephen Hill to the Kinston-Lenoir County Tourism Development Authority. Hardy recused himself from that vote. Council also appointed Lipford to the Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors, with Lipford recusing himself from the vote.

During citizen comments, Latifah Irvine, founder and CEO of Legacy Memory Care at Kinston and Living Legacy Adult Day Health Program, promoted upcoming events to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer's disease, dementia care and services for seniors and caregivers.

Milton Foster promoted the Aug. 15 County Kids community cookoff and school supply giveaway at 219 S. Queen St. Foster said organizers plan to give away 500 book bags on a first-come, first-served basis and will have food, bounce houses and a cooking competition involving local emergency response agencies and Carolina Medical Transport.

Quarla Blackwell raised concerns about the handling of public comment, including the decision to move public comment later in the meeting. She said changes to public comment procedures should be voted on by council.

Interim City Manager Ralph Clark said the city manager does not determine the agenda, saying that authority rests with the mayor. City Attorney James P. Cauley III said the agenda is prepared through consultation between the mayor and manager, but is not final until council votes to adopt it.

Council later voted to cancel its Aug. 18 meeting because four members are expected to be away and the council would not have a quorum.

The meeting was recessed until Aug. 11 at 9 a.m. at City Hall.