Harvey Knowles recognized for decades of service with governor’s award

The county retired four long-serving employees, approved surplus sales and updated policies

KENANSVILLE — Duplin County officials celebrated decades of volunteer service, honored retiring employees, and discussed rapid growth and major infrastructure projects during the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Monday night.

Harvey Knowles was named Duplin County’s recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award and will also receive the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service at a statewide ceremony in May in Raleigh.

Knowles, 95, has volunteered for decades in Wallace, providing support to veterans, first responders, local schools, and community organizations. He has raised funds to equip emergency vehicles with automated external defibrillators for the Wallace Police Department, Wallace Volunteer Fire Department, and Wallace Parks and Recreation.

A strong advocate for veterans, Knowles regularly participates in Memorial Day and Veterans Day events. He also visits nursing homes, where he plays hymns on his harmonica for residents, and he regularly organizes meals for first responders during training events.

Knowles has coordinated donations of more than 100 bicycles for children and has organized food drives for local pantries. He has also contributed to disaster relief efforts, school projects, and fundraising for community programs.

In addition to larger efforts, Knowles is known for smaller, consistent acts of outreach. He maintains contact lists across multiple organizations and regularly calls or visits individuals to offer birthday wishes and encouragement, particularly to older residents.

County officials said Knowles’ volunteer work is sustained, personal, and impacts residents of all ages, making him a notable example of long-term community service.

The county also honored four long-serving public employees for their retirement. Katherine Mitchell retired after 27 years with the Health Department, where she began as a maternal outreach worker and later worked as a WIC processing assistant. Dr. Elizabeth Griffin, a pediatrician, served from May 2009 through August 2025, providing annual child health physicals and bilingual care. Simone Vann retired after 30 years, assisting in maternal outreach, health check coordination, telehealth programs, and disaster response, including Hurricanes Florence, Matthew, and Dorian, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Vann received the State of the Long Leaf Pine Award. Gwenda Swann retired after 25 years with Social Services, working in economic services and as a public information officer; she received both a county retirement plaque and the Old North State Award from the governor.

Wallace Council Member Glenn Price presented information on rapid residential growth in Wallace, noting more than 1,000 potential homes and expanding commercial development. Price said growth reflects a strong economy and regional job opportunities but emphasized that early planning with county officials is needed to meet future enrollment and infrastructure demands.

“We have a duty as a council to make sure that the board is aware of what’s going on in Wallace and the magnitude of growth that we expect to see,” said Price.

County officials also reported on a $1.5 million river and creek cleanup initiative funded through 2028 by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

According to David Whaley, soil & water director, the cleanup has improved flow along the Northeast Cape Fear River and tributaries. Despite progress, some areas still require attention. Muddy Creek, particularly between Lyman Road and Quinn Store Road, was identified as a major problem area. Additionally, Little Limestone Creek near Church Road was highlighted as severely obstructed. Plans include revisiting these locations if funding allows, along with continued maintenance of previously improved creeks. Officials said remaining funds will continue upstream cleanup and support smaller streams.

In other business:

The board approved purchasing five replacement vehicles due to high mileage and maintenance costs on existing units.

Holland Construction Company was awarded contracts to rebuild homes at 186 Willie Best Road and 455 Carter Thigpen Road under the 2024 Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery program.

Economic development initiatives: A $661,151 contract was awarded to RiverWild Commercial LLC to build five short-term housing units for workforce and visitors. The county also approved a third industrial shell building with Daniels and Daniels Construction Company and $354,693 for new signage across multiple industrial parks to improve visibility and branding. Officials said these efforts aim to expand opportunities, attract businesses, and build on recent economic momentum.

The board approved three modernized, stand-alone policies governing Purchasing Cards (P-Cards), Conflict of Interest and Ethics, and Purchasing and Procurement. These updates were designed to strengthen internal controls, promote transparency, and ensure compliance with state and federal statutes.

Three 12,000-gallon fuel tanks at the county airport were declared surplus and the board approved selling them privately for $10,000. Some commissioners expressed concern that $10,000 for three large-capacity tanks seemed low. Comparisons were made to the high cost of new tanks, estimated around $500,000, as well as the total storage capacity being sold.

A key discussion point was whether the county should publicly advertise the tanks to potentially receive higher bids. While advertising could increase competition, staff noted it would also extend the timeline and create logistical challenges, including the need to move and store the tanks during the bidding process. The sale is closely tied to the construction timeline of a new fuel farm project. The buyer has agreed to coordinate tank removal with the project schedule, eliminating the need for temporary storage or additional equipment. Officials stressed that this coordination is a major advantage of proceeding with the private sale.

After weighing the options, officials concluded that the guaranteed sale, combined with avoided costs and simplified logistics, made this the most practical decision.

Interim County Manager Lisa Hughes outlined 2026–27 budget priorities. She emphasized employees, economic development, schools, and community college as top concerns. The general fund budget is currently just over $81 million, with approximately 51.5% dedicated to personnel costs.

Hughes highlighted a key financial goal is reducing the county’s dependence on its $7.8 million  fund balance to cover recurring expenses. She also noted that around $1.5 million is tied to one-time capital expenses. Hughes aims to significantly reduce this reliance in the next budget cycle. To achieve that goal, county leadership will work with department heads to identify ways to cut or better manage recurring operational costs. This includes reviewing departmental budgets, identifying efficiencies, and potentially scaling back expenditures. The effort is focused specifically on the general fund, where most operational spending occurs.

“My pledge to you and the citizens of this county is to bring you a budget that does not include any hint of any tax rate increase,” said Hughes.

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