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By Ena Sellers
Duplin Journal
WARSAW — Wesley L. Boykin was one of the two residents who signed up for public comment at the March 11 town hall meeting in Warsaw.
He said he and other community members would like an explanation of the uses of the wastewater fees billed to Warsaw homeowners in the fiscal year 2025 budget.
“We have no idea what that money is used for. We are not in favor of increases without a full explanation of what the increases are going for and how it fits into the total budget,” said Boykin. “I realize that the budget hasn’t yet been developed, but this is the time to speak out.”
Boykin also spoke about a citizen policing academy. Stating that when this was suggested about a year and a half ago and that the community would like to do something more permanent — “every other year or once a year as other communities do.”
“This has been heightened as we see the increase in crime around this town, including the murder that happened a few weeks ago. We can get citizens more involved in understanding what the policing procedures are,” Boykin said.
He emphasized that Warsaw citizens are interested in seeing more citizen input in decision-making for matters of the town.
“Several times, a number of us have mentioned a Citizens Advisory Committee. Yet, we have received no response as to whether or not that’s feasible or whether or not they’re actually being heard other than just talking at this public address,” said Boykin. “We feel that with citizens’ input, that will also help the department and the manager. We can help support their requests for increases in budget for other services.”
Boykin asked for more transparency.
“They all say they don’t have enough money; they want more but if we understand it more as citizens and taxpayers, we can support it. But without knowledge, we can’t.”
He added that if the town was to implement regular performance reports from each service delivery department “on the measures they deem important in their budget,” it would help Warsaw residents understand.
Lori Smith, a local business owner was next to address the board asking them to pass the Duplin County Animal Ordinance for cats and dogs.
“Recently, I contacted the Warsaw Police Department regarding a dog that was tied to a tree with no shelter. Unfortunately, nothing has been done,” said Smith, explaining that the Warsaw ordinance does not include shelter as opposed to the county ordinance which requires food, water, and shelter.
“There is also the issue where stray animals in city limits are not being picked up by the town or the county… this leaves the animals vulnerable … it puts our community at risk… We pay town and county taxes, and it is only fair that this service be provided to the citizens in city limits. Please accept the Duplin County Animal Ordinance for cats and dogs because it is the right thing to do, and it protects our animals, and it protects our community.”
After public comment closed, Austin Brinkley with Insight Planning and Development spoke about the Board of Adjustment responsibilities, its composition and made a recommendation for a text amendment to the current ordinance. The amendment would allow for the Board of Commissioners to serve as the Board of Adjustment, removing the planning board from the process, making it more streamlined and reducing the possibility of error.
“The statutes allow for the board to be a separate board of its own composition. It also allows your planning board to serve as the Board of Adjustment. It allows your governing board to serve as the Board of Adjustment. So, your quasi-judicial procedure, the statutes, are really clear about how that procedure has to take place with your advertised notices and the factors that you have to have evidence whenever you vote on it to make those determinations,” said Brinkley.
He explained that while the statutes allow the planning board to be involved in the quasi-judicial process, they cannot use any recommendation from the planning board in their decision.
“They can review it, but you still have to make your decision based on factual evidence,” said Brinkley. “The board making quasi-judicial decisions needs to be the board opening the hearing, having the hearing, and making the decision.”
The board approved the amendment, which Brinkley will present on April 8.
The next item discussed was a seat on the planning board for which they received two applications. Warsaw residents, Terry Brinegar and Richmond Dugger III, sent their resumes to be considered for the three-year seat.
Mayor A.J. Connor read the recommendation, which was to select Dugger, who served previously as a mayor and with an airport commission. Commissioner Ebony Wills-Wells advocated for Brinegar who was at the meeting.
“She’s very actively involved. She is at a lot of our meetings. I think she should be considered.
I know he is not able to be here for personal reasons, but we don’t have much besides what you have here, as well as not seeing or knowing him,” said Wills-Wells.
The board made a motion to table the discussion until both candidates can be present to speak.
The next item discussed was a motion to adopt the Duplin County animal control ordinance.
Town Manager Lea Turner shared that there will be a forthcoming memorandum of agreement and requested approval so that the county can help them with animal control.
“The agreement just states that we are accepting their ordinance, and we allow the county to come into our town. It’s kind of like the interagency agreement that the police department has such that they are mutual aid to other departments. It will be written very similar to that. It just allows the county to come into our town limits to offer services,” said Turner. “What we’re asking for tonight is just for you to repeal our ordinance, adopt their ordinance, and then at the next meeting when I have the memorandum of agreement, we will have that in place…They’ve stated there’s going to be no charges to the town.”
After much discussion, the board decided to table it until they can see what is in the agreement and make a more informed decision.
Lastly, Mayor Connors spoke about Duplin County Emergency Medical Services’ temporary operational changes to ensure paramedics coverage. He explained that this was due to shortages.
“This has happened because Duplin County is shorthanded in EMS, and Warsaw happened to be the closest to Kenansville. If something happens, they need more medical aid, the supervisor of the EMS will respond to Warsaw because it’s the closest township to their area… so that’s the reason we will end up with one individual who is fully trained, and the other one does not have the same certification, but he is qualified to help and do,” said Connors. “A while back there was a rumor that Warsaw would lose EMS and would be shorthanded. That is not the case… We just will not have both individuals who are sitting here waiting to go out on a call have the same medical training.”
For questions about the temporary operational changes, you may call 910-296-2160.
