County manager Rob Morton gave an update of the recent Impact Fee Study and Impact Fee Advisory Board discussions at the April 28 meeting and also presented commissioners with the county’s proposed budget for 2026-27.
“Some of you may know already that there was a lot of discussion about the maximum amounts in connection with commercial properties,” said Rob Morton, noting that two public hearings on the proposed Impact Fee changes will be held at 9 a.m. May 13 at the courthouse during the regularly scheduled commission meeting and at 9 a.m. June 10.
Morton presented the board with the proposed FY 2026-27 budget, noting that there are still several unknowns that affect the budget, including insurance premiums, the effects of House Bill 581 and Senate Bill 285 and other considerations. A budget workshop was held Friday, May 8. A public hearing is set for Wednesday, May 13 at 1 p.m. in the main courtroom at the courthouse. The first reading will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 13. The second reading will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21.
The Fiscal Year 2026-2027 recommended budget is available for public inspection during normal office hours at the J. Joel Edwards Public Library at 7077 Highway 19 South Zebulon and at the Pike County Board Commissioner’s Office at 331 Thomaston Street in Zebulon. Summary information of the FY 2026-2027 recommended budget can also be found on the county’s website www.pikecoga.gov.
The majority of the proposed budget ($10.75 million / 55%) is for personnel services and employee benefits with $3.2 million / 17% allocated for purchased/contracted services, $1.6 million / 9% for payments to outside agencies, $1 million / 5% for supplies and utilities, $929,095 / 5% for Capital Outlays, $344,156 / 2% for debt service and $1.3 million / 7% for other financing uses.
Pike’s EMA director presented commissioners with the county’s revised Public Emergency Operations Plan and the board authorized the required signatures.
“The plan has been revised but not signed since Bill Sawyer was the county manager,” said Pike’s EMA director Jim Totten. “There is a new state requirement for the plan to be signed by the board when there are major revisions or every few years.
Commissioners heard about the current Post 197 location being moved and heard that a request to move the American Legion Post 197 Flag Drop Box to the Pike County Veterans Memorial on the courthouse square. Commissioners discussed the materials the drop box is constructed out of in order to ensure it could withstand the weather and approved the request.
The county manager reported that there have been issues for some time with cooling the tax commissioners’ and board of elections offices. He said that heating and air experts were contacted and a low bid given for $11,661 by Griffin Heating and Cooling for a two-ton mini-split to help support the three-ton unit at the building.
Commissioners also approved the striping of Hollonville Road at a cost of $17,000.
The county also:
• Approved use of the courthouse grounds (and access to the main courtroom in case of inclement weather) for the American Legion Post 197 Memorial Day Observance Program on Monday, May 25.
- Approved use of the courthouse grounds for NAACP Pike County Branch 5228 to hold the Juneteenth Community Celebration from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 20.
• Approved the second reading of a proposed revision to Chapter 33.08 (General Board Appointment Policies and Procedures) that would require commissioners to be notified of interviews for employees and board appointments and allow them to attend. - Approved the second reading and adoption of revisions to Chapter 91 (Animal Control) which added definitions such as nuisance animal and addressed exotic animals in dog restraint districts.
• Held a public hearing to receive public input regarding a CDBG grant for work on Tanyard Road. It was noted that $927,000 in grant funds from the state were used on the project.
• Appointed Baylynn Strader to the J. Joel Edwards Public Library board to fill an unexpired-term set to expire Dec. 31, 2027. It was noted that her mother is the library manager but with her previous library manager experience, she would likely be able to remain neutral and act appropriately as a board member.
• Approved a tax refund application of $173.42 for Vicki Brown Living Trust.
• Heard from chairman Briar Johnson that the 4-H Extension bus broke down en route to a competition and the county manager and public works director worked together to provide transportation for the students.
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