[{"_1":2,"_108":-5,"_109":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6689189,"mediaKeyId","2171672-8b67c9d12b1ae9c7fa20fe5875ecf671","parentId",2171672,"title","Edgecombe County adds daytime paid staff to support volunteer fire departments","audioSeconds",185,"startMs",14535000,"endMs",14720000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171672-8b67c9d12b1ae9c7fa20fe5875ecf671&start=14535&end=14720","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171672-8b67c9d12b1ae9c7fa20fe5875ecf671/thumbnail_14535000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6689189/Edgecombe-County/North-Carolina/Edgecombe-County-adds-daytime-paid-staff-to-support-volunteer-fire-departments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689189-cd96a03135df90860c531e1a79463e30/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168417&Signature=UJCAkM8J8Q1KsKF1lMCTI2Ute8qLzlylaMOVQehYoTQTJTsUGf0Ewach~lljzhlhBjl-orlkGhhw27bjlmYNvDSKaRlFI9sDmVZvaUjw3M3mWAvI9sj69ZYsbnwFausuIENHiUHFMEyk-EwErwhZpAVYWIv9ayiRvMSdv0rc0uZzn~Xu2Ol2GOIssO5NkCS94Jy72pMLw9nYqLaaOtNSfX3eSjR1XK~5fjsd34HHmQWjFBkXbVv~Ok~sKLLrIRAl6HSfWGV4NYZjvf9dfODGPHc2dNsbpt0MBKaYFn0vX1FwnPgBuPXImzqQGWwOIxwveK4dpEm2J548P7ToQuAyPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Edgecombe County","date","2025-01-01T05:10:24.1Z","article","Edgecombe County officials introduced two newly hired daytime fire staff and a three-vehicle operational plan Monday, describing the personnel as a paid “manpower squad” intended to support volunteer fire departments during weekday hours.

County emergency services staff said the effort was funded in part with $1.5 million from state or federal recovery funding linked to a prior regional event. Antoine Brown, director of emergency services, and county manager staff announced that Captain Desmond Thorne and firefighter Jade Lyons will staff an engine and a secondary unit during daytime hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) out of the county emergency operations center. The county also has a brush/skid-unit for initial response to brush and smaller incidents.

Officials said the paid crew will respond to commercial structure fires, confirmed residential structure fires and instances where volunteer departments require supplemental daytime support. County staff stressed the arrangement is intended as a supplement — not a replacement — for local volunteer departments.

County leaders noted the staffing addresses daytime coverage gaps when volunteers may be at work and helps protect property and first responders. The county manager said the program is an interim step while the county explores longer-term options to build capacity and ensure reliable daytime response across the jurisdiction.

The board welcomed the new hires and asked staff to continue reporting outcomes and coordination with volunteer fire departments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Edgecombe County Commissioners Meeting 12/2/24","oneSentenceSummary","County officials introduced two daytime firefighting employees and two new apparatus funded in large part by federal recovery funds; the new paid crew will respond to commercial and confirmed residential fires to support volunteer departments during weekday hours.","taxTitle","Edgecombe County, North Carolina","taxId",73547,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6689194,"Board denies Swift Creek (Cleanera) solar special-use permit after testimony and public comment",2578,8216000,10794000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171672-8b67c9d12b1ae9c7fa20fe5875ecf671&start=8216&end=10794","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171672-8b67c9d12b1ae9c7fa20fe5875ecf671/thumbnail_8216000.jpg","/articles/6689194/Edgecombe-County/North-Carolina/Board-denies-Swift-Creek-Cleanera-solar-special-use-permit-after-testimony-and-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689194-4e1fc72f5207c3009a407febfd17e8ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168417&Signature=lezelU1t3bR0zWYC7INGQpsAc36KZSXM26XDf4grArG7tCMu5gLxuginCDxnzBMRdsOk-PH6Itrp8Mr1S4Qb5VUOhasj5Acdv1Dz42831dAsNSdmLzAQxdFU~iNUJBe7D2nvz2LBFbr~7W~AYzZKUCXhoTcknUrwgwbCNVzaI7MZDGntq2vmd4nJJxZ~Z~WUyws1Hf9suXBL0vmsDLN~UzkKHNxBOrDFyPyRlU0tDHz3IxNfSpIejJQWjUVviHC84DtEWMatygHMU8-UeIccDb2kfvGHGe~~iTTAfsSCgfy-1MLaXq9qxZKZSN~Ni4S~ejjKtP3Sr9Ak5Bwg2gzExg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners voted Monday to deny a special-use permit for Swift Creek Solar LLC, a proposed level-3 solar energy project sited near 7 Bridges Road, Morning Star Church Road and Marriott Road.

Planning staff told the board the Swift Creek application covered approximately 951 acres within the county’s jurisdiction and is zoned rural residential (AR-30). The applicant’s representatives said portions of the project are proposed as conservation and agricultural future land uses and noted a proposed layout that preserves wetlands and inserts vegetative buffering.

Tom Terrell again represented the applicant and placed a compilation of materials in the record similar to those provided earlier that evening for another project. Cleanera representatives — who said the company typically builds, owns and operates projects — presented a short slide summary and emphasized a commitment to continued community engagement. Company counsel said Cleanera has a long track record and intends to own and operate the facility rather than quickly sell it.

Company witnesses included Tommy Cleveland (health and safety expert), John Barefoot (Kimley-Horn, civil/engineering expert) and appraiser Allen Duffy (Sutton Shively/Kirkland appraisals team). Cleveland testified he had prepared a site-specific health and safety assessment and stated, “it is my professional opinion that this project would not materially endanger public health or safety.” Barefoot described the project’s stormwater and erosion-control approach and said an Edgecombe County stormwater permit review was in process; he said state erosion-control permitting would follow prior to construction. Appraiser Allen Duffy testified that his market-impact review found no empirical evidence that property values would be substantially injured when appropriate setbacks and vegetative buffers are applied.

Residents spoke against the project in large numbers. Common concerns raised included the conversion of woodland and crop acreage to solar arrays, potential loss of agricultural economic activity (several speakers supplied calculations for lost sweet-potato and peanut production and related local economic impacts), the adequacy of vegetative buffers over time, edge-runoff and wetland impacts, and worries about long-term stewardship and decommissioning if ownership changed. Several speakers asked the board to delay final action pending completion of the county’s ordinance review or to require stronger decommissioning security and enforcement mechanisms.

After reviewing the evidence and public comment the board moved through the UDO special-use criteria. Multiple commissioners referenced the county comprehensive plan’s goals for agriculture, conservation and economic development in denying the application. The board voted to deny the special-use permit for Swift Creek Solar; staff said a formal order would be prepared for the board’s January meeting.

Cleanera representatives said they would continue to engage with nearby landowners and pursue regulatory approvals where appropriate, and noted that utilities such as Duke Energy have requested battery storage on many new projects (Cleanera said any batteries would be located in adjacent Wilson County at utility direction).","Edgecombe commissioners denied a second level-3 solar special-use permit (Swift Creek Solar) during the same meeting. Cleanera, the project owner, presented technical experts and a community outreach summary; opponents raised preservation, agricultural and water-quality concerns.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6689198,"Edgecombe commissioners deny Bridal/Brightleaf solar special-use permit after hours-long hearing",6537,1123000,7660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171672-8b67c9d12b1ae9c7fa20fe5875ecf671&start=1123&end=7660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171672-8b67c9d12b1ae9c7fa20fe5875ecf671/thumbnail_1123000.jpg","/articles/6689198/Edgecombe-County/North-Carolina/Edgecombe-commissioners-deny-BridalBrightleaf-solar-special-use-permit-after-hours-long-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689198-fa5d79e94b258b390d44d4f547f2718a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168417&Signature=Y-LfWY~1xJo5TenTNu5515a6BlFI2Ekr5pdIEH7FMWgddnlCFTGA2jRyKCaGsKMuO5s0wK5kVMZ6rNeWXD-cl7UxNS7K6fHEgg0-EeGbvqGLmGnDUlM7dbCOIBtqUgRRdtxM~YCzP-BlcFTCYlqJILZKFVF-J~WyzNWy34e3EbSVGhdcUs2pNkEGVYRgdHuwidTj-RwI~ZFvTKMEdY58BkQGxYr9GbAxQHj387eGG0GTeSkK4e1ACfvaTNAiH2D6Nv-~tOqYsv-TKp84-Yp7lpW-WaSG7Go-5d-TprPZIWuLu8weRO9NKBU3nQXWk60WD9HZ83wfgv2cqleJP5FgUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners denied a special-use permit Monday for a proposed level-3 solar energy facility commonly referred to in testimony as Bridal or Brightleaf Solar.

The applicant sought approval for a project that the company said would occupy about 703 acres in the county with a maximum array area of about 468 acres (the project team said it planned to use roughly 400 of those acres). Brightleaf Solar told the board the facility would be about 80 megawatts — “enough for about 13,000 homes,” according to Tom Delafield, chief operating officer of Renewable Energy Services, which identified itself as the project owner and developer.

The company presented several technical experts and studies in support of the application. Consulting engineer Tom Delafield described a site plan showing wetlands preserved on roughly 250 acres of the project footprint, voluntary increased vegetative buffers (expanded from a 10-foot baseline to roughly 25 feet with 6-foot evergreens at planting), and a decommissioning plan. Delafield said the project would produce approximately $1.9 million in net new taxes to Edgecombe County and estimated about 150 construction jobs during an 18- to 24-month build period.

Tom Terrell, attorney for the applicant, told the commissioners that the hearing was “an evidentiary hearing…about evidence. They're not about opinions,” and placed several technical reports and sealed analyses in the record.

Company experts who testified included Tommy Cleveland, who described a site-specific health and safety assessment and concluded, “my professional opinion is that the project would not endanger public health or safety.” Civil engineer Jennifer Lester of Kimley-Horn testified that the submitted stormwater and erosion-control plans “meet or exceed the requirements set forth in the Edgecombe County ordinance.” Appraiser Ty Sutton (Sutton Shively/Kirkland appraisals) presented a market-impact analysis concluding that, in his opinion, the proposed setbacks and buffers would prevent substantial injury to adjoining property values.

Opponents and neighboring landowners spoke at length during public comment. Residents raised concerns about forestry clearing, loss of agricultural production, potential effects on property values, stormwater runoff and wetlands, wildlife habitat, long-term enforcement of buffer plantings, and the presence of battery storage (the applicant said any batteries would be in Wilson County at Duke Energy's discretion). Several residents urged the board to delay or deny the permit and referenced an ongoing county moratorium review of Level-3 solar rules.

Landowners who consented to leases for the project also addressed the board, saying they had sought legal counsel, reviewed decommissioning terms and believed the contract protections and state rules were sufficient to protect the landowner interests.

After hearing testimony, the board considered the special-use criteria in the county ordinance and voted to deny the permit. The motion to deny carried and the board directed staff to prepare a formal order for the record.

The project team had asked for a five-year vesting period and said the project had been submitted to Duke Energy's 2024 solar request for proposals; company representatives said finalists might be announced in early 2025 and that construction could begin as early as 2028 if selected and permitted.

The denial does not prevent the applicant from seeking judicial review or reapplying; the board’s decision, and any formal order, will be part of the administrative record.","After an evidentiary hearing and extensive public comment, the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners denied a special-use permit for Bridal (Brightleaf) Solar LLC, a proposed 80 MW, roughly 703-acre project. The decision followed testimony by company experts and dozens of residents both for and against the project.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":103,"_49":94,"_51":104,"_53":105,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":106,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":107,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6689203,"Edgecombe County commissioners sworn in; Leonard Wiggins chosen chair, Harris vice chair",0,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171672-8b67c9d12b1ae9c7fa20fe5875ecf671&start=1123&end=1123","/articles/6689203/Edgecombe-County/North-Carolina/Edgecombe-County-commissioners-sworn-in-Leonard-Wiggins-chosen-chair-Harris-vice-chair","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689203-5c30851b956049e316796b66c17c1c23/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168417&Signature=iJ3D2SMAAtL4NG69sx1d8Y85fU9pVNCR76i237~vk6wFHk8~wpSOGPlp3UXTpYs-jqbiJF15xhJvy2NWZB~lXPitaDv4yDTYfC5my1nBKF0PMCms1saWhXCEMlUeFypFE5pulq9AzTOj9mWJWUyMesr6EeLOvh6njBbFDbTyn8Gs8LxlBslDed4iN0Re9cQz7m5hBv7T5E98DXoNEnmkrYwg-Qm6MnhUXbVLHFuDZjGIiLkUTi2-rdo61Z68X7bSuVJXgcRA5o3gxFoJL9Jdx1SEqApE0lN4CpmW2C9DS0mEVOQdH5KP5BKnmD14BedZz9sZVGTTBugUwLY7Fy2Anw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its organizational meeting Monday, the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners swore in commissioners and elected Leonard Wiggins as chair for 2025 and Miss Harris as vice chair.

The meeting opened with an oath delivered by Senior Resident/Pret? (transcript title: Judge Wiggins) who asked each commissioner to “support the Constitution and laws of the United States” and the North Carolina Constitution. Commissioners responded, “I do.” The board then accepted nominations and elected Leonard Wiggins as chair by voice vote and Miss Harris as vice chair after floor nominations and voice votes.

The swearing-in and officer elections followed standard procedure for the county. County staff read safety and evacuation instructions to the public in attendance and reminded citizens that overflow seating was available. The board approved minutes for prior meetings after a brief correction to the July 1 minutes and then moved on to matters on the published agenda.

The organizational meeting set the leadership for the board as it presides over several public hearings and a busy agenda. Commissioners acknowledged the start of their terms and the responsibilities of their offices before the board proceeded to a pair of contested special-use permit public hearings later on the agenda.

The board also approved routine business items later in the session, including a budget amendment (to cover an insurance claim for a wrecked sheriff's office vehicle) and minor administrative matters. The meeting included public safety remarks and an introduction to new county emergency services staff (see separate article).","The Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners held its organizational meeting Dec. 2, 2024. Newly elected and returning commissioners were sworn in, Leonard Wiggins was elected board chair and Miss Harris was elected vice chair. The board approved routine minutes and called the public hearings that followed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Edgecombe County adds daytime paid staff to support volunteer fire departments

Board denies Swift Creek (Cleanera) solar special-use permit after testimony and public comment

Edgecombe commissioners deny Bridal/Brightleaf solar special-use permit after hours-long hearing

Edgecombe County commissioners sworn in; Leonard Wiggins chosen chair, Harris vice chair