[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",6309962,"mediaKeyId","2406584-629758f29d4b02d12007e8ea2d9b1f2d","parentId",2406584,"title","Pitt County commissioners schedule first reading of two gun-safety ordinances after hours of debate","audioSeconds",2226,"startMs",2505000,"endMs",4731000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2406584-629758f29d4b02d12007e8ea2d9b1f2d&start=2505&end=4731","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2406584-629758f29d4b02d12007e8ea2d9b1f2d/thumbnail_2505000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6309962/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/Pitt-County-commissioners-schedule-first-reading-of-two-gun-safety-ordinances-after-hours-of-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309962-79814aaf8b01bd22384286bba65fc1c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154094&Signature=TB9li7ohNuHdMD14FY-3tw0c6U6WJXBUHxD3VIvZylnGiKWA5SAc3Z6hYOTbtFyBzEQfRTxscxQDuMStizKV6pwzDyipHTRtSdvu25OGP-N0kDJHYZkhlg344ZRjYfPKAhflTiaLrvNLWMzJYwAmtLGyC3g-sM6-j3EDW0ZabCjyWIaZ0EFqWTERfKNGYKvOIPccfEVuP7EufqR2HPMTbt15NRK6zAPQLYVPRtDQckm4Eh~cvHfn8mv4zeLifOX5XEaRzGoADuDW49C5UMgon-WIztaZ8A12wh6iFF48tJVOJ-RINDecUIluBBL2y9y955tMEgF6SDzSP1p84FwFSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pitt County, NC","date","2025-02-25T22:03:57Z","article","Commissioner Tommy Manning proposed two ordinances aimed at reducing stray projectiles and nighttime shooting in populated neighborhoods and the board voted to place the measures on a future agenda for first reading.

Manning told the board he tailored one draft to prohibit firing a projectile across property lines and a second to bar discharge at night in “densely populated subdivisions, mobile home parks, campgrounds, and multifamily housing complexes.” He said the measures are intended to give the Sheriff’s Office an enforceable tool beyond the county’s existing noise ordinance and to protect neighbors’ safety.

The proposal prompted public comment from residents and gun-rights groups at the meeting. Gregory (identified in public comment as a Pitt County resident and member of Gun Owners of America) urged commissioners to vote no, saying a misdemeanor penalty is “a little too harsh.” Sean Sorrentino, vice president of operations for Grassroots North Carolina, urged the board to “get rid of this,” calling the draft an unnecessary criminalization of what he described as isolated conduct.

Commissioner White said the proposal responds to a practical enforcement gap: firearm sounds are fleeting and often cannot be captured with decibel readers used for other noise enforcement. White said the draft focuses on safety rather than imposing an onerous backstop requirement and noted that the ordinance is intended to prevent projectiles from crossing property lines rather than regulate lawful, safe target practice on private property.

Commissioner Brown and others raised questions about how investigators would prove a projectile crossed a property line in cases without visible damage. The county attorney answered that enforcement would depend on the facts of each case and similar investigative techniques used in other criminal matters; Manning emphasized that the measure is intended primarily as a deterrent.

Manning also referenced House Bill 9 pending in the North Carolina General Assembly and said its language closely mirrors elements of the draft ordinance about discharges on private property when permission is given and reasonable care is taken to prevent projectiles from leaving the property.

After discussion and brief amendments-in-committee work suggested by staff, the board voted to place both ordinances on a future agenda for formal first reading and directed staff and counsel to refine definitions (including the definition of “subdivision”) before that reading. Commissioner Manning said he preferred carrying the item forward to ensure the drafts are correct; commissioners who supported moving the drafts forward cited public safety concerns and repeated complaints from neighborhoods such as Holly Pines that prompted earlier hearings.

The board’s move does not adopt either ordinance; it schedules formal consideration at a later meeting and asks staff to return with revised text for a first reading.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 02 24 Pitt County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioner Tommy Manning proposed two ordinances aimed at preventing projectiles from crossing property lines and barring nighttime shooting in densely populated residential areas; the board voted to schedule a first reading after public comment and debate.","taxTitle","Pitt County, North Carolina","taxId",14194,"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},6309950,"Pitt County adopts 2025–2035 Cultural Arts and Recreation comprehensive master plan",797,4733000,5530000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2406584-629758f29d4b02d12007e8ea2d9b1f2d&start=4733&end=5530","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2406584-629758f29d4b02d12007e8ea2d9b1f2d/thumbnail_4733000.jpg","/articles/6309950/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/Pitt-County-adopts-20252035-Cultural-Arts-and-Recreation-comprehensive-master-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309950-66cbb78a09ece997b85abd1aa8e0c627/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154094&Signature=iw1NJOXNJ-KduPuZlYqyUTjeJD4AI-qks0aCtjBovFwRqYNXN7UhHBQzsuzk~M6q60dqKumLqsYnVALoQlZUmmGAwC6GELK~FevAWjsMInfb1~6G6szrcBEMoVK1j9fgKn8l2kqZzDqCYz--JiEjYw5XFOv2QS~eEiaBoHNkRszW-Q3EgZRMAjLXygV~MH2VCN3Wz8Zbs2B1rACcfElWcE7NQuv7Ikm3cbPJLlfp5yXYQkxZ6jUAwGGRIpRU3ltMZciP5fOdp6jAEMa0eCLZs6BJW3MeDUqhtUVvGdIxz4XnET3-yPgSGZ4cAwgqx3QnT~QRPKlQYRLwDPcaf5B9gA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pitt County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s Cultural Arts and Recreation Department’s 2025–2035 comprehensive master plan following a two-year planning process led by department staff, the planning department and consultant McGill & Associates.

Jennifer (Cultural Arts and Recreation staff) and Nate from McGill and Associates presented the plan’s findings and priorities, emphasizing the volume of community engagement: a statistically valid survey, an open survey with nearly 1,000 respondents, focus groups across the county, and extensive staff collaboration. The plan sets five high-level goals for the next decade, including establishing and growing the department, expanding facilities and programs beyond current athletics and senior offerings, improving marketing and branding, and developing funding strategies.

Presenters emphasized that recent county investments — creation of a new department, hiring a director, new parks and recreation centers and budget increases — have accelerated progress and positioned Pitt County to implement the plan’s short- and medium-term actions. Staff named key contributors, including Eric Goobie, Jonas Hill, Alice King, PJ Andrews, Allison Swartz and James Rhodes.

Commissioners asked when a final version would be available to the public; presenters said typographical edits were being completed and an absolute final version would be available within days. The board voted to adopt the master plan as presented and authorized staff to implement the action plan and pursue the plan’s short-, medium- and long-term steps.","After a two-year planning process with broad public input, the board approved the county’s Cultural Arts and Recreation 2025–2035 master plan, which sets priorities for parks, facilities, programming and staffing and provides a 10-year implementation framework.",{"_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},6309954,"Pitt and Greene County leaders discuss multi-jurisdictional industrial park; board agrees to pursue ministerial/interlocal agreement",558,1612000,2170000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2406584-629758f29d4b02d12007e8ea2d9b1f2d&start=1612&end=2170","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2406584-629758f29d4b02d12007e8ea2d9b1f2d/thumbnail_1612000.jpg","/articles/6309954/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/Pitt-and-Greene-County-leaders-discuss-multi-jurisdictional-industrial-park-board-agrees-to-pursue-ministerialinterlocal-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309954-c678951791c1ddf711e73f98034dc7b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154094&Signature=V8zPGVinjp2p0gHuWZdrvLvUCQcNoZeCxpRrOLX1u~YlYD40Ief4U0eWyhxezwRSZdeeYERLIrJ4c0N0RJ7uE4rZ20L0MpQ~tB9uZIhcTMiYfMrQFQfWu6GXILAbXHcESfd-1ElPXL~9HrfdU27XB~8-JbGCz8NDy2ch5DnfstQ99eYx34SsG0lVGWL3EsCgoqgt4qRCON6-XYZz1TwjVCOchmM4M3g-OHlcTkBkzIXfOX0rtK1LjdmFOp5ko8Gtc-6LH~JN5xU4eC3M7gxTaekD0~0NWAtOK0zfOLA~mdL1z-z1t2zwGTBUpcDan1ZR1zOA23uvL0~ZrsvMN28F7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives from Pitt County and neighboring Greene County presented a proposal to jointly market and pursue development of adjoining industrial sites as a multi-jurisdictional industrial park that could be marketed as a single large parcel to attract higher-capital projects.

Trey Cash and Kelly Andrews outlined the rationale: North Carolina has a shortage of “shovel-ready” large sites, and combining Pitt and Greene County parcels could allow the region to offer sites large enough for major industrial investments. Presenters said Farmville Corks Park (described as roughly 400 acres) in Pitt County has extensive recent due diligence and is part of the NC Electric Cooperative Rural Ready Sites and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina’s Select Sites program. Greene County staff reported options on more than 630 acres on Burnett Road near Farmville and said both counties’ parcels are in the same electric and wastewater service areas, creating potential to market up to roughly 1,000 contiguous acres.

Greene County staff said they have budgeted $125,000 for due diligence on their site and have contracted Terracon to complete Phase I work with the goal of being shovel ready by the end of 2025; they also indicated intent to seek additional non-local funding for further due diligence. Presenters pointed to precedent for two-county and multi-county parks elsewhere in North Carolina and asked the board to authorize staff to pursue an interlocal/ministerial agreement to coordinate marketing, master planning, utilities due diligence and select-site applications.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions, and the board moved and approved a motion to proceed with development of an interlocal ministerial agreement and to bring the proposed agreement back to the board for consideration. Supporters said a combined site would allow the counties to compete for larger projects that each county could not attract alone. Commissioners emphasized the potential regional economic benefit regardless of which county ultimately wins a competitive project.","County and Greene County economic development officials presented plans to market combined sites as a single industrial park of up to about 1,000 acres; Pitt County commissioners voted to move forward with a ministerial/interlocal agreement to pursue due diligence and marketing.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309958,"Pitt County OKs sale of 2.65-acre county parcel to ‘Project Maverick’ and authorizes economic development agreement",112,1343000,1455000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2406584-629758f29d4b02d12007e8ea2d9b1f2d&start=1343&end=1455","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2406584-629758f29d4b02d12007e8ea2d9b1f2d/thumbnail_1343000.jpg","/articles/6309958/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/Pitt-County-OKs-sale-of-265-acre-county-parcel-to-Project-Maverick-and-authorizes-economic-development-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309958-58d68288c4dc3e839294b5a80dfeac1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154094&Signature=lKoGv0vMa4KMibmvHdLnGAysAz7JtxhBz3eIBONwvcnCNzpOcXUdP-6lxvo-nUJHnf7aNJb2sSJUtPVinbsSHc5BWZL5f5Ximoaqh4VZ-HF01d9mYErX8IsFBtmegeeJ-JOvlgdv6lnAlVqJ-yW1kXgmSKPpAgAiwg0bbnP9wuVTV4ayE23EIlu0PV2QPuUgnkmZ29e1dm-gWah20ORinYOfc4-RGJDdJU5tcEBHSve7r4m4B7UygWzxrfFmDuLIE77WYLp5JHxWSnE9CAdCtIJHUP-2N--1QHC-5Zg51mT5SBRiY9DtAi9gxEGNTrd0H1vnkFvxZ~0IgfH8lID5gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a public hearing with no registered speakers, county staff recommended conveying county-owned Parcel 62663 — 2.65 acres along Elliot Dixon Drive in Aiden — to a prospective industrial user referred to in staff materials as Project Maverick. The board approved the conveyance and authorized execution of an economic development agreement.

Kelly Andrews, presenting the public hearing, said the parcel has a current tax and market value of $106,000 and that the county would accept a monetary payment of $49,000 plus the additional future tax revenues expected if the project locates on the property. Andrews said the prospective company plans to construct a facility, place machinery and equipment with an estimated capital investment of about $3,000,000 over five years, and create at least 34 jobs with an average private-sector wage of $52,007.73.

The conveyance was conditioned on an executed economic development agreement outlining the terms of conveyance. With no public speakers signed up for the hearing, the board closed the hearing and a motion to accept staff’s recommendation passed with the board authorizing the county manager to execute the agreement and any required documents.

No additional conditions were recorded in the hearing transcript. County staff noted that final conveyance is contingent on completing the economic development agreement prior to transfer.","After a public hearing with no speakers, the board approved conveying county parcel 62663 to a prospective industrial company called Project Maverick in exchange for $49,000 and an economic development agreement; staff said the project would add machinery investment and 34 jobs over five years.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pitt County commissioners schedule first reading of two gun-safety ordinances after hours of debate

Pitt County adopts 2025–2035 Cultural Arts and Recreation comprehensive master plan

Pitt and Greene County leaders discuss multi-jurisdictional industrial park; board agrees to pursue ministerial/interlocal agreement

Pitt County OKs sale of 2.65-acre county parcel to ‘Project Maverick’ and authorizes economic development agreement