Pamlico adds financial support for Military Growth Task Force

BAYBORO — Pamlico County on Monday became the last of seven counties to come on board with financial support of the Military Growth Task Force, designed to assist communities with an influx of Marines in the area over the next two years.

The Pamlico County commissioners gave approval for a $6,250 contribution by a 6-1 vote, with Commissioner Chris Mele voting against the use of taxpayer dollars. The board had previously endorsed the task force, but did not offer financial support.

The vote came on a motion by Commissioner Ken Heath, with a stipulation that the Pamlico board be allowed to approve the reappointment or naming of Pamlico representatives on the task force board. County planner Jayne Robb and former commissioner chairman Doug Brinson are the current Pamlico members of the task force board.

J. Mark Sutherland, the new task force director, told the board Monday that this could be the final time they are asked to contribute a local match to federal funding. He said the next round of federal funding is slated for 2010.

He said the local matching funds are part of federal requirements for the current grant.

Mele said she had contacted the task force office and asked if funds from license plate fees collected years ago for eastern region economic development could be used to fund this project, and was told no.

“I am disgusted that we don’t have control over money taken from our citizens,” she said. “We can’t access funds our citizens paid 20 years ago that are sitting in a bank account.”

Heath talked to Sutherland after the meeting about the possibility of Pamlico County hosting a future task force board meeting.

The North Carolina eastern region board has committed $100,000 in cash toward the local match, with a balance of $125,000 from the counties. The county matches are on a percentage scale, with Onslow County at the high mark with 40 percent and Craven at 25 percent. Pamlico’s share is 5 percent.

The counties serviced by the task force include Craven, Jones, Pamlico, Carteret, Onslow, Duplin and Pender.

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or chall@freedomenc.com.