Chris Cary

The primary discussion involved adjusting the 2026 meeting calendar due to the cancellation of the February 2, 2026, regular meeting. The Board approved scheduling a new regular meeting for Monday, February 16, 2026. Additionally, the Commissioners considered a presentation regarding Community Development Block Grant -- Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) -- Trails and Handwashing Stations. A motion was passed to award the Construction Agreement for this project to the lowest bidder, Bridgeview Contracts Inc., for a base bid of $280,780, pending final approval by the County Manager and County Attorney.

The meeting included retirement recognition for employees, specifically honoring Mr. William "Bill" Hill for 47 years of public service. The Board approved the promotion of Mrs. Susan Phelps to Economic Development Director. Key actions included approving the purchase of new apparatus for the Salem Fire Department and approving the 10% / 70% Watershed Development Option for the new Southern Nash Middle School construction. A resolution was adopted appointing Leonard Anyan-Darko as a Nash County Review Officer, and the Monthly Tax Collector's report was accepted. Contract awards were approved for the MedPark Renovation Project (Low Voltage Wiring) and tentative award for the Northern Nash Water System Improvements Phase 2 Contract 1 project. The Board also approved a change order for the Detention Facility Additions & Renovations, several capital project ordinance amendments and budget amendments, including one for Emergency Services funded by Duke Clinical Research Institute. Appointments were made to the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments and the Nash County Farmers Market Advisory Board, and Dr. Thomas Akers, II, was appointed to the Consolidated Health and Human Services Board. The session concluded with an executive session to discuss attorney-client matters, economic development, and personnel issues.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance. Key agenda items included the approval of minutes from the February 2nd, February 4th (Special Call), and February 16th, 2026 meetings. A public hearing scheduled for the rezoning request for the Williams Run subdivision was postponed to the April 6, 2026 meeting. Item number 20 was removed from the agenda. During the public comment session, high school students addressed the board regarding the importance of funding community awareness campaigns to reduce stigma around teen mental health. A citizen also submitted a petition requesting a pause on major residential developments pending the revision of the unified development ordinance, emphasizing concerns over cumulative impact on public safety and infrastructure capacity, specifically concerning the jail project capacity planning. The board also presented the annual state of the county address video covering 2025 projects.

The meeting began with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance. Key agenda items included the approval of minutes from the February 2nd, February 4th, and February 16th, 2026 meetings. A scheduled public hearing regarding the rezoning request for the Williams Run subdivision was postponed to the April 6th, 2026 meeting. Item number 20 was removed from the agenda. During the public comment session, constituents addressed the board regarding concerns over the jail project's capacity relative to its multi-million dollar cost, advocating for a pause on major residential developments while the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is being revised, and emphasizing the need for planning that accounts for infrastructure and public safety capacity given anticipated county growth. One citizen also formally submitted a petition signed by 239 residents requesting a public safety capacity assessment and a temporary pause on major residential developments during the UDO revision process. The meeting concluded with the presentation of the annual state of the county address video covering projects from 2025.

The meeting agenda included the Chairman's Annual State of the County Address and an Audit Presentation for Fiscal Year 25. A significant portion of the meeting involved four legislative public hearings concerning rezoning requests: General Rezoning Request Z-260201 to rezone property on Old Lewis Road to R-40; Conditional Rezoning Request CZ-260101 for property on NC Highway 4 to A1-CZ to permit a single-wide manufactured home; Conditional Rezoning Request CZ-260202 for the Coleman Subdivision to A1-CZ to allow six new residential lots; and Conditional Rezoning Request CZ-260203 to rezone property for The Hollow at Hope Creek Subdivision to RA-30-CZ. Additional items included a funding request for a Bi-Directional Amplifier Communication System, presentation of the Monthly Tax Report, review of refund requests, consideration of Interlocal Agreements for Glover Park and Project Patriot, a Contract Change Order for the Northern Nash Water System, a request to put the Public Safety Warehouse out to bid, and several Capital Project Ordinance closeouts and budget amendments. The meeting concluded with Board Appointments, Commissioner Comments, a Manager's Report, and a Closed Session before recessing to a later date.