Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce

May 8, 2014

To: Catherine Glover Executive Director Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 665 Washington, NC 27889 From: Al Klemm Beaufort County Commissioner 209 Bluegill Drive Washington, NC 27889 Phone: 944-5068 Subject: Response to Questions from Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce

Catherine,

I am always glad to respond to any questions and provide any information your Board or Membership request concerning any issues or concerns.

1. What is the future of the courthouse if the jail moves?

The Law Enforcement/Detention Center design has reached the 25% completion point. In June, the design will be 50% complete. Included in the project are $1.8 million dollars in renovations for the courthouse. This number could change slightly as the design is firmed up and approved. These modifications basically include addition of a sally port (secure area for intake or transfer of inmates from vehicles), inmate holding cell area, elevator and some modifications to the upstairs area. Current drawing is available. The unused area of the jail can be used for other courthouse purposes. As more space needs have been expressed by some occupants, this is a plus.

With the movement of the sheriff’s department to the new facility, the sheriff vehicles will also move freeing up additional parking for court days. During court days, this will make parking more available and convenient to those who attend court. People attending court can easily walk from the courthouse during their break and patronize downtown businesses. The courthouse is of prime importance to the downtown area.

As a county commissioner, I would not support the movement of the courthouse from its present location. I do believe the courthouse needs to be maintained in an improved manner to a higher standard. In the future, the courthouse may need to be renovated and expanded. This can be done at the present location and possibly a wing could be added that would open on Market Street. The courthouse belongs where it is.

Two of the counties bordering us, Pitt and Craven County, have located their law enforcement and detention center outside the downtown area while maintaining the courthouse in the downtown area. This has worked very well. The Craven County facility is 11 miles away from the courthouse. Edgecombe County has located their law enforcement/detention center in their industrial park. This has also worked well and not caused trouble for the industrial park.

May 8, 2014

2. What are the future plans of the current Sheriff’s Department building if that building is vacated and the employees moved to the future jail site?

There are presently no future plans for the Sheriff’s Department Building. Different options have been discussed by various individuals. Presently, the first floor is used for offices, the second floor for a utility run and the third floor is not usable. The building has suffered from leaks for many years. Efforts are being made to improve the condition of the building. As a law enforcement center, it is completely inadequate.

Once the building is vacated, the first floor can be renovated and used for another purpose. The second and third floors require major renovation. The original utility run was between the first and second floor and is a four foot high space. There is also the elevator shaft to deal with. Renovation of the entire building would be extremely expensive.

The County could use the building for another purpose, sell or lease it, or at some point use the space for future courthouse expansion. This is pure speculation.

3. Based on your study of the issue, in your opinion what do you believe the positive and negative economic impact will be on the City of Washington, downtown Washington and the Town of Chocowinity?

I have worked closely with law enforcement throughout the process and they have been very helpful. In the beginning, I requested they do a study to determine sheriff department employee activities relating to Washington and the downtown area in particular. Their favorite spot downtown is Down on Main Street and their favorite day is shrimp day. Other establishments that are popular are Bo jangles, Golden Corral, Franks Pizza and Mazatlan. This was a very informal study and I could ask them to do a more formal study if you believe it would be helpful. The guards at the jail work 12 hour shifts and they don’t get out of the facility very much. The deputies are out on the road and hopefully covering the whole county.

The new law enforcement facility will be located on the bypass south of Chocowinity. A trip to Washington takes a very few minutes. (It takes longer to drive across town in Washington) I believe they will probably frequent the same places they do now but I don’t really know.

The Chocowinity area is growing. I would expect them to add businesses as growth takes place and attract sheriff’s department and detention center employees but I see this happening in Washington also. Economically, I don’t see the new facility being a plus or minus to either area at the present time.

The probation office was downtown on the waterfront and moved to the mental health building on Highland Drive. I doubt if anyone saw any difference in their activities. Of all the facilities that moved out of Washington, I would have thought P.S. Jones Middle School and John Small would have had the most effect.

May 8, 2014

Greenville has grown to a city of 84,000 people and the western part of Beaufort County is slowly becoming more and more a bedroom community to Greenville. In a way, we are becoming tied to Greenville. (My opinion) I believe the future for the western part of the County is very good. I believe our waterfront and our beautiful downtown will become more attractive to people as time moves forward. The Washington waterfront is under constant improvement and becomes more desirable each year. Business downtown is not what it should be but I believe it will improve as time goes by. There are a lot of people working to see this happen. Eventually it will.

Future economic development will take place in the Washington-Beaufort County and Chocowinity industrial parks as the economy improves. The county and city will need to be proactive in attracting new business. Job opportunities in Greenville are improving.

I am not as positive on the eastern part of the county. Population and job opportunities are declining. Even agricultural opportunities are declining due to modern technology. The eastern part of the county’s path to prosperity is difficult to define. Tourism and becoming a destination appears to be their best bet. The majority of rural areas are in decline. It is what is happening in America. A city is needed nearby to lean on.

Al Klemm, Beaufort County Commissioner