Wayne Week — Dec. 8, 2024

N E W OL D NORT H M E DI A PR E SE N T S A W E E K LY N E WS M AG A Z I N E

DE CE M BE R 8, 2 024

N E WOL DNORT H .C OM

Wayne

WEEK

'Tis the season From the town of Pikeville Christmas Parade to the Goldsboro Ballet's performance of "The Nutcracker," the holiday season is in full swing in Wayne County.

Our Take page 12; Spectator page 20

Goldsboro residents react to lead letters

p. 4

Former WCSO major avoids federal prison

p. 8

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 8, 2024 Volume 2, Issue 15

NEWOLDNORTH .CO M

EDITORIAL EDITOR Ken Fine

4 Goldsboro has ‘zero’ lead in water Goldsboro leaders learned that the city has no lead pipes in its system — and no lead in its water — but letters sent by the government to homeowners as part of a federal mandate have left some local residents confused and worried because of their galvanized pipes.

EDITOR Renee Carey DESIGN DIRECTOR Shan Stumpf PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Casey Mozingo

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Hallie Hulse Evans ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE McKayla Alves ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lara Landers

PUBLISHER

New Old North Media LLC

CONTACTS EDITORS

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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES hevans@newoldnorth.com llanders@newoldnorth.com malves@newoldnorth.com

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WAYNE WEEK (ISSN 2993-9666) is published weekly — except the week of Christmas, Easter, and July 4 — for $125 per year by New Old North Media, LLC, 219 N. John Street, Goldsboro, NC, 27530. Periodicals postage paid at at Goldsboro, NC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to WAYNE WEEK, 219 N. John Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530.

6 Wayne County loses a champion Hers might not have been a household name, but Wayne County Museum Executive Director Jennifer Kuykendall was one of the very best of us — and her passing has left those who knew her reeling.

8 Worth avoids federal prison

Former Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Christopher Worth will spend no more than a year under house arrest and a total of four years on probation for his role in a financial crimes conspiracy. But unlike his co-conspirator, former WCSO Drug Unit Chief Michael Cox, he will not spend time behind bars.

10 Boards elect new leaders

The Wayne County Board of Education, Board of Commissioners, and the Goldsboro City Council elected new leaders to serve in 2025.

14 Cover story

After nearly a year of fine-tuning a controversial parking policy for downtown Goldsboro, members of the City Council voted to put the enforcement of a two-hour parking limit on hold for at least the next three-plus months.

20 Spectator

Hundreds converged on downtown Pikeville Dec. 1 to ring in the holiday season at a Christmas parade that brought cheer out of all who attended the event.

COVER PHOTOS

BY KEN FINE

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NEWS +VIEWS Residents react to lead letters There is no lead in Goldsboro’s water system, but 8,500 households received notices that their galvanized or unknown pipes could contaminate their supply.

BY KEN FINE

T

hey knew it was going to cause a panic — that when thousands of Goldsboro households received letters that mentioned the possibly of lead in their drinking water, the hotline city leaders set up would, as one official put it, start “blinging.”

“It can be a scary read,” Engineering Services Manager Jonathan Perry said.

They knew that it wouldn’t matter that city crews had found “no lead (pipes)” in Goldsboro’s water system — that the mere suggestion that some of the galvanized pipes they did find “may have absorbed lead” and were defined by the EPA as “requiring replacement” would lead to residents sounding off on social media and showing up at City Hall.

So, were it up to Mayor Charles Gaylor, the letter would have never been sent.

“I hate the letter,” he said. “I want to do the transparency piece of it, but I feel like everything about this is just, I don’t feel like it accomplishes the goal of transparency and helping people. I just feel like it rattles their cages.”

But the decision was not his to make.

And both he and Perry were right.

As some 8,500 local residents began reading letters sent to them as part of a federal mandate from the EPA, they reacted.

But Perry and Gaylor want them to be armed with the facts — and one in particular.

“We have no lead services in our system, which is great,” Perry said. “And I really, really am confident that we don’t have any lead in our system.”

•

•

•

Two sets of residents received letters.

Some have galvanized water pipes that were documented during “visual and hydro excavation inspections” carried out by the city.

Others are in an “unknown” category because no inspection has yet taken place.

And for those who have galvanized pipes running underneath their homes, there is a chance that, should the pipes corrode, lead could end up in that home’s drinking water.

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The letter notes that possibility.

“Galvanized service lines that have absorbed lead can contribute to lead in drinking water,” it reads. “People living in homes with a galvanized service line that has absorbed lead may have an increased risk of exposure to lead from their drinking water.”

But health risks associated with galvanized pipes are, according to city officials and Keen Plumbing Vice President John Casey, “unlikely” — with Casey going so far as to state that if his home had galvanized pipes, he would not replace them.

“It would take a whole lot of galvanized — and all of it would have to be corroded — to create a lead problem big enough to put anyone at risk,” he said, adding that North Carolina still allows plumbers to install galvanized pipes for certain projects.

But Perry said out of an abundance of caution, the 368 city-owned galvanized service lines would be replaced.

Goldsboro cannot, however, make deci-

sions about residents’ plumbing.

And that, Gaylor said, is problematic.

So, he is encouraging those who received letters to remain calm — and after they have done their research, make the “best decision” for their family.

But whatever they decide, it will not change the fact that Goldsboro’s drinking water is safe.

“I am adamant that we are going to be transparent with folks on what they need to know so they can make safe, healthy decisions for their families,” the mayor said. “But I implore folks to read this slowly, take a deep breath, and read it again (because) the city of Goldsboro is absolutely committed to providing safe, quality drinking water.” n Note: The city held two public information sessions regarding the letters that were recently sent as part of a federal mandate — and the results of their inspections that showed Goldsboro’s water supply was free from lead contam-

ination, but according to Perry, only four people showed up.

Those who were unable to attend, but want to see the presentation for additional information, are encouraged to visit the city’s website to view it. The site also contains the data collected by city crews which is included in this package.

For easy access to the site, use the camera on your smart phone to scan the following QR Code:

0

WATER UTILITY PROPERTY SEARCH

The city’s website will allow you to type in your address and get your home’s lead information as shown below:

Lead Pipe SystemOwned Service Lines

0

Lead Pipe CustomerOwned Service Lines

368

Galvanized Pipe SystemOwned Service Lines

1,449

Galvanized Pipe CustomerOwned Service Lines

1,349 Plastic Pipe SystemOwned Service Lines

2,525

HOW THE DATA WAS COLLECTED

Plastic Pipe CustomerOwned Service Lines

8,679

CUSTOMER-OWNED SOURCING METHODS

58.68%

Copper Pipe SystemOwned Service Lines

SYSTEM-OWNED SOURCING METHODS

59%

Field inspection only with no records

Installation date is after the 1987 lead ban

6,321

22.39%

Copper Pipe CustomerOwned Service Lines

1.34%

17.59%

22.23% Statistical analysis Other

1.3%

17.48%

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_ IN MEMORIAM _

H

Yes. Jen was a Wayne County giant.

er name never appeared on a ballot.

Her face never graced a billboard.

She was never called on to stand before the public and deliver vital information.

No, Jennifer Kuykendall was not a household name.

But for the last several days, hundreds of Wayne County residents have carried with them a profound feeling of loss.

Because like us, they know that sometimes, those among us who leave the biggest footprints are not around nearly long enough — and we really don’t have the chance to say thank you like we wish we could.

Last week, we tragically lost Jen — in a moment, in her sleep, overnight, unexpectedly.

Her passing was a shock — much too soon, and without warning.

So, today, we, along with her family, are feeling her loss — especially acute for those of us who were lucky enough

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to really know her.

We have the regrets one has when we lose someone we thought would be around for a long time.

We did not have the chance to thank her for everything she has done for this community.

And the truth is, while her name was never on a ballot and her face never graced a billboard, Jen was one of Wayne County’s giants.

As the executive director of the Wayne County Museum, she brought the building back to life and encouraged her fellow citizens — young and old and from all different neighborhoods and backgrounds — to learn about, and take pride in, their history.

We thought we would have plenty of days to tell her how much life she injected into the community and the role she has played in preserving our heritage, so we did not shower her with praise and attention for the many, many places where she made a difference — the number of times she said, “yes,” to helping with just about

any community event without hesitation and without even a second thought about how it would impact her day.

We thought there would be time to come up with an appropriate way to honor her for all the times she was the one we could count on.

And while we might have admired Jen’s philosophy of loving people from all races, backgrounds, and parts of the community, we did not necessarily run to implement that same love, understanding, and acceptance she modeled — or to tell her how much it made us think about how we lived our own lives.

Honestly, we thought there would be plenty of time for that conversation.

We thought we would have the chance to tell Jen how “cool” it was that she was so unapologetically herself — that we were inspired the day she shaved her head to raise money for children battling cancer because it took a kind of courage few people actually display.

We assumed there would be a moment,

sometime down the road, to share with Jen how much her support meant to us when we were dabbling with idea of finally launching Wayne Week and she, with wide eyes, simply said, “Go for it.”

We just knew that one day, we could applaud this young woman for making it OK to be “different” — the kind of person whose unique style and perspective on the world influenced those around her.

And we were certain that at the end of her career, we would have the chance to write about the fact that she never met a stranger — and how special it was that there were no barriers to overcome to get to know her.

But here we are. And it’s hard.

So, for those of you who never had the pleasure of knowing what we came to learn over the years we got to experience the Jen so many are missing today, here is a crash course on what made her, as one downtown business owner put it, “just a total rockstar.”

She had the kind of smile that made you

think she knew a secret — a view on life that you had not yet discovered; a peace about how the world works that you wish she could share more often.

She made people think — not just about their ideologies and actions, but how both would shape the future of this community and the world.

She made people smile and was part of just about every good thing that happened in Goldsboro.

And she was nostalgic — always willing to talk about vintage toys, old movies, and classic cars over a glass of wine.

We could go on and on.

But frankly, we are still devastated that we must.

And the truth is, Jen probably wouldn’t want us to.

So, now that we have lost her, we need to think about how to honor her.

Of course, we send condolences to her mother, Judith McMillen, and the rest of her family.

We know that as hard as this has been for us, your hearts must be broken.

We are praying for you.

But we think you hinted at something very important in the tribute you published on social media to announce Jen’s passing.

She would not want people to sit around and mourn.

She would want them to get involved and pick up the torch now that she has put it down.

Because, you see, Jen loved this community.

Whether it was the long hours revitalizing the museum or shaving her head for St. Baldrick’s, Jen’s heart was laser-focused on doing what was best for Wayne County and, more importantly, the people who live here.

She wasn’t going to sit back and wait for someone else to do the work.

She was going to be the one leading the charge.

She knew the secret — the truth about what makes a community strong and healthy.

It’s the people — and those who absolutely refuse to not answer the call to serve.

She lived that life, and she inspired others to do the same — one good deed, one volunteer hour at a time.

It did not matter to Jen where you came from or what your story was. If

she could do something to make your life better, she was all in, and prepared to bring others along, too.

It was a form of paying it forward perhaps — or maybe just about faith and love, both of which she practiced daily.

Or maybe it was just a special gift of being the kind of person who just can’t say no when someone needs help and who won’t stop until she finds a solution.

It is a quality we should all strive for, and it is an aspect of this community that Jen knew was an absolutely essential part of who we are.

She loved Wayne County and the people who live here.

And she was on a mission — to help us learn to care about one another.

So, instead of just sending a bouquet of flowers in Jen’s honor, let’s go one step further.

Let’s do some good deeds in our community this week.

It does not have to be expensive, and it does not have to be showy.

Jen wasn’t like that.

It can be as simple as taking a casserole over to your neighbor who is now alone again after the swirl of the Thanksgiving holiday is over.

Or it could be offering a cup of coffee to that mother of two young children whose husband has deployed.

And if you are a little bit worried about the consumerism of Christmas overpowering the true message of the holiday, consider getting your children involved in making a difference for someone less fortunate.

Choose a child off an Angel Tree or go pick out some food to bring to a Blessing Box or the Community Soup Kitchen.

And if your children are old enough, consider bringing a group of them and their friends to volunteer.

We think there could be no better tribute to a woman who gave so much and asked for so little than to continue her work at the holidays and beyond.

We’re going to miss you, Jen. We already miss you.

But we pledge to do our part to continue your mission.

And we are pretty sure that as we do, you will be looking down from Heaven — wearing that smile that confirms you know a secret.n

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“Service since 1923.”

Worth avoids federal prison

Chief United States District Judge Richard Myers II sentenced the former Wayne County Sheriff’s Office major to up to a year of house arrest and four years of supervised probation for his role in a bid-rigging conspiracy.

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e will be confined to his home for “a period not to exceed one year” — and during that time will be restricted to his residence “at all times” except for “pre-approved and scheduled absences” for employment, education, religious activities, attorney visits, or “other activities” approved by his probation officer.

He will remain on supervised probation until the four-year sentence handed down by Chief United States District Judge Richard Myers II has run its course — and, during that time, cannot leave the Eastern District of North Carolina without first getting permission, or own, possess, or have access to a firearm.

He will carry the “convicted felon” Christopher Worth designation with him for the rest of his life — and, according to his attorney, stands to lose the pension he earned during his decades-long career as a lawman.

But former Wayne County Sheriff ’s Office Maj. Christopher Worth will not spend time in a federal prison for his role in a financial crimes conspiracy he pleaded guilty to earlier this year — one prosecutors characterized, in open court, as a “bid-rigging scheme” the government said defrauded Wayne County and its taxpayers.

Myers’ Nov. 22 decision marked the culmination of a case that has captivated the thousands who have been following it since Worth and former WCSO Drug Unit Chief Michael Cox were indicted in August 2023 and subsequently arrested by federal agents for their joint financial crimes and Cox’s involvement in a conspiracy to distribute and possess cocaine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone.

Both would ultimately reach plea deals with federal prosecutors — agreeing to admit guilt to the most serious charges in exchange for the dismissal of several others.

Cox, though, would end up having to do time — 74 months in a federal prison that Myers called “a gift” after telling the former deputy that he was choosing to be “merciful.”

And his time behind bars — which will require him to live in “segregation” and spend 23 hours a day in his cell because he could, as a former lawman, be targeted by other inmates — will be “tough,” the judge said during his late September sentencing.

“Your time is going to be a lot harder than an ordinary person,” Myers said.

Many local residents, though, did not take comfort in that fact — or the reality that Worth had avoided prison.

Some viewed what they considered the judge’s leniency for both men as “preferential treatment” — characterizing the end results as everything from “disgusting” and “sickening” to “a (expletive deleted) joke.”

But back in September, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert DeWitt celebrated Cox’s sentence as a victory.

“Tonight, Michael Kenneth Cox will have a different view of prison bars. He will be looking out from the inside of a federal cell for the next six years,” he said. “Law enforcement officers are entrusted with an incredible responsibility to serve our communities and ensure justice. Anyone who tarnishes their badge for their own profit will be held accountable.”

He did not, however, weigh in after Worth avoided time in a cell.

And U.S. Attorney Michael Easley Jr., who said in September that “Cox and his co-defendant both took the sacred oath to uphold the law and protect the public” — that the “majority of our law enforcement officers abide their promise, but these two chose a different path” — has also been mum since Worth’s sentence put a bookend on the case. n

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MEET THE NEW LEADERS OF THE PACKS

M

ost have served on their respective boards for years, but heading into 2025, they will now be charged — after being elected by their peers this week — to lead the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, the Wayne County Board of Education, and the Goldsboro City Council into the future.

School Board Chairman Bill Joyner

Commission Chairwoman Barbara Aycock

School Board Vice Chairman Tommy Sanders

Goldsboro Mayor Pro Tem Hiawatha Jones

Commission Vice Chairman Bevan Foster

SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS Want to sound off on the issues we’re covering? Send your thoughts to letters@newoldnorth.com and we just might publish them in a future edition of Wayne Week.

Word count is not overly important, but please identify yourself by name and the city or town you reside in.

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“

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{ our TAKE }

MERRY AND BRIGHT

T

here is nothing that signifies the official beginning of the holiday season more than the sounds of children singing Christmas carols and parades.

And this past week, we have had lots of both.

From the magical lighting of the holiday decorations in downtown Goldsboro to the shower of candy raining down from floats during the annual Pikeville Christmas Parade, Wayne County is getting ready to welcome Santa Claus in high style.

Of course, the Mount Olive and Goldsboro Christmas parades are also on the scorecard for this community’s annual holiday to-do list.

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And if you have never been, trust us when we say there is nothing quite like seeing the excitement these events bring to our children.

But another magical event happened this past week.

We got to enjoy a Wayne County Public Schools holiday tradition — the district’s annual Choral Showcase.

The amount of work it takes to coordinate a show like that — and the weeks of practicing — is unbelievable, and yet, every year, it comes together and brings the audience to its feet.

The young performers this year carried on a tradition that is decades in the making. In

fact, many of their parents sitting out in that audience have memories of their own stints on stage singing holiday classics.

The choice of songs might be different and the presentation a little flashier, but there is a reason this concert has carried on for decades.

It is a reminder that no matter how many ways times change, there are still some traditions worth saving and memories worth making.

And we can tell you, more than a few of those memories were made this week.

So, to the singers, teachers, administrators, and choral directors who made these performances possible, we thank you.

But there is more. Much more.

We could not talk about holiday traditions without honoring Goldsboro Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker.”

Every year, young dancers of all ages bring the Tchaikovsky masterpiece to life to the delight of people from all over the county.

And here’s a secret we have learned over our many years covering it.

To be asked to perform the role of Clara is an honor indeed. And somewhere in the audiences this week, a little girl watched with amazement as this year’s star pirouetted across the stage and made her own plans for her debut.

It is how dreams are made.

But we would not have “The Nutcracker” without the dedicated volunteers who make each year’s performance possible. They have made an impact on young lives for generations and they are heroes.

That, too, is worth celebrating.

And the holiday festivities have only just begun.

There is even more fun planned, from Christmas parties and gift exchanges to those holiday cookie swaps and Christmas bazaars.

They are just as much a part of the season in our hometowns.

So, too, is service.

These few weeks before families gather for the holiday are also a time to remember why we celebrate the season in the first place.

That’s why so many Wayne County residents have doing good for others on their checklist.

There will be children’s names snatched off holiday trees and coins dropped in the The Salvation Army’s kettles.

Those stories are enough to make you feel pretty good about your community.

Local congregations are a huge part of that effort.

Yes, they will celebrate the faith part of Christmas, but they also always ensure that no one, and we mean no one, has to face an empty table for the holidays.

Because here in Wayne County, we don’t forget the “reason for the season” — not ever.

But with all of that said, there is something else we feel is worth noting as you prepare to engage in another hallmark of the holidays — shopping.

We talk a lot here about the need to support our local businesses, because these are the men and women — and families — who have chosen to invest in our community and who offer jobs and revenue to keep Wayne County vibrant and growing.

They are there when we need a donation, and the truth is, when an organization needs help, they head, first, to the locally run businesses in our community.

Whether it is a gift card or a sponsorship, the names on the “thank you” list are almost always the same names — sometimes

across generations.

So, now more than ever, it is equally important that you thank them for what they give back to this community.

And this week, the Goldsboro City Council made a decision that might make a shopping trip downtown even more affordable.

After implementing a controversial parking policy downtown earlier this year, council members have decided to put a “stop” to the ticketing policy until city leaders can determine what is the best way to move forward.

The idea behind the parking rules was a good one in theory.

Spaces that are monopolized by downtown workers and residents — or city employees — cannot be used by shoppers who want to make a stop in Goldsboro to pick up a gift.

But worrying about whether your trip is going to result in a ticket is not conducive to a leisurely stroll down the street to see the holiday lights while choosing a special present or sitting down for drinks and a nice meal.

And that doesn’t even take into account those who would be getting their hair done for the holidays — or the moms out there who are cashing in their gift card for a spa treatment.

Could you relax when the meter is running?

So, not surprisingly, the parking restrictions did not go over well.

And business owners said they have felt the pinch as residents who might have chosen to shop downtown headed instead for the free and ample — and unlimited — parking at the mall or out of town.

That’s not a good way to encourage more traffic downtown. It just isn’t.

But to their credit, council members, at last, have decided to do absolutely the right thing — step back, evaluate, and then make a final decision that is in everyone’s best interest.

In the meantime?

The city’s parking policy will be returned to normal — with no restrictions.

Now, just in case you think this means that those who abuse the spots or who park their cars illegally should be allowed to go about their merry way without repercussions, we agree with those who say that there must, at some point, be a parking plan for the city.

It is the only way, as Goldsboro’s core continues to chase investment, that leaders can ensure spots are being used properly.

Having thriving businesses with no options for parking will do no one any good.

So, a commonsense parking plan seems like a really good idea — and the council needs to make good on its pledge to bring in every stakeholder over the next few months to find that solution.

But there are some steps that can be taken until then.

Downtown residents with parking facilities for their buildings and employees of

downtown businesses need to start using the appropriate lots.

And Goldsboro leaders need to ensure they are doing everything in their power to maintain safety in the city’s core.

We look forward to being able to share the “final” plan with you soon — and have faith in our council to get us there.

But for now, we should applaud the board for, especially during the critical Christmas shopping season, making downtown parking the way it was before the signs went up and tickets started appearing on windshields.

Because, as we have already noted, this holiday season could be a make-or-break one for many of the businesses that make downtown Goldsboro so special.

So, we hope you will join us as we commit to doing some of our shopping inside our family-owned small businesses.

There are certainly plenty of choices.

You can find all kinds of unique items in Wayne County — and some that even do some good in your community.

And the best part is, the people whose tills you will be filling are those same people we talked about earlier — the ones who offer jobs and support to this community every single day of the year.

We know how much your business matters to our local business owners because they have told us so.

So, please include them on your holiday lists.

And if you see a member of the City Council, thank them for, once again, doing the right thing when it might have been easier to stubbornly stick to a plan.

In their own way, they, too, have provided this community with a holiday gift — and set an example for our young ones about the necessity of being willing to cut bait and put in the hard work it takes to do the right thing. n

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K A E R B G N I K R A P r in a s e t p a h c st t h e l a te s a is year. w h t t I . e y a m i d t ’s on Council limits M y g t i n i C k r o r a p Goldsbo e wntown h o t d f ’ o e s s u a ur te d to ‘ p s and ho r o u v o y h t i c F IN E d The

BY K E N nsume o c s a h that

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aga

M

ayor Charles Gaylor told them they were about to make the wrong decision — that pausing a controversial downtown parking policy to appease angry business owners and shoppers would upset just as many people who were benefitting from the two-hour time limit that has been in place since this summer.

“Guys. This is a mistake.

This is a mistake. This is a mistake,” he said. “Guys, we’ve implemented a thing and to just walk away from it for an undetermined amount of time to resolve issues that we don’t know how to clearly articulate other than, ‘Some folks don’t like it,’ this isn’t going to resolve this issue other than to make it so that different people are unhappy.”

But moments later, every other elected member of the Goldsboro City Council voted to “pause” the measure until at least the end of March — and pledged to “do the work” necessary to figure out whether there was, in fact, a more palatable way to enforce parking in the city’s core in the future.

And by mid-morning Tuesday, just like that, the signs that had been posted along Center Street were gone.

"This isn't going to resolve this

issue other than to make it so that different people are unhappy."

The issue of how to regulate parking in downtown Goldsboro — or whether it was even worth it — has consumed hours of the council’s time since its members were sworn into office after the November 2023 election.

And when restrictions were put into place earlier this year, there was backlash.

Handicapped residents claimed they had found parking tickets on their windshields — a violation, they said, of North Carolina General Statute.

Others claimed they had been fined for parking “over the line” that separates spaces — despite their insistence that the way the cars in front and behind their spot have parked made it impossible to come to a stop within the boundaries.

Business owners on Mulberry Street alleged that city employees — and members of the City Council — were utilizing onstreet parking in front of their shops after

championing restrictions they said were meant to preserve “valuable” spots for paying customers.

And when council members attempted to compromise, they took even more heat.

Some lambasted what they characterized as an “unfair” moratorium put into place for a block of Center Street — a move one business owner said was reflective of “blatant favoritism.”

And when a vote excluded Saturdays from the restrictions, a move that required the signs to be changed, several business owners said it flew in the face of the argument for the parking measure in the first place — that putting a time limit on downtown parking was to ensure “valuable” spaces were available to shoppers — because Saturdays were their most profitable.

Still, the majority of the council decided to keep the policy in place for six months to

ensure it was given a fair shake.

But that six months expired before Monday’s meeting, setting the stage for yet another marathon discussion.

I

t started nearly a decade ago, when, in 2016, the city commissioned a parking study to anticipate future parking demand as a result of the realization of the Downtown Master Plan.

Then, a consultant was hired — a man who, in early 2023, unwrapped that data during a public forum.

His conclusion? Downtown Goldsboro had exceeded assumptions made about just how much demand there would be for parking on Center and surrounding streets.

So, he presented, to the 50-plus people in attendance, several options he believed could help the city mitigate potential woes for those Continued on page 16 newoldnorth.com

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Continued from page 15

wanting to eat, drink, and shop downtown.

The overwhelming majority said they would favor regulations akin to what the city rolled out this year.

But when the signs went up and warning tickets started appearing on windshields, it started a firestorm.

Young women showed up to council meetings to share stories about being accosted and propositioned by “aggressive” panhandlers — both in broad daylight and when they get off from work long after sunset — during what they characterized as unnecessarily long walks to their cars.

Business owners repeatedly stepped up to the podium — painting pictures of decreasing revenue and clients who told them they plan to patronize other establishments.

Accusations of “selective enforcement” flew — claims that the person handing out tickets was ignoring vehicles that belong to city employees, including City Council- and city-owned vehicles with Goldsboro’s logo affixed to them, despite the fact that, according to time-stamped photographs shared with Wayne Week, they were camped on Mulberry and other streets for far longer than two hours at a time.

And a petition signed by nearly 100 people

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"Guys.

This is a mistake.

This is a mistake.

This is a mistake."

— a document containing the names of everyone from real estate agents, tattoo artists, and hair stylists to restaurateurs, landlords, and boutique managers — was submitted to the council.

Among those outraged was Councilwoman Beverly Weeks, who repeatedly doubled down on her belief that, “I really don’t believe we have a parking problem downtown.”

“Before this started, I don’t remember hearing anything about parking problems downtown,” Weeks said earlier this year. “But we’ve sure got a problem now.”

And Councilman Roderick White brought up something else the consultant said during the public meeting in 2023 — something he said justified putting an end to the divisive, controversial measure.

“He said we didn’t have a parking issue, we had a usage issue,” White said this summer.

“That’s what he said. So, I think we created a parking problem with implementing this.”

W

ith Councilwoman Brandi Matthews, Weeks, and White firmly in the camp to kill the policy — and Gaylor, Councilman Chris Boyette, and Mayor Pro Tem Hiawatha Jones expressing the need to refine and improve the policy rather than Continued on page 18

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Continued from page 1

eliminate it — it became clear Monday that Councilwoman Jamie Taylor would be the deciding vote.

But after being, in her view, a team player and allowing six months for residents and business owners to respond, she had clearly had enough.

“When we first started this, I said, ‘Just give me six months to do my research,’ and that’s what I’ve been doing,” she said.

And after talking to stakeholders, she felt the pain of those small business owners, like herself, who are living on the edge every month.

“I understand what it means to either have a good month or a bad month … and they are telling me this is hurting their businesses,” Taylor said.

“If you have businesses out here that are doing fair and you have the city put restrictions on parking and it’s hurting their business, it doesn’t take long for a small business to go under. Come on guys. It’s been almost a year … and what we do have is businesses that are suffering.”

So, she and Matthews came up with a new plan.

Instead of killing the policy altogether, the signs would come down and the tickets would stop being issued until “the work” has been done to ensure the next policy — if there is one

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"Come on guys.

It's been almost a year ... and what we do have is businesses that are suffering."

— works for as many stakeholders as possible.

And that means putting the item on the January City Council Retreat agenda.

“Why not just do away with the parking (restrictions) right now and try to figure this out?” Taylor said.

Matthews agreed — but implored the council and city staff to take seriously an effort to bring something viable back to the table 60 days after the retreat.

“I think it’s worth doing the sweat equity,” she said.

Ultimately, every council member but Gaylor agreed.

But Boyette made it clear that in order to ensure a bright future for downtown, a policy of some kind would need to exist.

“We just can’t scrap the whole program at this point,” he said. “I don’t think we can rip the thermostat off the wall, but I would certainly be willing to compromise.”

Gaylor still disagreed — and made that known until moments before the 6-1 vote.

“I think that an outright pause is not the direction we need to go with it,” he said. “We’re trying to be responsive. We’re trying to make adjustments. What I’ll ask is why does that have to happen during a pause?”

Now, though, it will have to happen that way — or not at all.n

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the SPECTATOR Here come the parades

Hundreds converged on downtown Pikeville Dec. 1 to ring in the holiday season at one of Wayne County residents’ favorite Christmas parades.

PHOTOS BY KEN FINE

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If the Goldsboro City Council adopts the 2024-25 budget recommended by Interim City Manager Matthew Livington, local residents will be forced to absorb a 15-cent property tax increase and a 7-percent water and sewer rate hike, as leaders look for a way to finance police and fire raises.

WEEK

MIND GA M ES

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A unanimous decision to move Goldsboro High School to a new building has drawn the ire of community leaders, former students, and teachers who fear the school will soon close for good.

SPECIES? ENDANGERED

Dozens have graduated from the University of Mount Olive’s Master's in Counseling Psychology program, but because it is still not accredited, most are unable to find employment as therapists in North Carolina.

BY KEN FINE p. 1 4

Budget Buffet

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NEWS: Court documents filed last week seem to indicate former WCSO deputy has reached a plea deal . p.6

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Coram’s lawsuit thrown out / p. 4

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NEWS Salmon out as City Manager / p. 8

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Local leaders say it’s time to fight back after community was “blindsided” by news of cuts coming to 4th Fighter Wing. / by KEN FINE p. 16

DIGITAL

M AY 12, 2024

THE PROBLEM WITHIN

Two Wayne County public school teachers have been charged with taking indecent liberties with students since Gov. Roy Cooper signed a harsher set of penalties for the crime into law in late 2023.

But those two individuals are only part of a problem the local education community has been dealing with for the last several years.

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