Camden County Lands $300K Community Paramedic Grant

Camden County commissioners voted July 6 to accept a $299,839.50 state grant that will launch a community paramedic program, shifting county EMS from reacting to 911 calls toward preventing them. The grant from the North Carolina Office of EMS, awarded through the rural health transformation program, funds one full-time paramedic position, a dedicated response vehicle, equipment and training.

"Traditionally, EMS has been reactive," EMS Director Joe Zoller told the board. "Someone calls 911. We respond, treat the patient, transport when necessary."

Zoller said crews repeatedly see the same patients with the same underlying issues, including chronic illness, falls and behavioral health concerns. The new program will focus on overdose follow-up, post-hospital discharge visits, fall prevention, chronic disease management and helping patients navigate the health care system.

The position is fully funded through the initial grant period ending Oct. 30, 2027, and Zoller said the state anticipates future funding as part of a five-year rural health initiative. Grant expenditures will be paid by the county up front and reimbursed by the state, and Zoller said he does not anticipate any impact on the existing EMS budget or the general fund.

The board also adopted a fund balance policy capping county reserves at 80 percent of expenditures while keeping the existing 35 percent floor, which remains well above the Local Government Commission's recommendation. County Manager Burke said recent audits showed the county sitting well above the 35 percent mark, and the policy directs excess funds toward capital reserves, debt reduction, infrastructure, economic development or tax rate stabilization.

Burke pointed to western North Carolina counties still awaiting FEMA reimbursements from Hurricane Helene as a reason to keep reserves healthy. The policy allows the board to temporarily suspend the rules in an emergency.

Commissioners awarded a $315,000 contract to East Point Contracting LLC to finish the county's well No. 4 project, which originally bid at just under $1 million. Utilities Director Chas Sawyer said the county rebid the remaining site preparation and electrical installation after purchasing the electrical equipment itself, which scared off most bidders over warranty concerns.

"This project has been a boulder," Sawyer said. "We've been pushing uphill for a while now."

The board approved a request for qualifications for planning and engineering of a new Parks and Recreation Senior Center, with a design firm award expected at the September meeting. The project scope includes a gymnasium, arts and crafts rooms and other community spaces funded in this year's budget.

Sawyer also updated the board on the wastewater moratorium, reporting that modeling for a new wastewater plant has been submitted to the Timmons Group for final review. He said the engineering firm indicated "things were looking promising" for an NPDES permit, the first step in what the state describes as a 24-month process.

The evening opened with recognitions. Advanced EMT Leanna Jennings received the PZ River City Heroes Award honoring first responders across northeastern North Carolina, capping 10 years of EMS service in Bertie, Perquimans, Camden and Currituck counties.

The entire Camden County EMS team earned the American Heart Association's 2026 Mission: Lifeline EMS Silver Award for rapid, evidence-based cardiac and stroke care. Zoller said the honor also reflects partnerships with emergency communications, fire departments, the sheriff's office and hospital partners.

Cooperative Extension agent Christie Willard won the NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Award for Excellence in Public Service, an honor Extension Director Austin Brown said no one in the region had previously received. "In her first year, she hit the ground running, expanding our outreach to entirely new audiences," Brown said, crediting Willard's cooking academies, library partnerships and a financial literacy simulation at the high school.

The library director reported a gate count of 44,000 visits and circulation of 23,890 items, beating last year's numbers, with 18 packed programs in June alone. The library's move to NC Cardinal opens access to 8.1 million resources statewide, and staff are launching a book delivery partnership with the senior center and Microsoft 365 classes using five new laptops.

After adjourning, the board convened as the South Camden Water and Sewer District. The water treatment plant averaged 664,000 gallons per day in May, 92 percent of its 720,000-gallon capacity, though Fourth of July weekend demand stayed just under 800,000 gallons daily.

Sawyer reported a contractor struck a six-inch water line on Culpeper without calling 811, and crews repaired it quickly in the heat. Two distribution technicians passed their C distribution certification exams, and the department has two open positions it is struggling to fill.

Tax collections remain strong, with a 10-year collection rate of 99.28 percent, according to the May report. The board also appointed Sissy as voting delegate and Tiffany White as alternate for the NCACC annual conference Aug. 20-22.

The next regular meeting is Aug. 3 at 7 p.m.