Hoke County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hoke County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Federal funding cuts hitting DSS and county budget
Vacancies at Social Services are slowing case processing; the county will pilot using lapsed salary funds to hire outside contractors to keep performance standards and state reimbursements on track.
Water Capacity, Rates and Allocations
Growth is straining county water: the county buys about 30 million gallons a month from PWC at rates its own water fees don't fully cover, and new fire-code rules will demand far more water capacity for developments without public water. The Board raised the allocation threshold to 80 percent to keep projects moving and discussed — but didn't adopt — possible rate increases.
Winter Storm Preparedness and State of Emergency
Emergency officials warned of a potentially record-setting winter storm Saturday into Monday, with up to half an inch of ice, widespread power outages, and dangerous roads. The board recessed to Friday, then declared a State of Emergency and closed county offices Monday.