The Newton Grove Board of Commissioners voted to keep one police vehicle and start the process of selling the others as the town finishes disbanding its police department. The board also heard an update about the wastewater treatment plant during its Monday evening meeting.
Newton Grove Mayor Craig Warren presented the board with an update about the town’s remaining police fleet, stating citizens had asked what the plans were for the vehicles now that the police department is being disbanded.
The Board of Commissioners officially voted to disband the police department at its June meeting so the town budget could be ready in July. The board decided to disband the department after former Police Chief Greg Warren resigned after being charged with multiple child sex offenses earlier this year. The board determined it would make more financial sense to contract with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office moving forward.
Mayor Warren shared with the board that he has been maintaining the vehicles and ensuring they are running periodically and should be ready to sell. He also expressed concern about not having a vehicle available for himself, town clerks or commissioners to use for town business.
“I have driven out of town for town business and learned if I were to get into an accident that my insurance could raise concern,” the mayor stated.
He then asked the board to keep the new truck for town business and put the remaining vehicles up for sale.
“I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I’m just laying it out there,” Warren added as he explained that he had finished the process of disbanding the police department with the state and wanted to have the police fleet handled because it was the last part that needed to be addressed.
Commissioner Chris Raynor made a motion to keep the new vehicle for town use and put the others up for sale. Commissioner Bartley Warren seconded the motion.
The vote was unanimous in favor of keeping one vehicle and beginning the process of selling the others. The exact method of selling the vehicles will be determined by considering which option is the most cost-effective, and the mayor assured the town that “everyone will be kept in the loop.”
The board also discussed other police equipment. The mayor highlighted that the walkie-talkies are being used and will remain in the town’s possession for personnel to stay informed day to day and in case of emergencies.
“We’re utilizing those, and I think it’s good we have them,” Mayor Warren stressed.
Commissioner Alan Herring, who is responsible for police matters, gave a brief update about the Sheriff’s Office’s presence in Newton Grove.
“The sheriff’s department is doing a good job. They’re very visible,” Herring said. He added that there had been a few recent break-ins, but they were commercial break-ins.
The other item discussed at length Monday evening was the wastewater treatment plant. During the town comment portion of the meeting, Public Works Director Glenn Holland presented the board with an update about the plant’s capacity and his concerns about the need to expand.
The plant is permitted for 125,000 gallons a day, Holland explained, sharing that at 80 percent capacity, expansion is supposed to be considered, while at 90 percent, expansion should be actively pursued. He then shared that in August 2025, the plant was at 113,000 gallons, or 90.4 percent capacity.
He named several concerns regarding a potential increase in usage, including the new Hobbton High School, the subdivision being built off U.S. 701 and the age of the plant, which is 30 years old. Holland also said replacement parts are no longer available for some of the plant’s equipment.
“It’s cheaper to go ahead and start upgrading,” Holland explained when discussing repairs needed at the plant.
He told commissioners he wants to apply for funding to begin the process because he believes the town will need additional wastewater capacity.
“If there are more funds to apply for, go for it,” Commissioner Raynor urged.
Holland explained how long the process could take, adding, “If they tell us we’ve got it in 2027, we probably won’t see the work start until 2029.”
The board did not vote on the matter, and the mayor emphasized the importance of planning for the town’s future needs.
“We gotta get out of patch mode and into fix mode,” Mayor Warren stressed. “I want us to start forward thinking.”