County boards tackle youth violence, school projects

Nash County commissioners discussed options that could combat gang and youth violence at their board monthly regular agenda meeting Monday.

Commissioners approved a resolution that will recognize November as Youth Violence Prevention Month in the county. County officials will work with Gang Resistance Awareness, Suppression & Prevention Program representatives to enact for the nonprofit group’s Communities For Peace project.

Gang prevention specialist Cynthia Jackson said the project’s purpose is to establish a foundation for a countywide community movement to prevent youth violence. The year-long initiative would apply community-based, education and prevention programs and serve as an extension of what law enforcement is already doing to combat the area’s gang and youth violence problem, Jackson said. The project also will utilize resources and assistance from local nonprofit groups and civic groups to enhance prevention efforts.

Jackson said the prevention is highly needed in elementary and middle schools, citing recent visits to different area schools where many students said they knew someone associated with gangs.

In 2008, N.C. Criminal Justice Analysis Center identified approximately 550 active gangs across the state.

GRASPP is primarily funded through the Governor’s Crime Commission, and is co-funded in part by the Rocky Mount Police Department, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office and the United Way Tar River Region.

Scheduled for this month is GRASPP’s Youth Violence Prevention Expo, which will educate residents on the issues and the impact of gangs and youth violence.

The expo will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Golden East Crossing mall and will feature entertainment, an art contest and speeches by public officials.

Edgecombe County commissioners unanimously approved funding for three public school capital fund projects.

The first request is a repayment of bond money. The debt service the county owes for fiscal 2009-10 is $316,241. The second request is to pay to replace carpet with tile in classrooms at G.W. Bulluck and Coker-Wimberly elementary schools, C.B. Martin and Phillips middle schools and North Edgecombe, SouthWest Edgecombe and Tarboro high schools. The capital fund project costs $81,400.

The last capital fund project is for the replacement of North Edgecombe High School’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, which will cost $75,000.

In other business, Edgecombe County commissioners approved suggested rate increases from the county’s Board of Health related to different services at Edgecombe Home Care and Hospice. The increases were suggested to ensure to the Edgecombe County Health Department could continue services in a cost effective manner.

The current cost for Hospice routine home care increased $140 to $145. Hospice continuous home care increased from $804 per day to $835 per day, while general inpatient care rose from $610 to $640.

Commissioners also approved a $97,000 contractual service with nonprofit It Starts With U Foundation to work toward implementing the county’s Project Reentry initiative. The county was awarded a $138,885 grant from N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety to help ex-offenders find work, decrease recidivism and enhance job skills and education. The project has more than 30 potential clients, with a 50-person cap.