[0:02] Good afternoon everyone and welcome to our next installment of the Ask the

[0:06] Commissioner segment that we are producing here during County Government

[0:09] Month, giving you all um um some eyes on our commissioners who help craft the

[0:15] decisions and the future of our county. So, um uh this provides this portion of

[0:21] our program provides an opportunity for you all to hear directly from our

[0:24] leadership and gain insight into the work being done on behalf of you, our

[0:28] citizens. We are honored to be joined today by Commissioner Ralph Webb, who

[0:33] proudly represents District 5 on the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners.

[0:37] He is a dedicated servant whose leadership supports growth, stability,

[0:41] and opportunity across our county. Mr. Webb, thank you for being here with us

[0:45] today. >> Thank you. My pleasure.

[0:47] » Tell us a little bit first about the district that you represent. What areas

[0:51] do you cover? >> Um Ms. Bess, my district covers from

[0:55] Conetoe, uh all the way around Pinetops,

[0:59] Macclesfield, Saint Lewis, on back toward Temperance Hall.

[1:03] » Got you. Okay. All right. So, when you think about your

[1:06] district, what are the biggest opportunities you see now for growth and

[1:10] improvement? >> Ms. Bess, we live in a wonderful area,

[1:15] uh filled with wonderful people, wonderful

[1:18] citizens, citizens that uh their roots go deeply

[1:24] into Edgecombe County's history. Uh many are farmers, uh many in health care, uh

[1:31] many in service fields. Uh I think our opportunities are great.

[1:36] I think uh our towns need all the strengthening and

[1:41] help and working together with our county and with our state and with our

[1:46] federal government to again bring some of them back to where they have been in

[1:50] the past and help us to be the towns and the communities that that we truly can

[1:55] be. >> Yes. That's That's good because it it is

[1:58] and the citizens that live in these communities, they actually look to the

[2:01] leadership to kind of guide some of these decisions. So, that's a a great

[2:05] way to kind of um lead into my next question. Residents

[2:10] often want to know how decisions are made. Um can you kind of talk us through

[2:14] what goes into making a major county decision?

[2:19] » I certainly think that I can. Uh

[2:23] Ms. Speight says, you know, and I think that most of our citizens certainly all

[2:27] aware uh we have seven districts, we have

[2:30] seven commissioners. And my take is I believe like my fellow

[2:36] commissioners uh again, my responsibility is certainly

[2:40] to my citizens within District 5. But

[2:44] uh my responsibility uh is certainly not only to District 5,

[2:50] but to every citizen within those six other districts.

[2:54] And I'm happy to say that uh with our board

[2:59] uh we have a great working relationship with each other.

[3:03] Uh when something comes up in whatever or

[3:07] whoever's district it is uh it it's not only

[3:12] uh our thinking about ourselves, but collectively for that particular

[3:17] community. And for all of our citizens in Edgecombe County uh what what is the

[3:24] best thing that can happen for Edgecombe County as a whole?

[3:29] And I and I truly do believe that each and every one of our commissioners that

[3:33] sit right here uh always take that into account.

[3:38] Again, in regards to a decision being made it's seven of us, so when anything

[3:44] it comes up and is voted of course, you got to have four votes.

[3:48] » Right. >> And uh

[3:50] most of the things that have come before our board of commissioners since I have

[3:55] been serving since 2019, the majority of those votes, if

[4:01] if my recollection is correct, the majority of those votes are are pretty

[4:05] unanimous. We we may have something come up every

[4:08] once in a while that it's a little fragmented vote, but most of all, it

[4:13] it's a pretty unanimous decision. And again, I think the unanimous decision is

[4:17] based again on what is good for Edgecombe County and its citizens.

[4:22] » It is important for our citizens to know that our commissioners are thinking

[4:27] through these decisions and it's not just, you know, they get, you know,

[4:31] someone that comes in and says, "Hey, I want to do this." But that we come back,

[4:34] we vote the next time or or making sure that, you know, all avenues

[4:39] are considered, all, you know, points of view are considered before making a

[4:44] decision. >> Yes, ma'am. And And if I may add that

[4:48] most of the things that we a lot of things that we take a vote on, uh for

[4:54] instance, things that have to come before the public.

[4:57] » Mhm. >> Uh the public has uh

[5:01] the ability and the right to come and voice their opinions.

[5:06] And that is where I gain a lot of my knowledge from is what do the citizens,

[5:13] what is their thought process, what do they think? And I think that's what we

[5:18] as a commissioner is charged to do is to represent our citizens.

[5:22] » Yeah. Good. What about the progress through

[5:26] that the county is making? So, we all are aware of our Get Off the List

[5:29] initiative, where we had the former county manager,

[5:33] Mr. Carmen, who used to say he was tired of Edgecombe County being at the top and

[5:37] bottom of every good and bad list. And so, now, as you know, the county manager

[5:41] the current county manager, Mr. Evans, has kind of gotten these

[5:44] task force and these groups that are getting together to address these

[5:48] issues. How do you think um getting off the list from your

[5:51] perspective is getting off the list making an impact on our county?

[5:54] » I do believe getting off the list is making a tremendous impact. Uh again, uh

[6:00] as you just said, uh many forums have been opened, many

[6:06] committees have been formed. Uh any individual that is absolutely

[6:13] interested in whatever aspect of getting off the list, the opportunity is there

[6:19] for them to serve on that particular committee.

[6:22] And uh I I just see great things happening. A

[6:25] great example is uh I serve on uh STEP, which is

[6:31] Strategic Twin Counties Educational Partnership. And I'm not again, as the

[6:36] example, I'm not really sure everyone within the county realizes the

[6:42] efforts that STEP attempts uh

[6:47] to to forward in regards to education for children basically from from cradle

[6:53] to career. And so one of the things that uh getting

[6:57] off the list has kind of brought forward is like not only STEP, but we we have so

[7:02] many things to offer within our county, but citizens don't really realize where

[7:08] to go for help. And so now getting off the list is is is helping us

[7:15] be aware of that, first of all, and then helping us to connect the dots where we

[7:22] can greater and better inform our citizens as to what is out there to make

[7:28] life better for for them, uh for their children, and for all of

[7:32] us. >> Great. And that kind of leads to the

[7:35] question I had about um residents who feel disconnected. They may feel

[7:40] disconnected from local government. They feel like

[7:43] uh the the national government or state government, but they don't have a

[7:46] connection to what we do on the local level either at the county commissioner

[7:50] level or with our towns. Um what's the best way for those residents to make

[7:55] their voices heard or to get involved? >> Miss Space, I I I honestly believe uh

[8:02] first of all, uh

[8:04] if it Look, all seven of us have a phone.

[8:09] » Mhm. >> Uh we have email.

[8:12] Uh my door is always open to and I think I

[8:16] speak for every other commissioner here, all six.

[8:19] Uh you can give us a call.

[8:22] I I'll be glad to talk with you at your convenience. Uh we we'll get a

[8:27] convenient time for both of us. Uh

[8:31] I will sit down and and and and speak with you

[8:34] until my wind is gone. Uh I I will meet with you personally

[8:39] wherever. Uh I and I believe I say and speak for the

[8:44] same for each and every one of our commissioners. Uh but I will certainly

[8:48] invite uh any and all of our citizens that has never

[8:53] been to uh a commissioner's meeting. Uh 6:00 the first Monday of every month. Uh

[9:01] you are more than welcome and we would treasure to see to see more people here

[9:06] at our meeting. Uh and I understand because

[9:10] I I maybe I shouldn't say this, but I need to say it. I've been serving since

[9:13] 2019 and and this is still a learning process for me. It really is. And I've

[9:18] I've gained a lot of insight and uh I've got a lot more to learn, but

[9:23] I enjoy serving for my citizens. >> And and

[9:27] per- You're just answering these questions perfectly to the next segue

[9:30] because my next question was what inspired you to serve and what continues

[9:34] to motivate you in your role as county commissioner.

[9:39] » I follow a gentleman who served and represented District 5 in a wonderful

[9:45] way as this commissioner's room is named

[9:49] uh in honor and in memory of Mr. Jonathan K. Felton. Mr. John

[9:54] uh was a personal friend. Uh his family was was was a was friends with with with

[10:01] Mr. Mr. Felton's family was friends with everyone.

[10:04] And Mr. Felton represented our district in a wonderful way.

[10:08] I If I can be just a fragment

[10:12] of the individual and the representative that he was for our county

[10:17] then when I decide to step down uh which will not be 28 years. I I can't

[10:23] break his record cuz I'd be old as Methuselah if I did. But really and

[10:27] truly Mr. Felton did a great job and and his leadership and his style and who he

[10:32] was absolutely inspired me and and continues to inspire me today.

[10:38] » Awesome. Awesome. So do you do you have anything

[10:41] else you want us to know about your district? Um what are some I We I think

[10:46] we talked a little bit about your district, but what are some areas for

[10:49] growth in your specific district that you

[10:52] have seen? >> Well, it's best One of the wonderful

[10:58] things that I see in regards to our district is

[11:03] first of all our people is places of worship, our churches, uh

[11:09] our our community involvement. >> Got Abrams?

[11:13] » Uh absolutely. Abrams. Uh I may stay in Pine Tops which uh

[11:19] we do commercial there for them. They they're wonderful family, wonderful

[11:22] restaurant, wonderful food. And that's a that's a mighty big gathering place for

[11:26] an awful lot of people all during the week and especially on Sunday after

[11:30] church. >> Yeah. Big gathering spot. So,

[11:33] uh that, its citizens,

[11:37] uh the fact that

[11:39] I believe I'm a a perfect example in in in looking at uh

[11:44] my my wife's careers after we were married in 1978 residing right there in

[11:49] the south end of the county uh pretty much between Fountain and Macclesfield.

[11:54] Uh Wilson

[11:58] as a respiratory therapist uh work in different health care agencies

[12:01] to finish my career at Edgecombe Community College, 31 years there.

[12:05] But, my first job was at Wilson Memorial Hospital. Would you believe that from my

[12:10] back door to Wilson Memorial was uh 18.3 mi. From my back door to

[12:17] Pitt County Memorial Hospital or now East Carolina University Medical Center

[12:21] is 18.3 mi. Over to Rocky Mount is about 19.5 mi and

[12:28] here to Tarboro is is is less than 15 mi. So, if you kind of connect the dots

[12:34] there, if you reside in our area, it is within a very

[12:40] short driving distance to wherever you may seek employment opportunities.

[12:46] » Awesome. So, kind of a crossroads. I know there's a area there somewhere that

[12:49] they call going to crossroads and that's kind of what it is. Yeah.

[12:51] » Yes, ma'am. >> Well, I have a you know, enjoyed our

[12:56] discussion here today, Commissioner Boswell. Is there anything I'm sorry,

[13:00] Commissioner Webb. Is there anything else you would like to know or any

[13:04] message you'd like to leave with the residents of Edgecombe County?

[13:07] » I would just like for all of our residents to know that I appreciate the

[13:11] opportunity to serve on the Board of Commissioners here for you. And if you

[13:15] ever have any words that of input in regards to any decisions that you know

[13:22] that the Board of Commissioners will be making,

[13:25] uh I am absolutely open to a conversation with you in whatever way is

[13:29] best for you to get up with me. I stand ready to to to listen with open ears.

[13:35] » Thank you. Thank you.

Edgecombe County: Ask the County Commissioner with Ralph Webb

Transcript