Voter ID, target shooting and inmate mental health

Aug. 13--A variety of issues were covered during the most recent Craven County Board of Commissioners' meeting. Here are three important items from that meeting:

1. Using CARTS for voter ID purposes

An agreement to provide public transportation for citizens to obtain state-issued identification cards for the purpose of casting ballots passed by one vote with Commissioners Jason Jones, Johnnie Sampson Jr. and Theron McCabe taking a stand against the agreement offered by the N.C. Board of Elections Office.

The state would pick up the costs associated with transportation; however, the three members voiced concerns over the plan. McCabe specifically asked Lead Voter Outreach Specialist Ted Fitzgerald how those who are bedridden would be transported via CARTS.

"If voters have a disability, we talk to them about using an absentee ballot where they are not required to show ID," said Fitzgerald, who served as the Board of Elections' representative. "For those who vote curbside, they are not required to show ID either."

Another question raised concerned who determines eligibility for the process.

The answer: "The state takes the voter at their word," Fitzgerald said. He further expressed the state's goal to use public transit rather than independent contractors to meet the needs of voters.

2. Target shooting in Croatan National Forest

District Ranger Jim Gumm explained the problems involved in an ever-growing issue of unregulated target shooting in the area and his decision to place a 120-day emergency order on the practice.

"We've been seeing a tremendous amount of people with near misses," he said. "I've had people tell me they can hear the bullet passing by them. I don't think there is malicious intent but this is an urban forest close to highways, roads, schools and businesses."

At one point, he was advised a nearby neighbor was forced to extract a bullet from a child's bed.

In addition to safety issues for people, Gumm said his job consists of protecting endangered wildlife and his duties can't be fulfilled when "literally hundreds of trees are mowed down."

As a result, a commissioned group has been created to find a safe area for a target range, he added.

3. 'Stepping Up'

Commissioner Scott Dacey presented a resolution, unanimously passed by the board, to address mental illness in the inmate population, a growing problem as 40 percent of the population in most communities suffers from some form of mental illness, he said.

"As you may know, over the past few months, the jailers in Craven County have been working hard to manage those suffering from mental illness in our own jail ...," he said. "These inmates require far more attention than do those in the general population and require jail professionals with entirely different skill sets."

- The good news: help is available thanks to the "Stepping Up" initiative.

Created by the National Association of Counties, Council of State Governments Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Foundation, the resolution calls on a panel to identify ways in which the county can bring meaningful change to the current system of housing people in jail, who are suffering from a mental illness, Dacey said.

Representatives from the Sheriff's Office, New Bern Police Department, Trillium, Department of Social Services staff and medical providers at CarolinaEast Medical Health System have signed on in support of addressing this costly problem.

Contact Crystal Garrett at 635-5671 or at crystal.garrett@newbernsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @CGarrettNBSJ.

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