4 mayors, 5 months: Micro facing leadership and financial challenges after 3 missed audits

A small town in Johnston County is facing big problems ranging from constant leadership changes to its finances and complaints over the police department.

Micro, a town of about 500 people, has a four-member Board of Commissioners that includes three at-large seats and an elected mayor. There have been four mayors in the last five months.

Jay Warren, who served for six years, resigned in June. Commissioner Russell Creech was appointed as a replacement only to submit a resignation letter two weeks later.

“With the current Board of Commissioners being irresponsible in increasing property tax without considering any cuts, I, Russell Creech, will resign as mayor,” the letter stated.

Commissioner Eric Christiansen was appointed as the next mayor in late June. He said before taking over, he did a Google search to find out the role of a mayor.

“It said I was the head of the town for ceremonial purposes. So, I’m like, ‘cool. I get to ride in the first car at the parade!’,” recalled Christiansen.

The self-described outsider who moved to Micro four years ago said it wasn’t until he got into the role that he realized the severity of the town’s financial situation. Micro had not submitted an annual, state-required audit for three consecutive fiscal years.

“It took me a week before I came home and I was almost to the point of tears,” Christiansen said.

The town’s 2020 audit was submitted nearly two years late on Sept. 2, 2022. Micro has still not submitted its 2021 and 2022 audits, according to the North Carolina Department of Treasurer.

“This is why we are in the sinking ship that we are in right now,” said Belinda Byrd, Micro’s newly-hired finance director who said the town could be forced to dip into its $76,000 in cash reserves.

Christiansen said he led recent efforts to make cuts that included eliminating a position in Public Works and reducing hours for the town’s administrative staff. He said he was met by opposition from other commissioners when he recommended cuts to the Micro Police Department.

Despite having two full-time officers, including the Chief of Police, and two part-time officers, former mayors Christiansen and Warren said there are not routine patrols on nights and weekends.

“This Halloween, there was nobody working,” said Warren, who spoke at the town’s November meeting. “Everybody thinks we are getting the coverage. We are not getting the coverage we are paying for. Nobody ever works on the weekends in this town.”

Last Saturday, a WRAL camera spotted the town’s three police cruisers parked outside the department.

Christiansen said he resigned in October because he did not feel like he had support of the majority of the Board in his efforts to balance the budget.

“As a mayor, you are like a boat without a motor,” Christiansen said, pointing out the mayor does not get a vote involving town business.

“All you can do is what the commissioners allow you to do. When you step away from that and you become a private citizen…then I can speak my mind, I can organize community groups to oversee the police department and oversee town government and what’s going on.”

Marty Parnell, who lost his bid for elected commissioner to Christiansen last year and was later appointed to fill a vacant seat, is the newest appointed mayor.

“We kind of thought the town was going to run itself and it’s not going to run itself,” said Parnell.

“There was a lot of miscommunication, and I think that is what has put the town where it is at now.”

Parnell said he hopes to submit the 2021 audit to the state by the end of the year.

As for concerns over police coverage, Parnell said the budget will not allow for 24-hour police staffing.

Chief T. Macon Jones said his department has always relied on the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office for assistance. Jones defended himself after Christiansen asked for his resignation at the most recent public meeting.

“I am a fair person," said Chief Jones. "I try to get to know everyone in this town. I come to talk to everybody in this town. You are going to be loved. You are going to be not loved.”

There have been seven police chiefs in the last 12 years in Micro. The current Board of Commissioners expressed its support of Chief Jones’ performance.

Parnell has requested outside help from the Triangle J Council of Government to get its budget back on track.

“You could say it’s a mess but it’s not something we can’t fix,” Parnell said. “I am up for the challenge.”