By Erin Smith
The Bladen County Board of Commissioners approved a lease agreement for the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office to utilize a building located on West Broad Street in Elizabethtown to store evidence.
The Memorandum of Understanding states that the lease between Bobby and Janice Guyton and the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office is in effect for the period of March 1, 2019, through February 28, 2022. The cost is $12,600 which will be paid with funds from the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office budget.
Commissioner Arthur Bullock asked, “This is to house those machines that you have confiscated?”
Sheriff Jim McVicker replied, “Evidence.”
Commissioner Bullock then asked if the evidence Sheriff McVicker is referring to could be housed in the former Bladen County Jail. Sheriff McVicker stated it could not because the evidence in question must be stored in a climate controlled environment and the evidence would have to be carried up stairs if housed in the former jail.
“We are talking about 200 pieces of evidence,” said Sheriff McVicker.
He added that he had spoken with Bladen County Manager Greg Martin and they have reviewed all of the options. Sheriff McVicker explained that he and Martin had reviewed the possibility of using the storage space at the Bladen County Board of Elections but decided against it.
“Time was running short, ALE was involved in this operation. It was my obligation to store them and I did what I thought I had to do,” said Sheriff McVicker.
Commissioner Bullock clarified that he asked about the possibility of storing the evidence elsewhere in an effort to reduce costs. Sheriff McVicker stated this agreement to store the evidence would not cost the County any funds. Sheriff McVicker said the funds to pay the agreement will come from the Sheriff’s Office budget.
Commissioner Michael Cogdell questioned the storing of the machines. “With the time frame of the contracts it based on the court telling you this? I’m trying to figure out why it is such a lengthy lease agreement.”
Sheriff McVicker stated, “First of all, I never said it was machines, I said it was evidence. We have evidence similar to this that we have had three and one-half years in con exes (storage containers) that are ruined. If we were ordered by the court to return them to the owners, we would be paying for them.”
He continued by stating that if the Sheriff’s Office is responsible for storing evidence, it is the obligation of the Sheriff’s Office to protect that evidence.
The board voted unanimously to approve the matter.
Earlier in the meeting a discussion regarding the removal of Consent Agenda items was held. The Memorandum was on the Consent Agenda for the Monday, March 11, 2019, meeting and was removed and placed on this week’s agenda for discussion.
There was a debate regarding whether or not items could be removed from the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Cogdell stated he had removed items from the Consent Agenda in the past.
Bladen County Manager Greg Martin clarified that the language on the Bladen County Commissioners Agenda site has been updated to read “A consent agenda includes several items for approval by the Board in a single motion. Documentation concerning these items has been provided to all Board members and the public in advance. Upon request by any one Board member, any item listed under the consent agenda shall be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.”
Commissioner Ophelia Munn-Goins requested to receive a written copy of the County Policy that specifies how Consent Agenda items are to be handled.
In other business, Eddie Knight with the Tar Heel Fire Department Tax District Board updated the board regarding a proposed budget request for an increase in the Tar Heel Fire District Tax to 0.010 cents per $100 of valuation. Knight said this is a 3 1/2 cent increase. The funds generated from the fire tax increase will be used to pay for two full-time paid fire fighter positions to respond to day time calls. 
Knight said the Tar Heel Fire District is faced with several issues that have necessitated the exploration of hiring two paid staff members. Knight said if the fire station should fail to respond to four calls in one year, it could potentially lead to the State closing that fire department, which the community does not want.
Knight said the Tar Heel Fire District Board has met with the members of the community and discussed the situation and the community supports the move. He told the Commissioners that the tax increase would be included in the Tar Heel Fire Districts budget submission later this year.
*The board also heard a presentation from the Local Community Child Protection Team and the Bladen County Child Fatality Prevention Team. There were seven (7) child deaths in 2017. Two were premature babies, one was an infant, one was due to a medical issue and three were due to accidents.
*The Commissioners also unanimously approved several agreements for the Health and Human Services Agency. They were a Nutrition Plus Contractual Agreement, a NC Community Care Networks, Inc. Participation Agreement, an Independent Contractor Agreement in the amount of $23,386 for a Home Modification and Ramp Construction Project, a Local Health Department Records Retention and Disposition Schedule and a FY 2020 Consolidated Agreement with the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
*In the Consent Agenda, the Commissioners scheduled a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 1, to receive comments regarding a $200,000 forgivable loan for an Incubator No. 6 construction project.
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