On the agenda for the Bladen County board of commissioners meeting Monday, April 3rd was item E. Compensation Agreement Bladen’s Bloomin/Agri Industrial. The action was to approve or consent to a compensation agreement between Bladen County, Bladen’s Bloomin’/Agri-Industrial, Inc. (BBAI) and Bladen County Economic Development Director John C. Heustess, known as Chuck Heustess. The agreement has a March 2017 date, but the copy on the county’s website has not been signed by the Chairman of the board of commissioners, Charles Ray Peterson.
View the agreement Mr. Heustess signed for the board of commissioners to review, click here.
The agreement the commissioners had on their agenda on the county’s website and linked above references Mr. Heustess not only working for Bladen County Economic Development, but also providing services to BBAI. The agreement linked for review states, BBAI has agreed to supplement Heustess’ salary for services he provides to BBAI.
The agreement on the agenda also states the compensation will begin with the first payroll in April 2017.
Some concerns have been voiced earlier this year about Bladen County Economic Development. In an article, Economic Development source of tough questions, no easy answers, we published on February 16th, 2017 the following was noted.
A final concern voiced was Heustess’ income. Robert Hester (with BBAI) said, “We’re paying Chuck to manage our investment.” He said, the pay is entirely dependent on performance.
Hester said originally, the pay from Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial went through the county. The reasons Bladen’s Bloomin Agri-Industrial incentives were done for Heustess was because Heustess was offered another job and the County wanted to keep him here but, at that time, the county budget was tight, said Hester.
Hester said at the time one or maybe two county commissioners approached Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial and asked if the non-profit company could increase a portion of what they were paying because Heustess had an offer to go elsewhere for $90,000 in salary. Hester said Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial agreed to increasing the incentive pay for the County Director.
Heustess said he is actually paid about $26,000 by Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial. He said the numbers that are reported as his salary on the IRS Form 990s include bonuses that are paid to him during years when Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial performs well. The bonus is paid at a rate of 10 percent of the growth as an incentive to grow the organization.
He is also paid $75,214.82 plus travel of $7,800.00 annually, from Bladen County, according to Bladen County Finance Director Lisa Coleman. This does not include any other benefits or bonuses.
On March 20th, 2017, Commissioner Peterson issued a statement about Bladen County Economic Development. The agenda item E. was approved at last night’s meeting on April 3rd with other consent items. More information will be published as soon as it becomes available.
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