03/29/2024
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Bladen County Commissioners denied a request for an additional $120,000 from the Board of Education to cover current operating expenses. Dr. Robert Taylor, Superintendent of Bladen County Schools first requested $200,000 to cover the cost of funding teacher supplements, supplies and materials for teachers, drivers education and teacher assistants’ salary. Dr. Taylor told the commissioners he had heard the NC Senate and House conferees had agreed to fund teacher assistants and drivers education but a vote had not been taken. After some discussion, the board voted 6-3 to deny the request for any additional funding. Russell Priest, Wayne Edge and Jimmy Smith voted to approve.

In other action, Capt. Jeffrey Singletary of the Sheriff’s Department requested approval of reclassification of one investigator positions and asked to use a portion of the savings to increase salaries of 12 employees. Commissioner Arthur Bullock asked how many positions were African American, Hispanic or other minorities. Capt. Singletary said none were minorities. The request was approved 8-1 with Bullock voting no.

County Manager Greg Martin introduced Sandra Cain as the new Director of the Cooperative Extension office. She has been employed by Hoke and Bladen County for more than 30 years.

Several requests were approved from General Services Director Robert Mazur, one was to include in the personnel policy that many county vehicles were equipped with GPS systems and he said they would be marked as such.

Martin reported to the board that at the next meeting, they would be asked to select a company to perform special inspections for the new Law Enforcement and Detention Center project and the Board voted to schedule a meeting related to roles and responsibilities of the Board of Commissioners and staff. The motion was approved 6-3 with Chairman Charles Ray Peterson, Jimmy Smith and Billy Ray Pait voting no. Jan Maynard and Jim Perry of the Lumber River Council of Government will be asked to moderate the meeting.

The board voted to change the meeting date for their first meeting in October from Monday the 5th to the following Tuesday evening. Commissioner Smith asked for the delay so it would not conflict with the Annual Meeting of Four County EMC’s meeting at the Elizabethtown Middle School.

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