Top photo taken in 2019.
by Blake Proctor
With Commissioner Ashley Trivette excused, Commission Chairman Ray Britt gaveled the October 5th meeting to order at 6:31pm. The Reverend Cameron McGill from The Lake Church of White Lake provided the invocation; and, 4-H County Council President Luke Barber led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Before the Commissioners approved the 21-item Consent Agenda, Chairman Britt advised the Board that County Manager Greg Martin had requested the addition of two items, C and D, regarding a construction request from Sheriff James McVicker and approving a minor change to the Picketing Ordinance, to his report. The Consent Agenda was then unanimously approved.
Chairman Britt requested Mr. Barber to come to the podium, and Clerk to the Board Maria Edwards then read a Proclamation recognizing October 4th through the 10th as 4-H Week in Bladen County; Chairman Britt presented a formal copy of the Proclamation to Mr. Barber.
Dr. Terri Duncan, Director of the Bladen Health & Human Services Agency then recognized Public Health Nurse II Andrea Singletary as having completed her requirements for Certified Case Management (CCM) designation. Dr. Duncan informed the Commission that Ms. Singletary is the first such designee in the County.
Chairman Britt then opened a Public Hearing regarding development of a Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus application, and seeking public input from citizens. There being no comments from the public, the Chairman then closed the public hearing.
Dr. Duncan came back to the podium to announce that there was heartening news on the Covid19 scene, both statewide and in Bladen County. Cases and resultant death rates have declined throughout North Carolina, with 3,637 deaths coming from 219,714 cases statewide. In Bladen County, there have been 944 confirmed cases of Covid19, with five people currently still hospitalized. The County had seen seventeen deaths since the pandemic began, a 1.80% mortality rate, in line with the 1.66% Statewide rate.
Dr. Duncan requested to supersede, but not augment, a personnel request approved at the September 8th meeting. She affirmed that HHS is now asking that instead of the earlier proposal, she be allowed to retain one full time and one part time Registered Nurse as well as a Registration Clerk. She informed the Board that these are temporary positions being fully funded by a Covid19 grant. Her request was quickly approved.
Next at the dais was Nathan Dowless, Director of Emergency Services, who updated the Commission on a variety of ongoing hurricane relief programs his department is undertaking. Among these are projects to replace, elevate, or demolish structures that were damaged throughout the county; with one Hazmat grant, he is in the process of buying three properties and has demolition bids out on two others.
In all, a total of $953,000 has been received for Hurricane Matthew assistance. Six houses have been rehabilitated, at a cost of $95,700, including $13,000 spent on rent for displaced homeowners during the rehabs. Also, there is $1.1 million available for 45 county applications awaiting approval for assistance at the State Emergency Management Agency.
The County has been awarded $315,650 for the purchase and installation of emergency generators at the County’s two high schools, which do double duty as emergency shelters; he is looking for another half million dollars to be able to put more facilities at each school onto the generators’ power grids.
Finally, Mr. Dowless informed the Commission that a $1.9 million storm water management grant for the county’s seven towns has been completed, with the final assessment at the state level now being prepared.
Chairman Britt next invited Dean Morris, Director of the County’s Soil and Water Conservation District, to the podium to present his requests to authorize four stream debris removal projects. In an almost humorous circumstance, Commissioner Charles Ray Peterson made a motion to approve all four projects, and it was seconded and unanimously accepted before Mr. Morris had even reached the podium.
The four locations approved for dredging are Big Swamp Section 3, Crawley Swamp, Lower East Arcadia, and Upper White Oak & Back Swamp. Hall’s Tree Service will service the Big Swamp project, while DG Jackson Construction will work the three latter projects.
There were no appointments made to any Advisory Boards this meeting; however, there will be fifteen for consideration at the October 19th meeting: two for the East Arcadia Fire District, twelve for the EMS Advisory Council, and one for Keep Bladen Beautiful.
Finishing up the meeting, County Manager Martin first reviewed the upcoming calendar with the Board; he emphasized a revision of the Commission meeting schedule for November due to the presidential election on the 3rd: Instead of meeting November 2nd and 16th, both meetings will a week later, on the 9th and 23rd.
He updated the Commission on the County’s Emergency Small Business Grant, informing the Board that about half of the available money has been obligated, and thus far, checks for a total of $21,000 have been written.
Referring back to his request to add items to the agenda, Mr. Martin informed the Board that Sheriff McVicker has acquired several vehicles and pieces of equipment for emergency purposes, and is asking for $45,500 to build a building to house this equipment. This matter will be placed on the October 19th agenda for consideration.
Lastly, he is proposing minor changes to the County’s Picketing Ordinance to provide clarification. The proposed amended ordinance will also be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:36pm.
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