by Blake Proctor
Commission Chairman Charles Ray Peterson called the August 2nd County Board meeting to order at 6:30 pm sharp. All commissioners were in attendance live and in person; there was a full house as well, with most seats filled in the peanut gallery.
The Reverend Bruce Miller from Hickory Grove Baptist Church provided the invocation and County Manager Greg Martin led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. After removing one item on the consent agenda as well as one action item, the Board unanimously approved the evening’s amended agenda.
The Chairman asked if there were any individuals wishing to be heard. Dwight Jones of Agnes Russ Road, a state-maintained dirt road, complained that he had lived there 53 years and the only maintenance done on the road was occasional blading. He asked if the county could urge the state to pave it before he died.
Also standing to speak was Thomas Beatty of Road 1748 in Carvers Creek; he requested that a serious drainage issue be addressed on that road so that vehicles, especially emergency vehicles, would not have to make a “three-mile detour” to get to that end of the road. He stated that this road is a state-maintained right-of-way as well.
Planning Director Greg Elkins came before the Board to request they consider repealing Zoning Code Chapter 29, Manufactured Homes & Trailers; Chapter 41, Signs; Chapter 47, Subdivisions; and Chapter 53, Telecommunications.
These Chapters would be substituted by incorporation of North Carolina General Statute 160D in their place in the Bladen County Code of Zoning Ordinances. His proposal was unanimously approved.
Sheriff James McVicker appeared before the Board to request their approval of a Memorandum of Agreement between his Department and Emereau Bladen Charter School to provide a School Resources Officer (SRO). The Board unanimously approved this request, as well as a follow-up request to fund this SRO for $57,397.
The Sheriff’s final request was for permission to declare a 2015 Dodge Durango and a 2015 Dodge Charger as surplus, and to then sell these vehicles to the Town of Rowland in Robeson County for $20,000 & $12,000 respectively.
Three commissioners immediately and simultaneously made the motion to approve, with three seconds. After the laughter died down, the motion was approved.
Vickie Smith, Director of Social Services, approached the Board with a request for their approval to retain the services of Phillip Lassiter for continuing consultation services. Her request was quickly approved
Dr. Terri Duncan, Director of Health & Human Services, addressed the Commission to request their approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between DHHS and the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation; this would be a new partnership. The Board unanimously approved this agreement.
She then spoke on a matter the Board was not anxious to hear: statistics on the county’s Covid19 standing.
Her report was indeed not an upbeat one: Bladen County has had 3,826 positive readings leading to 56 deaths since the pandemic began; this constitutes 16.9% of the county testing positive as opposed to 10.6% positive state-wide.
Dr. Duncan relayed to the Commission that her Department already requires masks as mandatory attire for all Department employees; she has sent a letter to all County Department Heads recommending that all County staff also mask up.
Emergency Services Director David Howell came before the Board to request approval to enter a digital platform subscription service with Acid Remap LLC. This agreement will provide EMS access to remote treatment protocols in the field. The Commission approved this request unanimously.
Kip McClary, the County’s General Services Director, requested the Commission’s consideration to approve the low bid of $267,356 from Industrial Contract Services of Leland, NC to replace the roof at the Bladen County Public Library; the new roof will have a 30-year warranty. The Board unanimously approved this bid.
The Commission then voted to don their bib overalls and straw hats to sit as the Bladen County Water District Board to consider adopting Water District Rules & Regulations; without discussion, the regulations were adopted, and the Board returned to their earthly positions.
There were no advisory board appointments, so County Manager Martin provided the calendar review for the rest of August and for the month of September.
Mr. Martin then asked consideration of the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Charitable Grants. The grant requests from those seven organizations under consideration ranged from $800 to a high of $2,500, totaling $9,650.
After providing $950 to the two agencies receiving “historical contributions,” $5,474 was available to distribute to the seven organizations; the equal disposition of funds would have each organization receiving $782. The Commission agreed with this equitable division and voted unanimous approval.
Dennis Troy asked to speak about the issue of the coronavirus, and the effects it was having on the county. Commissioner Ophelia Munn-Goins reminded the Board that Bladen County was still the state’s hot spot, and that the virus was widespread across the county.
She, as well as Commissioner Michael Cogdell, opined that it may be wise for the county to mandate the wearing of masks. Chairman Peterson reminded the Board that, had the Governor Roy Cooper so opted in his recent executive order, he could have so mandated; but, as he only “recommended masking,” the County could only do the same.
All business Having been satisfactorily concluded, the meeting adjourned at 725 pm.
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