Commissioners approve board appointments

Published 9:29 am Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Appointments to local and regional boards were the primary focus of a brief agenda at Monday’s meeting ofthe Stanly County Board of Commissioners.

Prior to the regular meeting, commissioners met in closed session to discuss a real property transaction and personnel issues, but no information from the private session was disclosed.

David Jenkins, director of health and human services, presented recommended appointments and reappointments to the Consolidated Health and Human Services Board.

“The terms of five ‘General Public’ members of the board will expire on Nov. 6, and four of these have submitted updated applications and agreed to serve another term,” Jenkins said. “One member (Caroline Sawyer) has asked not to be considered for reappointment.”

Jenkins asked Jann Lowder, Dr. Joan Eudy, Georgette Edgerton, and Larry Gibson be reappointed and that Kristi Small be appointed to replace Sawyer for four years.”

Beth Thomas, who occupies the social worker position on the board, had also agreed to be reappointed, Jenkins said.

The recommended slate of appointments was unanimously approved.

County Manager Andy Lucas announced that a vacancy on the Region F Aging Advisory Committee had come about with the recent resignation of Dr. Johnnie Woodward, and recommended that Eudy, who had just been approved for appointment to the HHS Board, be considered to fill the term.

Commissioner Mike Barbee, who was participating in the meeting by phone, raised concerns with Eudy’s proposed appointment.

“We just appointed her to another board,” Barbee said, “and I know that Bill (Lawhon) has expressed concerns in the past about us appointing people to multiple boards.”

Lawhon replied to Barbee’s unease.

“I do prefer to see us involve as many different people as possible on boards and commissions, but in this case, we have not had anyone else apply or express interest in the position,” Lawhon said. “When we have such a vacancy with no other applications, I’m okay with this.”

Eudy’s appointment was approved.

A public hearing, held at the beginning of the meeting on an application for tax exempt financing of $230,000 for the purchase of a new tanker truck for Endy Volunteer Fire Department, drew no public comment, after which commissioners unanimously approved the financing.

The next regular meeting of the board will be Nov. 4.