COLUMBUS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
127 W. Webster St
Whiteville, NC 28472
AGENDA
Monday, November 03, 2025
5:30 P.M. Closed Session
6:30 P.M. – Regular Session
1. Meeting Called to Order: Chairman Lavern Coleman
RECESS REGULAR SESSION and enter into CLOSED SESSION in ACCORDANCE with
N.C.G.S. § 143-318.11(A)(3) ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, N.C.G.S. § 143-
318.11(A)(4) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, N.C.G.S. § 143-318.11(A)(5) REAL ESTATE,
and N.C.G.S. § 143-318.11(A)(6) PERSONNEL
2. Closed Session in Accordance with N.C.G.S. § 143-318.11(A)(3) Attorney-Client
Privilege, N.C.G.S. § 143-318.11(A)(4) Economic Development, N.C.G.S. § 143-
318.11(A)(5) Real Estate, and N.C.G.S. § 143-318.11(A)(6) Personnel.
RECESS CLOSED SESSION and enter into REGULAR SESSION
GENERAL ACCOUNT:
Regular Session Resumes at 6:30 P.M.
3. Invocation: Vice Chairman Chris Smith
4. Pledge of Allegiance: Cub Scout Rowan Edge
5. Approval of Agenda, Tax Refunds & Releases:
a. 11/03/2025
6. Board Minutes Approval:
a. October 20, 2025 Regular Session
7. Proclamation – Adoption of the 25th Annual St. James Harvest Festival Proclamation.
8. Retirement Plaque – County Manager Eddie Madden will present at retirement plaque to
the following retiree:
a. Gecholia Gore – DSS IMC II – 5/08/2000 – 6/20/2025
Board Minutes Section
Page: 1 end
9. Public Input
10. Planning Department –Approval to Reschedule the Public Hearing for the Amended Cell Tower Ordinance to Impose Setbacks, Height Limits, and Other Restrictions: Planning Director Kelsey Hammond is requesting approval to reschedule the Public Hearing to Monday, November 17, 2025, at 6:30 P.M. or as soon as can be heard, regarding the amended cell tower ordinance to impose setbacks, limit heights, and other restrictions. (Kelsey Hammond will be available for any questions the commissioners may have.)
11. Cape Fear Rural Planning Organization (RPO): Presentation and Approval of the Resolution Adopting the Columbus County Comprehensive Transportation Plan: Cape Fear Council of Governments Senior Regional Planner Sam Boswell is requesting to present their Columbus County Comprehensive Transportation Plan and approval of the associated Resolution adopting the plan. (Sam Boswell will be available for any questions the commissioners may have.)
12. Department of Aging - Approval to Unfreeze and Re-Hire Two Part Time CNA Positions and Associated Budget Amendment: Aging Director Kristie Massey is requesting approval to unfreeze and re-hire two, part time, CNA positions and the associated budget amendment. These positions are fully reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid. (Kristie Massey will be available for any questions the commissioners may have.)
13. Economic Development – Approval of the Grant Agreement from Golden LEAF for Additional Funds and the Associated Amended Project Ordinance: Economic Development Director Dylan Bowen is requesting approval of the Grant Agreement from Golden LEAF for additional funds totaling $185,000 and the associated amended project ordinance. This grant was previously approved by the Board in July of 2024 totaling $590,000 for clearing, grubbing, and installation of gravity sewer lines on a section of the 38-acre parcel within the Southeast regional park. Due to a project modification, the EDC office requested additional funds to fund this project totaling $775,000. (Dylan Bowen will be available for any questions the commissioners may have.)
14. Economic Development - Approval of One NC budget amendment for Pipeline Plastics: Economic Development Director Dylan Bowen is requesting approval of the One NC grant, totaling $200,000, is a grant provided by the state for Pipeline Plastics to locate in North Carolina. This grant is based off job creation, is a pass-through from the state to the county, and does not affect our current budget. (Dylan Bowen will be available for any questions the commissioners may have.)
15. Airport – Approval to Accept the State Aid to Airports Block Grant, the Grant Agreement, and the Project Ordinance Associated: Airport Director Phil Edwards is requesting acceptance of the State Aid to Airports Block Grant for the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS), the grant agreement and the associated project ordinance.
Page 2 end
The grant is in the amount $ 422,939 which requires a 5 % match in the amount of $ 22,260 which will be paid using the TRDF funds. Total amount of the grant and TRDF funds is $ 445,199. No local matching funds are required. (Phil Edwards will be available for any questions the commissioners may have.)
16. Finance – Approval of the Budget Amendments, Project Ordinances, Position Count, Shelter Event, and Departmental Requisitions: Finance Director Heather Woody is requesting approval of the following budget amendments, project ordinances, position count, shelter event and Departmental Requisitions:
a. Reversal State Health Plan Insurance Surcharge – Fund 10 (-$589,603)
b. Reversal State Health Plan Insurance Surcharge – Fund 40 (-$2,598)
c. Reversal State Health Plan Insurance Surcharge – Fund 50 (-$4,409)
d. Reversal State Health Plan Insurance Surcharge – Fund 60 (-$3,180)
e. Reversal State Health Plan Insurance Surcharge – Fund 61 (-$3,180)
f. Reversal State Health Plan Insurance Surcharge – Fund 62 (-$3,180)
g. Reversal State Health Plan Insurance Surcharge – Fund 63 (-$3,180)
h. Reversal State Health Plan Insurance Surcharge – Fund 64 (-$3,180)
i. Reversal State Health Plan Insurance Surcharge – Fund 68 (-$1,595)
j. Reversal State Health Plan Insurance Surcharge – Fund 69 (-$9,110)
k. Finance Office – Travel ($0.00)
l. Health Department (2 Pages) – Line Adjustments ($0.00)
m. Aging – Senior Enrichment ($12,000)
n. Position Detail – Updated 11.3.25
o. Clear Shelter Event
p. Departmental Requisitions
17. Appointments/Re-Appointments/Replacements: Staff is requesting appointments, re-appointments or replacements to the following boards, committees and councils.
Legend: EB = Entire Board Listed Zone # = Individual Commissioner
Zone I: Barbara Featherson Zone V: Brent Watts
Zone II: Chris Smith Zone VI: Ricky Bullard
Zone III: Giles E. Byrd Zone VII: Scott Floyd
Zone IV: Lavern Coleman
COMMITTEE
DIST/EB
PERSON(S)
EXP.
DATE
Aging Advisory Council
II
VACANT
Aging Advisory Council
VI
Mitch Nance
(RESIGNED)
6/30/2025
Trillium Southern Regional Advisory Board
EB
Jerome McMillian
*(citizen appointment)
6/30/2025
Page 3 end
NOTE* Trillium Southern Regional Advisory Board requires 1 commissioner appointee and 1 citizen appointee. Commissioner Featherson was appointed 10.6.025, therefore; 1 citizen appointment is required*
RECESS REGULAR SESSION and enter into COLUMBUS COUNTY WATER and SEWER DISTRICTS I, II, III, IV and V BOARD MEETING
18. Water and Sewer Districts I, II, III, IV, and V Combination Minutes:
a. October 20, 2025 Regular Session
19. Water and Sewer Districts I, II, III, IV, and V – Approval of the 3-Year, On- Call Engineer Agreements with Withers Ravenel, LKC Engineering, and DRG Engineering for all Water Districts: Public Utilities director Harold Nobles is requesting approval of the 3-year, on-call engineer agreements with Withers Ravenel, LKC Engineering, and DRG Engineering for all water districts. (Harold Nobles will be available for any questions the commissioners may have.)
ADJOURN COMBINATION MEETING of COLUMBUS COUNTY WATER and SEWER DISTRICTS I, II, III, IV AND V BOARD MEETING
20. Comments: Commissioners and County Manager.
21. Adjournment
Page 4 end