Caswell County commissioners appoint Brian Totten, approve budget amendments and revise board ethics policy

The Caswell County Board of Commissioners on March 17 appointed Brian Totten to fill the unexpired District 4 seat and approved multiple budget amendments, a contract change for jail food service and a revision to the board’s code of ethics at a regular meeting at the Caswell County Courthouse.

The action fills the vacancy created when Commissioner Ethel Gwynn resigned effective Feb. 28. The county manager reported the county Democratic Party nominated Brian Totten; Commissioner Smith moved to appoint Totten and Commissioner Ingram seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. County staff said Totten would be sworn in at the board’s April meeting on April 7 if the oath is administered by the clerk of superior court.

The appointment mattered to commissioners because it restores a four-member voting panel for upcoming decisions. Commissioner Ingram said he believed Totten “would be an asset,” noting Totten had run for an at-large seat in 2024.

Separately, the board approved budget amendment No. 20 to allow a memorandum of agreement with the North Carolina Forest Service to build a shared storage shed for cooperative extension equipment. Cooperative Extension received a Golden Leaf Foundation grant of $120,000 in 2024 for an agricultural technology rental program; about $14,811 remained and could lawfully be used for a storage structure. The Forest Service agreed to contribute $10,000 toward a quoted total project cost of $24,811. The board authorized staff to execute an MOA and appropriate the funds.

Budge…