Bladen County commissioners discuss rules for reopening swap shops after complaints about hazards and policing

Bladen County commissioners spent a sizeable portion of their Jan. 6 meeting debating whether and how to reopen county-run "swap shops" where residents leave and collect donated goods.

Commissioners and members of the public raised concerns about hazardous items (for example, propane grills), food, bulk appliances, policing burden on site attendants, and people collecting donated goods for resale. Several speakers said site attendants, who are county contractors, should not be placed in confrontational policing roles and asked the board to set clear, enforceable rules and signage instead.

Suggestions discussed included: prohibiting hazardous materials and food, banning bulk appliances (refrigerators/ovens), requiring items be hung or displayed rather than left in open boxes, posting clear rules and a probationary reopening period of six months, and providing two weeks for staff to prepare signs and rules. Commissioners asked staff and legal counsel to draft standard posted rules to protect the county's liability and to consider a short probationary period to reassess operations.

The board agreed to a two-week timeline to produce signage and rules and scheduled follow-up action at the next meeting. No ordinance change or funding decision was made; commissioners emphasized balancing community access to donated goods with worker safety and county liability protections.