Bladen County commissioners approve consent agenda with item J removed; honor two long-serving employees

The Bladen County Board of Commissioners approved its consent agenda after removing item J from the list, the board confirmed by voice vote during a regularly scheduled meeting.

Chair or presiding members began by taking a motion to amend the consent agenda and remove item J; the amendment was seconded and carried, and the board then voted on the amended package. Speaker 2 led the motion work and multiple commissioners voiced agreement; the chair declared the ayes had it. No roll-call tally was recorded in the public remarks.

The board also closed a public hearing on a grant for MSPBAR, Incorporated office and, after no public comment, moved to approve the grant award by voice vote. The public hearing was opened and closed by the presiding officer before the vote.

The meeting included formal recognition of retiring county employees. Speaker 8 introduced a tribute to "Miss Debbie Storms," thanking her for more than 30 years of service to county programs serving children and families. Sabrina Bitzel, who identified herself as Storms’s supervisor, praised her mentorship: "I've been lucky enough to be Debbie's supervisor... She has taught me about everything I knew or I know," (Speaker 9).

The board also honored Agnes McCall of the Bladen County Public Library for nearly 50 years of service; Speaker 10 recounted McCall's start in 1976 and decades of work as a steady presence at the library.

What happens next: approved consent items will be reflected in the county’s minutes and included in implementation by the appropriate departments; the board flagged no immediate secondary actions tied to the retirements beyond public recognition and thanks.