Southampton County elects Edwards chairman, adopts 2026 meeting schedule and approves appointments

The Southampton County Board of Supervisors completed its annual organizational business on Jan. 27, nominating and approving its officers for 2026 and adopting the board's meeting schedule for the year.

At the meeting staff reviewed the state code requirement that certain organizational matters be resolved at the first meeting of the year. Moderator (speaker 1) nominated Doctor Edwards as chairman and William Hart as vice chairman; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. County staff noted that chairman and vice chairman may succeed themselves and that the positions carry modest additional annual stipends: "the chairman is provided an additional $1,800 annually, and the vice chairman is provided an additional sum of $1,200," staff said (speaker 3).

The board adopted a resolution establishing regular meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., with the November and December meetings moved to the third Tuesday to avoid holiday conflicts; quarterly work sessions were set for dates at the Rawls Museum of Arts. The board also confirmed several appointments required by county code: the chair will serve on the planning commission and staff recommended, and the board approved, Reagan Prince as zoning administrator and subdivision agent (Prince had served in an interim capacity since Sept. 2025).

The board approved an appropriation of $904,498.74 to the general fund and adopted the FY27 budget calendar with key dates for department submissions, the school budget approval timeline, a draft budget publication on May 6 and a public hearing on May 13 ahead of adoption on May 26. No board member opposed the measures during the voice votes recorded at the meeting. The actions set the calendar and staffing appointments that will guide the county's FY27 budget and project work.