Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Services Cleanup And Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commissioners back hunt‑club litter pickups and flag $43,000 grass‑cutting bill
Summary
Commissioners approved a motion asking hunt clubs to organize litter‑pickup days and raised concern about a roughly $42,700–$43,000 county bill for cutting 400+ acres that was paid without clear board authorization; staff said procedures are being tightened.
The Southampton County Planning Commission unanimously approved a motion Jan. 9 asking hunt clubs to organize volunteer litter‑pickup days for specific road segments after board members reported trash accumulating near commercial corridors.
During general board comments, one commissioner described trash behind a Hardee’s and recalled recent volunteer cleanups by local groups; another moved that the commission ask hunt clubs to set aside a day to pick up their territories. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
Grass‑cutting bill and oversight concerns: Separately, commissioners spent substantial time discussing a recent $42,700–$43,000 bill the county paid for cutting roughly 400 acres. A commissioner said the board learned of the charge only after reviewing paid bills for the month: "There it was $43,000 — $42,700 for grass cutting," the commissioner said, and several members described the payment as having bypassed established county procedure. The board discussed whether county administration or the county attorney had submitted the bill for reimbursement to the property owner; staff said that responsibility is handled by county administration and that they would check the status.
Members described the payment as unnecessary and pledged steps to ensure proper protocol is followed in the future. One commissioner noted the property’s assessed value and past expenditures as context for concern but no formal action was taken at the meeting to seek reimbursement; the matter was discussed for follow up with county administration.
Other business and logistics: Commissioners also confirmed the next regular meeting for Feb. 13, 2025 at 7:00 p.m., and staff said packets would be hand‑delivered for that meeting because of recent postal delays. The commission was also notified in advance that February could include two public hearings: a micro‑processing facility application and a sand‑mining extraction operation along Route 258.
Votes at a glance: litter‑pickup motion — approved unanimously; adjournment motion — approved.
