The Vance County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution opposing wording in N.C. Senate Bill 214 that would give Franklin County the authority to take property from Vance County without the commissioners’ approval.
The vote was swift and unanimous and the emergency special called meeting lasted less than 10 minutes.
The vote was 6-0; Commissioner Yolanda Feimster was not present at the meeting, which began at 4 p.m. in the commissioners’ meeting room in the county administration building.
Commissioner Tommy Hester made the motion to approve adoption of the resolution.
After the vote, Hester stated, “Vance County is in support of the city of Henderson. We’re doing this in support of them.”
County Manager C. Renee Perry said she received a call Wednesday from Rep. Rodney Pierce who represents Halifax and Warren counties about Part V Section 5 of the bill, which names Vance, Warren and Halifax counties as the three counties from which Franklin County would be able to acquire property “without consent or approval.”
Perry said other counties and municipalities are considering resolutions opposing the bill as well and she recommended that the Vance County board follows suit, “to try to fight this as much as we can.”
Commissioner Leo Kelly said he’d been in Raleigh Friday speaking with legislators about the bill and local ramifications if it passes. The bill is on the calendar for Tuesday, Apr. 28.
County Attorney Jonathan Care was unavailable to attend the meeting, but Perry shared his comments with the board.
“The more noise that we can make the better,” Perry said Care had told her, adding that the bill was “fundamentally wrong.”
Board Chair Carolyn Faines said she considered the action “unethical to suggest even such a thing” as acquiring property without approval of the board of commissioners.
“To me, it’s like robbery,” Faines said. “You come to take, instead of partner to see what’s needed to be done to help fix a situation or issue. It’s one of the most unethical behaviors from another government body that I have experienced.”