Tensions flare between Pender County commissioners despite calls for civility

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — Tensions between members of the Pender County Board of Commissioners resurfaced Monday night, just weeks after a resident urged board members to show more respect toward one another.

The disagreement came during the board’s first meeting since resident Charlie Schoonmaker called for improved relations among commissioners.

Schoonmaker, a familiar face at county commission meetings, returned Monday to thank board members for their service.

“I want to thank you all because you have filled a very tedious job, all of you,” Schoonmaker said. “The ones who have been here for a long time, some of you for just a short time, but you stepped up to the plate and we appreciate it on behalf of Pender County.”

His remarks marked a change in tone from several weeks earlier, when he addressed growing tensions among commissioners.

“I’m speaking tonight on improving relations with each other, especially you commissioners,” Schoonmaker said at the previous meeting.

However, that call for civility appeared to go unheeded Monday as tensions between Commissioners Randy Burton and Jimmy Tate spilled into the open near the end of the meeting.

Burton cautioned fellow commissioners about their word choice, particularly when discussing the county’s financial situation.

“Caution any of my colleagues to be careful with your language because folks take things that we all say very seriously,” Burton said.

Tate responded by defending a Facebook post he made last week endorsing Democratic commissioner candidate Tim Zizack.

In the post, Tate claimed, “Pender County is almost in a state of emergency from horrible commissioners running the county.”

“I want to say that I can say anything I want on my social media post,” Tate said during Monday’s meeting. “I’m not going to dignify myself to the belittleness of using public citizen comment to attack a fellow commissioner, I’ll leave that to you all.”

Tate continued by defending his characterization of the county’s finances, saying he was entitled to express his opinion about what he described as a fiscal emergency.

Burton, who is leaving the board, warned that using terms such as “state of emergency” to describe the county’s financial condition could have serious consequences.

The exchange comes as Pender County prepares for a leadership change, with several new commissioners expected to take office in December.

Andy DeVane, who is running unopposed for a seat on the board, said he hopes the incoming commissioners can put personal disagreements aside and focus on the challenges facing the county.

“Listen to the people, might not always agree, but find a common ground that we move forward and tackle some of the issues that this county is facing, between growth, infrastructure, schools,” DeVane said. “We have to get ahead of and we’re not at this moment in time.”

“Leave personal agendas at the door, we’re here to do the people’s business and we were elected to do the people’s business,” he added.

Rising school construction costs among major challenges

Beyond disagreements among commissioners, the county faces significant financial challenges as rapid growth continues to put pressure on infrastructure and public schools.

One of the biggest issues facing the board is how to pay for major school construction and renovation projects that have seen substantial cost increases.

Renovations to Topsail Middle School were originally estimated to cost just under $23 million. However, the latest projections put the project’s price tag at more than $50 million, despite construction not yet beginning.

Another major project is the new JH Lea K-8 school in Hampstead, which is currently under construction.

The school’s budget has increased from approximately $110 million to around $140 million over the past several years.

Commissioner Brent Springer expressed frustration with how funding from a school bond approved by voters four years ago was allocated.

Springer said he would have preferred seeing the full amount of the bond funding directed toward the Hampstead school project rather than splitting the money among several smaller projects.

The rising costs highlight the difficult financial decisions awaiting the next board of commissioners as the county works to accommodate continued growth.

New commissioners set to take office in December

The current Pender County Board of Commissioners has just one meeting remaining before the transition to new leadership.

That meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14 at the Hampstead Annex.

Incoming commissioners replacing Randy Burton, Beth Burns and Jerry Groves are expected to be sworn in and take office Dec. 7.