The Bladen County Commissioners elected to defer discussion on a proposal to contract for ad valorum tax revaluation services at their Monday meeting. The commissioners had been scheduled to consider recommendations regarding proposals for the 2007 revaluation project.

Board Chairman Greg Taylor, opened the meeting by striking the discussion from the agenda, stating that new information had come to light that could possibly be favorable to the county in contracting for the service.

Regarding other items on the agenda, the commissioners approved a request to schedule public hearings on two rezoning applications. The hearings, which involve a request for rezoning a tract of land near the intersection of NC 87 and NC 20 and another tract near the Columbus County line on Twisted Hickory Road, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on March 21.

The commissioners also approved an Agricultural Safety Awareness Program proclamation and recognized long-time Bladen County employee Edwin Dowless, who is retiring on February 28. Dowless is the Director of Services for the county.

In another action, the commissioners appointed J. B. Priest and George Barber to replace George Harrelson and John Wayne Packer on the Lisbon Rural Fire Protection District Committee. Harrelson and Packer were ineligible for reappointment.

The commissioners scheduled the first budget workshop for the upcoming fiscal year for Tuesday, March 1, at 6:30 p.m.

Pat Smith, general manager of the local Time-Warner service, gave a presentation on her company's services in the community and the franchise fees the county receives as a result.

She stated that the company paid the county $39,327.38 in franchise fees for last calendar year. That is about $4,000 more than the 2003 figure, Smith said.

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