Although a rezoning request for a new hospital was the major item of business at the regular monthly meeting of the Anson County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night, there were plenty of other important issues to be discussed after the rezoning was unanimously approved.

Scott Hedley addressed the board during the public comment portion of the meeting, stating that he had an “untenable situation” involving a right-of-way on Moore’s Lake Road. Hedley said that an individual by the name of Steve Wallace owns the property at the end of this road, also known as SR 1130, and that Wallace had blocked a portion of the road with mounds of dirt.

Hedley went on to say that he’s spoken with the Department of Transportation on several occasions and that he’s even been faced with criminal charges from Wallace, including first-degree trespassing for being on a state-owned road.

“This is nonsense,” Hedley said. “It’s also a safety issue for any emergency vehicles that might need to get on that road.”

“I would like for this board to use its authority to encourage the DOT to do its job,” Hedley said.

Commissioner Ross Streater asked if the commissioners could charge County Manager Lawrence Gatewood and County Attorney Scott Forbes with looking into the issue, and report back to the commission at the next meeting. Gatewood and Forbes agreed that they would.

In other business, Steve Adams spoke before the board and announced he has been named director of elections, after serving as interim director for several months.

Emergency services supervisor Ryan Teal also appeared before the board to ask for a change to the county’s policy on employment of immediate relatives. The proposed change to the policy reads: “The employment of close relatives within the service of the county, within the same department or unit/section of a department, shall be allowed given the following. (a) Immediate relatives shall not be permitted to work together, during the same time, or under the supervision of an immediate relative…”

After some discussion, the motion to approve the change passed 4-3, with Chair Anna Baucom and Commissioners Jarvis Woodburn and Harold Smith opposed.

The commissioners also heard an update on the county’s landfill and recycling programs. After the recycling of oil and other liquids was discontinued for a while, the county is making plans to restart it, with better regulations and instructions in place. The county will also work on better communicating with citizens about recycling opportunities and the hours of operation of the county’s convenience centers.

During his report to the board, Gatewood mentioned the recent groundbreaking for a new emergency services center and the land acquisition for an agri-civic center. He also pointed out that because of its improvements to county facilities, Anson has received a 2.5-percent discount on its liability insurance.

He also gave an update on the renovations to the Belk Building, which should be completed in early March.

Bryon Hyatt, Bobby McCollum, Alexander Bennett, Aaron Hinson, Ross Hendley, Donald Tyner and Becky Westbrook were appointed to the board of equalization and review.

Commissioner Woodburn gave the board a report on the recent Legislative Goals Conference, where he represented Anson County. He said that he feels the rest of the state needs to be more proactive against fracking because now he felt many others were taking a more reactive approach. He encouraged the other commissioners to keep the fracking issue at the forefront.

Commissioner Bobby Sikes appointed Brenda Nixon to represent his district on the EMS advisory board, and Gatewood said he would check into the organization’s bylaws before any further appointments are made to the advisory board.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:15 p.m.