Bob Shiles

Staff writer

LUMBERTON — Four incumbent county commissioners will be sworn in for new four-year terms when the board meets on Monday.

Commissioners Raymond Cummings, Roger Oxendine and Jerry Stephens each won their respective Democratic primary elections in May and were not challenged in the Nov. 6 general election. Cummings, District 5, for the second time defeated Lacy Cummings; Oxendine, District 3, defeated Pembroke businessman Micky Locklear; and Stephens, District 1, beat political newcomer James Smith.

Commissioner Tom Taylor had no primary race, but faced Republican Dennis Harrell in the Nov. 6 general election and was easily re-elected.

Also on Monday, the commissioners will elect a chairman and vice chairman for the coming year. Commissioner Noah Woods is the current chairman, and Taylor is the current vice chairman.

According to County Manager Ricky Harris, the board is not expected to discuss or take action on their pay and benefits. At the request of the commissioners, Harris conducted a study of benefits and perks received by Robeson County commissioners in comparison to those benefits received by the commissioners in other counties. Harris presented the results of his study at the the board’s Nov. 19 meeting.

In other business, the commissioners on Monday will:

n Hold several public hearings. They will include two requests for conditional-use permits to allow for Internet video sweepstakes businesses to locate in a Highway Commercial District, three requests for conditional-use permits to establish family cemeteries, a request to rezone property in a Residential Agricultural District to allow for the storage of commercial vehicles and a produce stand and a request by Monarch for approval of its application for a Targeted Transportation Assistance Program grant from the state Department of Transportation.

n Consider a resolution recognizing James “Jimmy” Jones for “extraordinary valor and service in defense of our country, as well as defense of what our country stands for.”

Jones served as a Tuskegee Airman during World War II. In July he received a Congressional Gold Medal for his service.

n Approve a resolution in support of naming the bridge to be constructed at Exit 22 of Interstate 95 in honor of Lumberton Master Police Officer Jeremiah M. Goodson Jr., who was killed in the line of duty. The resolution will be forwarded to the state Department of Transportation, the agency that will make a final decision on the bridge name.

n Consider two re-appointments to the Health Board.