COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Columbus County commissioners discussed several issues at their annual retreat Thursday.
Top priorities for officials were infrastructure, economic development, having school systems come up with a long-term plan, fuel efficiency and beavers.
Most county commissioners only give money to one school system. But, in Columbus County commissioners divide money between Whiteville City Schools, Columbus County Schools and Southeastern Community College.
They want school leaders to develop a long-term financial plan instead of unexpectedly approaching commissioners when they need something. Commissioners are expected to talk with officials about a long-term plan Thursday night.
Also during the retreat, it was mentioned that Economic Director Gary Lanier is concern with the county not having many empty buildings left to show companies interested in locating to Columbus County. Commissioners say, Lanier is worried they could start losing companies to other counties with buildings.
Commissioners say there are 160 undeveloped acres in the county's industrial park, but they don't want to build a facility and have it sitting empty for years like the Shell building.
They're going to look into options like using a computer program to show interested companies what buildings could look like.
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