ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Planning Board has been revamped with new membership.
With four positions up for reappointment, the Stanly County Board of Commissioners approved four new appointees for the planning board at its Jan. 21 meeting.
The commissioners voted 7-0 to appoint Patricia Blaney, Kelly Hart, and William Gollehon to three-year terms that expire in February 2028, while Terry Page was unanimously appointed for a term that expires in February 2027.
Prior to the commissioners’ vote, Bailey Cline, the county’s planning and zoning director, addressed the board with a planning board special presentation as she cited the need for four appointments.
Along with approving major subdivision plats, the planning board reviews land use changes and updates the county’s land use plan.
“The Stanly County Planning Board consists of seven members that are appointed by the commissioners in staggered three-year terms,” Cline said. “The terms for John Eckman, Kevin Brickman, and Joel Mauldin will all expire this year in February 2025. Michael Williams was appointed to the Board of Adjustment but his term on the planning board does not end until February 2027. Someone will need to be appointed to serve out the rest of his term.”
The volunteer applications received by the planning board to fill its upcoming positions were from Blaney, Hart, Gollehon, and Page, along with Brickman, Donald Adkins, Shawanna Long, and Kevin May Jr.
While Brickman sought a second term, Eckman and Mauldin did not seek reappointment to the planning board; Cline’s introduction noted that Brickman had been consistent in both attendance and participation during board meetings.
Commissioner Patty Crump made the motion to nominate Blaney, Hart, Gollehon, and Page, which was seconded by Commissioner Scott Efird and led to a vote without discussion.
Those four planning board newcomers will soon share the board with David Underwood, TJ Smith, and Tim Fesperman. Smith’s term extends until February 2026; Underwood’s and Fesperman’s terms run until February 2027
Blaney has career experience as a client service executive with Cigna Healthcare, while Hart has served as a member of the Stanly County Land Use Plan Steering Committee along with her occupational experience with Dial Page and Allen Storage.
Gollehon worked and retired from Michelin Aircraft Tire in 2019, while Page is a former firefighter and also worked as a truck driver for ADUSA Transportation.
The last meeting of the current planning board is set for Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Stanly County Commons, where board members will consider the ZA 25-01 text amendment request to the Stanly County Subdivision Ordinance for revisions to the current requirements and numbering for the table of contents.
The Stanly County Board of Commissioners is set to meet again on Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.