Rose Hill seats new board member, selects mayor pro tem

The Rose Hill Board of Commissioners welcomed a new face at its Dec. 9 meeting as newly elected member Perry Tulley was sworn in by Town Clerk Keren Parker.

Tulley is taking the seat of retiring board member Marsha Whaley, who served on the board for a total of 28 years. Mayor Davy Buckner presented Whaley with a large, inscribed silver dish honoring her service to the town.

In addition to Tulley’s oath of office, Buckner and commissioner Tashau Mathis were also sworn in for their new terms.

Board member Billy Wilson, who also serves as chief of the Rose Hill Fire Department, was unanimously selected as mayor pro tem.

After the ceremony, the board voted to approve the budget calendar, the board meeting schedule, and the holiday schedule for 2026.

In other business, the board considered two bids recommended by Angela Smith to perform services as part of improvements to buildings under a Community Development Block Grant  the town recently received funds for from the state. The services for this portion of the grant include asbestos inspections as well as surveying services for four structures benefiting from the grant.

Smith told the board three companies had submitted bids for the surveying services. The lowest bid was from Willie Miller Land Surveying for $800 per structure. Kenan Consulting and Construction Company submitted a bid for $750 per structure for asbestos inspections. The board approved both of Smith’s recommendations.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Tonya Pittman expressed concern over the long-time issue of the deteriorated ties at the railroad crossing on Church Street at Railroad Street.

“I had called (CSX Railroad) myself and complained about it,” Pittman said, “They said they would get down here. But, I don’t think the regular citizens are going to be able to do that,” meaning convincing CSX to take the issue seriously.

CSX spokesperson Austin Staton responded to an earlier Duplin Journal story in October saying the repairs would be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, yet there was no indication of any work in progress at the crossing as of the Dec. 9 meeting.