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Three newly elected members of the Mount Olive Board of Commissioners were sworn in during the board’s regular meeting Monday night. Because of higher-than-usual attendance for the ceremony, the meeting was held in the Southern Bank Auditorium on the University of Mount Olive campus.
Harlie Carmichael was sworn in as at-large commissioner, while Gena Messer Knode took the oath as the District 3 commissioner and C.J. Weaver was sworn in as the District 4 commissioner. After the new board was seated, Commissioner Delreese Simmons was elected mayor pro tempore by a 4–1 vote. Knode cast the only vote in opposition.
Town Clerk Sherry Davis administered the oaths to the three new commissioners. Mayor Jerome Newton was sworn in for his new term by N.C. House District 10 Rep. John Bell. After being selected as mayor pro tem, Simmons also requested that Bell administer his oath.
After the new board was seated, Newton thanked outgoing board members Barbara Kornegay, Tommy Smith and Danny Keel, presenting each with a plaque for their service.
Prior to the new board being sworn in, the existing board did take care of a few items of town business during the meeting, including the approval of a settlement with the company Terra Nova in the amount of $50,000.
Interim town manager Glenn Holland told the board the town had contracted with Terra Nova in 2023 to clean out three tanks at the wastewater treatment plant at a total cost of $151,408. The company only cleaned out one of the three tanks and invoiced the town for $116,048. Holland said.
“Then they sent us a quote requesting an additional $144,900 to complete the work,” Holland said. “We disagreed with what they had proposed and we negotiated to a $50,000 settlement.”
In other business, the board voted to approve the application from Pyro Shows Southeast for a standalone fire permit for fireworks during the annual Mount Olive Pickle Drop on New Year’s Eve.
During closing remarks, Newton announced that each commissioner would be assigned specific areas of responsibility for the new term. He said Simmons will oversee the airport and fire services, Carmichael will handle infrastructure management, Weaver will oversee the wastewater management moratorium, Commissioner Darden will oversee housing, and Knode will oversee organizational staff management, including finance and human resources.
