Barnett new Duplin solid waste director
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on August 11, 2004 2:01 PM
KENANSVILLE -- Bee Barnett from Lenoir County is Duplin's new solid waste director.
Named Vernon Bee Barnett after both of his grandfathers, he likes being called "Bee." The reception has been great in Duplin County, he says. The county commissioners gave him a warm welcome, and he says he can't ask for a better working environment.
"I've got great people to work for," he said. "I've been accepted as good as anybody can be accepted. This place was working good when I took over. I think (interim director Peggy Murphy) has done a fine job."
Barnett, who started work in Duplin on Aug. 2, says he is looking for the best way to save the county and the public money.
"We do not need to add taxes unless we have no other choice," he said. "My belief is we need to take care of our own trash. That's why we built our own landfill in Lenoir County."
He came out of 24 years in the family business in Lenoir County, Barnett Truck Lines, to go into the solid waste business. He went to work for Waste Industries as a mechanic working on the heavy trucks and began a 15-year career in solid waste.
He became a shop foreman and transferred to Wilson to take over the main shop. He worked in Craven and Lenoir counties in solid waste. During his tenure in Lenoir County, he oversaw the building of a new landfill.