12/07/05 — Zettie Williams elected Duplin board chairman

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Zettie Williams elected Duplin board chairman

By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on December 7, 2005 1:46 PM

KENANSVILLE -- Zettie Williams was elected chairman of the Duplin County Board of Commissioners at the board's meeting Monday.

Arliss Albertson was chosen vice chairman.

Both votes were unanimous.

Outgoing chairman Reginald Wells said he was more than ready to step aside. He took Albertson's seat and Albertson then eased into the seat next to Ms. Williams.

Ms. Williams, who has served as chairman on four previous occasions, asked her fellow board members for the same cooperation that Wells received during his time as chairman.

"When I'm not doing well, tell me, not others," she said.

Commissioner Frances Parks said during the public comment section of the meeting that the current year has been the toughest on commissioner chairman of any year she has seen. She said she appreciated the way Wells handled criticism.

"Ms. Zettie, I hope some of that stops for you," she said.

During Monday's business session, commissioners approved donating computers to public agencies and offices that have housed them for public access.

The computers were purchased with a grant from the Rural Access Authority, and the action was base upon the authority's recommendation.

Forty-six computers and distance learning-and-teleconferencing equipment were donated to the Jones County Board of Education. Ten computers and support equipment and a distance-learning unit was given to the Onslow County Board of Education. The computers already were in use at schools in those counties.

Twenty-two computers at James Sprunt Community College were given to the college. Eight computers and support equipment from the Business Technology Center were donated to the town of Warsaw for a public access site at the National Guard Armory when it is renovated.

The Cooperative Extension Service office at Duplin Commons will receive two computers in addition to the eight already there. The two new computers and related equipment will be located in the commons' lobby for a public access site. Four more computers will be added to the four computers already at located the public library in Wallace. Two computers will go from the Business Technology Center to the town of Calypso for a public access site. The towns of Teachey and Greenevers will each receive computers for public access sites.

A computer will be located in the Department of Social Services community room for public access and distance-learning equipment will be located in the conference room at the Duplin County Municipal Airport for business and public access. Several computers and related equipment will go to the Duplin Economic Development Commission and to the county's Information Technology Department. Two computers from the Business Technology center will go into the lobby of the Duplin County Administration Office as a public access site.

Two computers are on loan to a private library in Albertson. They will remain property of the county.