Duplin County hires consultant to help streamline operation
By Staff Reports
Published in News on May 26, 2009 1:46 PM
KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County Commissioners have hired the Evergreen Solutions consulting firm out of Florida to find ways to save money.
Commissioners voted unanimously last week to authorize the county manager to sign a contract with the same company that previously conducted a similar study for the county school system.
The Duplin Board of Education took exception to some of the consultant's suggestions and said many of the recommendations made by the firm could not be done.
Commissioner Reginald Wells, who made the motion to hire Evergreen, said that if the county is going to spend the $120,000 for the study that commissioners should make a commitment to follow the consultant's recommendations.
Commissioner David Fussell warned the other commissioners that they are going to see some things they will not want to do, but that they must commit themselves to do whatever is recommended to save the county money.
"A leading business had this done, and the owner had to eliminate his best friends and classmates -- and he did. We must commit to do it," he said.
Commissioner Zettie Williams, who seconded the motion, agreed. She said the Evergreen study will help commissioners better plan for the future.
"Right now, it's hit and miss," she said.
Evergreen will look over county financial records from the past three years and evaluate each county department's overall efficiency and effectiveness in order to come up with a strategy and timeline for making improvements.
Commissioners said that as the study progresses, public comment will be encouraged.