Next Monday’s Proposed Vote on a Resolution Regarding Offshore Energy Exploration

As you know, at the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners’ February 19, 2018 meeting I voted to rescind a previously adopted resolution that supported offshore energy exploration, moving our board to a neutral stance. Please allow me this opportunity to share my thoughts in advance of Monday’s meeting.

There are essentially three types of resolutions that our board can adopt: (1) Ceremonial resolutions, such as proclaiming a certain week to be Law Enforcement Appreciation Week, or something of the sort; (2) Resolutions that have the force of law or policy and fall within our jurisdiction under State law, such as a resolution authorizing a bond for the Sheriff or a resolution supporting the naming of a bridge; and, (3) Resolutions that have no force of policy or law, but simply state our board’s “official” opinion on a given matter that falls outside of our statutory jurisdiction. I believe any resolution our board would adopt on offshore energy exploration and seismic surveying clearly falls into category #3.

During my time as a Commissioner, I have come to realize that we should be judicious and sparing in adopting any resolution which falls into category #3. If we adopt a high number of such resolutions, we become like the boy that cried wolf (or the friend or family member who forwards 30 jokes a day, and then wonders why you didn’t read the one important email they sent). It is my personal belief that we have adopted far too many such resolutions in the past, and that we should be more restrained in doing so moving forward.  Additionally, when such a resolution is adopted in a 3-2 vote, it clearly reflects a divided board, and in my view such an opinion carries little weight.

This is why my view going into Monday’s meeting will likely not please people on either side of this issue. While I voted to rescind our previously adopted resolution, and while I do have personal opinions, I feel it is most appropriate for Brunswick County to remain in the position of having no official opinion on this issue, and I will not be supporting any resolution on this issue.