A routine meeting of the Scotland County commissioners on Monday ended with an appeal by one official to hold a public forum to discuss the county's unemployment rate, at 16.5 percent the highest in the state.

"I think the county commissioners need to speak to the public about the unemployment situation, and at least give some encouragement," Commissioner Betty Blue Gholston told the assembly. "(People such as) County Economic Director Greg Icard and Employment Security Commission Manager Burnest Graham, along with the commission, need to address the subject that's on everyone's mind. I think people want the county commissioners to speak to the issue."

Commission Chairman J.D. Willis agreed with Gholston's suggestion.

"We can set up a meeting, probably at the courthouse, where officials can come together to give a presentation to the public," he said. "We need to also let the public know that we have had growth in Scotland County, with employee increases at Qualpak and Champion and at others. It's not all doom and gloom here in Scotland County."

Willis said that an announcement would be made indicating the time and place of the meeting.

In other news, Lumber River Council of Governments Housing Coordinator Adrian Lowery reported on the Single Family Rehabilitation (SFR) program, a financial initiative available to local governments in 24 counties statewide including Scotland.

Lowery reported that 27 low income applicants met all requirements for housing improvements under the program while 33 did not. Two households that failed the SFR program criteria were recommended for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which provides replacement buildings for condemned or severely dilapidated dwellings that are at the point of being uninhabitable. SFR funds are directed toward the rehabilitation of moderately deteriorated, single family homes with elderly or disabled family members living below 80 percent of the county's median income.

The commissioners agreed to discuss the issue further during their December meeting, when Lowery will present the final CDBG list for approval.

Commissioner Joyce McDow recommended the following individuals to fill vacancies or to continue their service on various boards and/or committees: Kirsten Dean, eligible to serve a second term on the Laurinburg Downtown Revitalization Corporation board; Giyvan Jackson, Jeff Maidment, and Mitchell McIver, to fill three vacancies on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council; and to reappoint LaVerne McDougald and William Matthews and to appoint Cordella Walker and Ophelia Maultsby to positions on the Aging Advisory Council. All motions to fill these positions passed unanimously by the commission.