By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

On the same night the Chairman of the Columbus County Medicaid Advisory Committee gave commissioners an update on the group’s plans, the board booted him off the committee.

Commissioner Ricky Bullard made a request Tuesday to replace committee chairman Al Daniel with his own appointment, John Wayne Hardwick.

Commissioner Bill Memory had to fill a vacancy left by committee member Larry Moore so he asked Daniel to serve as his appointment. It was an action that did not sit well with Bullard.

“I feel that Columbus County citizens should serve on this board,” Bullard said.

“Do you live in Columbus County?” Memory asked Daniel.

Daniel explained that he had a Columbus County mailing address but lived just inside the Bladen County line near Riegelwood.

Memory said he thought Daniel was a Columbus County resident.

Bullard then made a motion that members of all committees must live in Columbus County.

“To have known earlier would have saved embarrassment to a committee member,” Chairman Sammie Jacobs said to Bullard. “You’ve got to consider other people’s feelings.”

Bullard said he wasn’t going to make an issue out of it just simply replacing Daniel. When Memory re-appointed the Bladen County resident, Bullard didn’t bite his tongue.