ZEBULON — The Pike County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday held its first meeting of 2010, addressing such issues as an upcoming strategic planning meeting, approval of the official county zoning map, requests for proposals (RFP) for benefits providers to Pike County and the establishment of a Pike Historic Preservation Board.

As the commissioners presented their individual reports, Commissioner Don Collins said, “I would like to propose that we set up another strategic planning session this month.”

This meeting would include a morning session for commissioners only to be followed by an afternoon gathering to include Pike County Manager Steve Marro.

With the next BOC meeting slated for Jan. 26, the requested strategic planning session was scheduled to take place Jan. 20.

There were two public hearings conducted Wednesday morning, both pertaining to the official county zoning map.

Planning and Development Director David Allen presented information regarding his office’s efforts to update the previous map, which was last revised in 2006, and said the newly updated version would be officially kept and displayed in his office with a second copy in the BOC meeting room.

Marro praised the work of those involved in the process.

“I can’t tell you the number of hours that office has put into this. It was a tremendous undertaking,” he said.

Of the time-consuming effort required to update the map, Allen said that will be avoided in the future by revising the official map on an ongoing basis.

“It will then be readopted — just as the code is — every year,” Allen said.

Marro later addressed the unfinished business of requesting an RFP for benefit providers for Pike County.

According to Marro, the process of requesting RFPs will put any party interested in submitting a bid on a level playing field.

In response, Commissioner Parrish Swift said, “Anyone that’s going to bid a group this big is going to be serious.”

Marro then explained that the RFP will provide those potentially interested in bidding with guidelines outlining the needs and expectations of Pike County with regard to the benefits package.

Commissioners also heard from Collins about the benefits he believes Pike County could garner from the establishment of a Pike Historic Preservation Board.

He went on to say that the Pike Historic Commission, of which he is a member, was a driving force behind this effort that he said would enable the county to seek additional grants now unavailable.

Collins acknowledged he has received e-mails from a number of residents who are concerned about the possibility of a preservation board interfering with property owners’ ability to make changes to personal property.

“It certainly does not do that,” Collins said. “This is just creating the possibility for us to participate in these grants.”

Pike County Attorney Rob Morton told BOC members that this issue would not affect the county code and could therefore be immediately approved as a resolution.

“I don’t see a problem with this,” Swift said. “It’s just us being open-minded.”

Swift then made a motion that a Pike Historic Preservation Board be established. Commissioner Roosevelt Willis seconded the motion, which was then unanimously approved.