BRUNSWICK COUNTY — The Brunswick County Planning Board lost its third sitting member this year after Ron Medlin stepped down from district two representation. His seat was filled at Monday’s Brunswick County Board of Commissioners meeting; however, there is still a vacant district three seat.
In a verbal resignation, Medlin informed Commissioner Vice Chair Marty Cooke he would step back “effective immediately.” No letter was received by the county, according to spokesperson Meagan Kascsak.
Medlin was appointed by Cooke in July 2024 and was scheduled to serve through June 2027. His replacement, Jason Helms — Medlin’s son-in-law — was appointed Monday by Cooke and voted unanimously into the position to fulfill the rest of the term.
READ MORE: 2 members exit Brunswick County Planning Board
ALSO: Legislation to shift development authority in Brunswick County moves forward
Cooke gave no indication of why Medlin resigned. Port City Daily reached out to Medlin and Cooke but neither responded by press.
At the meeting, Cooke gave Medlin his flowers: “He is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever known. He’s a tremendous guy. He has served with great distinction.”
Medlin first served on the board of adjustment in Brunswick County and currently owns and operates a construction company.
“He’s done an incredibly great job for the county and for the people here,” Cooke added.
Medlin’s resignation comes roughly seven months after former board members Jim Board and Jason Gaver resigned in March. Gaver, who stepped down after moving out of the county, was replaced by Travis Cruse, who was appointed by Commission Chair Mike Forte.
Board’s seat has yet to be filled by Commissioner Pat Sykes.
Sykes told Port City Daily Monday she doesn’t want to appoint anyone until after the development proposals under the planning board’s authority are complete. According to a county spokesperson, there are currently 10 that could make their way to the planning board, if they pass the technical review committee without issue.
The commissioners are to make decisions on all development for applications put forth after July 2, 2026, according to the recently passed House Bill 1222. The legislation transferred approval authority from the planning board, which now becomes a recommending board only. The planning board has frequently encountered pushback and criticisms from residents opposed to rapid growth of the county.
Sykes has been one of the more vocal naysayers toward the rapid development. Her appointments, she said, shared similar values.
Board resigned from his position, citing frustration by the board’s lack of authority in denying projects. Board pointed out complications associated with an old unified development, with outdated language that he thought gave the county less regulatory teeth and more grounds for developers to sue.
This included the Cherrytree Tract approval in March; Board made a motion to deny the project because of flooding and traffic concerns. It died without a second because some board members worried about legal repercussions, as there have been in the past.
The county has been sued in 2025 and 2026. For instance, the 200-unit Sailor’s Haven developers Coastal Cornerstone Development LLC sued after the planning board first denied the proposal in August 2025; they passed it with revisions in November 2025. In May of this year, the Green Hill developers sued the county for denying a 1,300-unit project. The lawsuit is still ongoing.
“I just don’t feel like I can put somebody else back in that position,” Sykes said, “put them through the same thing the other people that didn’t agree have been through.”
Sykes said she does not have any candidates she’s considering, though people have reached out. The district three planning board seat will remain vacant until further notice.
Sykes asked applicants interested in the position to wait until all the developments applied for prior to July 2 have been reviewed by the planning board.
According to the commissioners’ agenda, Cooke had eight candidates to consider in Medlin’s replacement, including Helms, also the project manager for Medlin’s company. Cooke said he believed Helms, like Medlin, would look into proposals “in great detail.”
“When I bought my house over 25 years ago, there had to be some improvements on the house, and [Medlin] came down there himself and did the work on the house,” Cooke recounted. “And the thing is, he was actually working on the house because he wanted to make sure it’s right. That’s the kind of man he is. And I know Jason Helms, his son-in-law, is the same way.”
The next planning board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 12.
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