Columbus County Planning Director Kelsey Hammond submitted her resignation this morning (March 6).
“There were a lot of factors in my decision,” Hammond said. “The largest was the insurmountable amount of work for such a small staff.
“We were trying to fix the mistakes that had been made before, while trying to handle what was coming down the line. It was just too much.
“I am always going to do what is ethical and legal,” she said. “I’m going to follow the rules. The same standard has to be applied fairly for everyone. That means sometimes you have to say no.”
The Bladen County native streamlined and updated the county’s planned development (PD) policies to allow the county to get ahead of the expected surge in development in the southern and eastern portions of the county.
Hammond was hired in August 2025. She was previously the town manager for Bladenboro.
Hammond’s departure is the second major shakeup in the county this week. County Manager Eddie Madden announced Wednesday that he will retire in December.
