Commissioner denies telling interim county planner to sign unapproved permit
By Catharin Shepard • Editor • A Hoke County commissioner allegedly told the interim county planner to remove a special use permit from the board’s meeting agenda, and allegedly told her to approve the permit although the board never voted on it, according to a recording of a phone conversation between two public officials.
The commissioner denied the allegations when asked about the situation.
Listen to the recordings
Editor’s Note about the News-Journal phone call recording: At the time I spoke on the phone with Commission Vice Chairman Harry Southerland and made this recording, I was incorrectly under the impression that this matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Hoke County Board of Adjustments. Further investigation later that same day showed it did not fall under the Board of Adjustments. The matter had been sent to the Hoke County Board of Commissioners.
In the recording, Interim Planner Jackie Lowery repeatedly stated to County Manager Letitia Edens that “Mr. Southerland” called her, told her to take the special use permit application off the meeting agenda, and told her to approve the special use permit. Later in the phone call, Edens clarified that it was a commissioner who called Lowery. Commissioner Harry Southerland is vice chairman of the Hoke County Board of Commissioners.
When reached by phone Tuesday, Southerland denied asking Lowery to remove the item from the board’s meeting agenda. He denied telling Lowery to sign off on the permit. Southerland said he had only asked her to look into the county’s sign ordinance, which commissioners had already put in place a number of years ago for large business signs.
“I asked her to remove a thing while we’re looking into it. What happened was there was a permit, there was an ordinance that we had changed years ago, and she couldn’t find the ordinance. Back when we did the Walmart sign, and we did one for the Locklear builders. So, we got an ordinance where we made some changes, so I wanted her to go back and research that, and let us know what the ordinance said, before we go back and rule on something we’ve already made a decision on,” Southerland said.
Southerland denied knowing that Lowery had signed off on the permit.
“I don’t know, you’d have to ask her that, and I didn’t know she did that. She shouldn’t have signed off on any permit,” he said, and again stated he had asked her to research the sign ordinance.
When asked why Lowery told the county manager that Southerland had told her to approve the permit, Southerland said, “I don’t know, but I can call the county manager now.”
Gas station sign
The special use permit in question, identified as Case Number SU-3-26, was a request filed by Munawar Shahbain of J&K General Contractors for permission to put up a sign at a new convenience store at 9130 Fayetteville Road. According to discussion at the Hoke County Planning Board meeting May 14, 2026, the sign requires a special use permit because it was larger than normally allowed under the county’s ordinance, but could be allowed with the permit. The applicant said at the time that the gas station needed the larger sign for visibility.
The Planning Board determined that the request did not fall under their jurisdiction, and voted to send it to the Hoke County Board of Commissioners.
However, the item did not appear on the agenda for the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Commissioners, June 1, 2026. It also did not appear on the agenda for the Board of Adjustments at that board’s June 4, 2026 meeting, which also could have dealt with the matter.
In the recording of the phone call, Edens told Lowery that she hadn’t known about the permit being signed until after it was done, and was trying to document what had happened.
“I’m calling because I found out late yesterday you guys signed off to get that sign completed down at the gas station,” Edens said on the recording.
“Yes, Mr. Southerland called me because I had it on the agenda, and he called me-” Lowery said.
“I don’t care about all that. Did you guys, did they pay for their sign?” Edens said.
“Yes ma’am, they came in and got a sign permit,” Lowery said.
“Okay. So, did you sign off on that permit?” Edens asked.
“I put on there it was for the sign for the convenience store,” Lowery said.
“Somebody got to sign off on the permit. Did you sign off on the permit?” Edens asked.
“Yeah, my name’s on the bottom of it, yeah,” Lowery said.
Later in the conversation, both public officials referenced “Southerland” by name again and said the permit had been signed May 27, 2026.
“You signed it on May 27 of 2026? For the sign?” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“And you signed that because they told you to sign it?” Edens.
“Hold on one second, Ms. Tish, let me make sure that this – paid, to go before the planning board, case was pulled, 5/27, permits, Southerland. That’s the notes that I put on my paperwork which would have been May 27, 2026, when I was – May 27 to pull the paperwork.” Lowery.
“So, you just did it because he told you to do it?” Edens.
“He told me, he asked me to take it off the agenda, and he said that the commissioners had met during that day, earlier. Now, I’m talking about Mr. Southerland. And he said for me to take it off the agenda, and that they could go ahead and put the sign up.” Lowery.
“So, he told you they met and approved that? That’s what he told you?” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“That they approved that, for you to approve that? That’s what he told you? You don’t know that to be true, you don’t have anything for that?” Edens.
“I don’t have anything other than the phone call that he called me.” Lowery.
Later in the recorded conversation, the county manager pointed out that the “meeting” in question had been an agenda meeting. In an agenda meeting, only a few of the commissioners – typically the chair and vice chair – meet to decide which items will be put on the agenda for the next board meeting.
On the recorded phone call, the county manager pointed out that if auditors saw what happened, Lowery would be the one to get in trouble for it, which Lowery acknowledged.
“So, if they come back and look at that and they show that we didn’t, that we didn’t follow our ordinance, you know you can get in trouble for that, right?” Edens.
There was a moment of silence.
“I’m just asking.” Edens.
“Yeah, yeah, I somehow probably would. But I know the case wasn’t heard at the meeting that night…” Lowery.
Edens responded, “So, I’m putting you on notice that you know if like, the auditors come in and they look at ordinance – or citizens, and they file something against that – you do know that you will be the person held, because you don’t have any documentation whatsoever, Jackie, that they approved, that the board approved that, right?” Edens.
“Right.” Lowery.
On the recording, Lowery said she signed the permit on May 27, 2026, which was the week before the Hoke County Board of Commissioners met (June 1, 2026). If the permit was dated May 27 as described in the recording, Lowery signed the paperwork before the board could have had a chance to vote on the application, even if it had been on the agenda.
Edens took the conversation further in clarifying what happened. The county manager said in the recording she was “documenting” the series of events.
“You just have a commissioner calling you, telling you that.” Edens.
“That it was approved, yes ma’am.” Lowery.
“And you didn’t call me and ask me anything.” Edens.
“No ma’am, I didn’t.” Lowery.
“Who do you work for?” Edens.
“Um, up under you.” Lowery.
“No, I’m being serious. I’m just asking, because I find this out from them, and you didn’t call me on that date and ask me anything. Like, did this happen, if it didn’t happen. He called you and you just did what he told you to do.” Edens.
“Yeah, I mean, he called me and said we just got out of a meeting, he said-“ Lowery.
“That’s the agenda meeting, that’s not a board meeting.” Edens.
“Okay, well, I think I did mention it to Mr. Hunt, at the meeting.” Lowery.
“And Mr. Hunt told you-” Edens.
“Grady, Grady.” Lowery.
“Grady Hunt?“ Edens. (Editor’s note: Grady Hunt is the Hoke County Attorney.)
“Yeah, about, that it was not going to be heard at the meeting that night, because it had been pulled.” Lowery.
“Yeah, but that’s not him saying it was approved, for you to approve it, right?” Edens.
“True, yeah.” Lowery.
“Did Grady Hunt tell you it was approved for you to do that?” Edens.
“No, ma’am. No, ma’am.” Lowery.
“You understand what I’m saying, right? Like, this can get us in trouble. And I know you’re going to call him afterwards. I’m just saying, did you call me on that day -“ Edens.
“No, ma’am.” Lowery.
“-and say, was it approved for you to do that?” Edens.
“No, ma’am.” Lowery.
“Did you notify me? I’m just getting this, because I’m documenting it. Did I tell you that we were approved to go forward with that?” Edens.
“No, ma’am.” Lowery.
“You just got a call from him, and he told you to do it.” Edens.
“Yes ma’am, and I made a note on my paperwork.” Lowery.
“And you made a note on your paperwork.” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“That it was authorized by him.” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“For you to do it.” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“I’m just making sure that I’m documenting it.” Edens.
“Yep.” Lowery.
“Because I didn’t find out until yesterday. Because I was surprised it was being done, because somebody told me about it yesterday. I didn’t even know it was being done.” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
Later in the conversation, Edens questioned Lowery about not “break(ing) ordinance” even “when people tell y’all to do stuff.”
“And I know y’all think when people tell y’all to do stuff, that y’all are supposed to be doing it, but you do know you’re not supposed to break ordinance or legal stuff. You know that, right?” Edens.
“I will from now on, yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“Not from now on! Jackie, you’ve been here a long time. You know what we’re supposed to do and not do with ordinances and stuff, right?” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“I mean, come on, you know that.” Edens.
Issues with computer system
In addition to asking Lowery about the special use permit, Edens also questioned her on why the name of a former county planner, who has not been employed with Hoke County in nearly two years, was showing up in the computer system.
Based on the conversation, the issue appeared to involve the IWorks computer permit management system. Edens warned Lowery it could give the appearance of fraud.
“I have a question. Jeffery Dockery’s, when they print out, like if you pull something off of IWorks, Jeffery Dockery’s name comes off for like, June 1. Like if you print like the whole –” Edens.
“Yeah, yeah, exactly.” Lowery.
“Why is his stuff coming off like if you print something for like, that store, it prints off Jeffery Dockery for June 1 of 2026?” Edens.
“Because, I don’t know why it won’t change the date, but it will pull up his name on there. That’s an IWorks issue.” Lowery.
“If you pull that sign it will, if you pull something for it, it will look like Jeffery Dockery has signed off on something, like in this current year. He’s no longer with us.” Edens.
“Yeah, yeah, he’s not, he’s not with us anymore.” Lowery.
“Okay, so, you know that will look like fraud, right? Like we’re using Jeffery Dockery to sign off on permits?” Edens.
“So, which one are we – are we talking about the convenience store?” Lowery.
“Yeah!” Edens.
“The zoning permit for, the original zoning permit.” Lowery.
“Yes.” Edens.
“Hold on one second.” Lowery.
“We don’t need anything to show up with Jeffery Dockery’s name in it after he’s left this county.” Edens.
In the recording, Lowery went on to say that Dockery’s name showed up because he had been the one to handle the paperwork when the gas station in question had first been approved, back in 2024.
“Alright. So, the reason why his name is popping up though, because it was originally done March 13 of 2024 for the convenience store. And so then, mine should have my name on it because I did the sign permit,” Lowery said.
Edens and Lowery further discussed the problem.
“Okay, I need you – how do we get Jeffery Dockery’s – how come Jeffery Dockery is still on here, isn’t there a way to delete that so nothing can be signed for him?” Edens.
“Jeffery Dockery’s name, everybody has ever put anything in the IWorks program, their name is attached to it. I would have to contact IWorks and ask them to remove Jeff Dockery’s name out of the system, and then–” Lowery.
“But don’t you terminate people once they’re no longer working for us, so they aren’t in the system?” Edens.
“But if, if he put the information then, then he would be the one that I could say, or whoever could say, that that’s who put the information in, was Jeff. Or Robert, or whoever else used the IWorks program.” Lowery.
“The information, the permit should still come up under that person, right or wrong. You’re just terminating so that no one can utilize that person as signing. I mean, it’s strange that – it should still come up in the system that he did a permit, but it shouldn’t come up that you can sign a permit with the date official, as of yesterday’s date? Isn’t it strange that it should come up for yesterday’s date? That looks like somebody can sign something for Jeffery as of – it looks like you could go in and do a permit for Jeffery as of today, like he’s active, like he’s an active person, signing a permit.” Edens.
“Yeah, I understand what you’re saying.” Lowery.
“He should be a terminated person, that nobody can sign a permit for him.” Edens.
“Okay, yes ma’am.” Lowery.
Edens went on to say that the county should alter the system to make sure all former staff were removed or deactivated “so that nobody can use them to sign permits.”
“Right? Because I would not like, that like, someone can use someone to sign stuff, if somebody came to audit our records, right?” Edens said.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“I would hate to think that permits are being written off of people that are no longer active in our system.” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“Like this one was pulled and it looks like, you know what I’m saying, like there’s a permit being written by Jeffery Dockery as of June 1, when we know this wasn’t written by Jeffery Dockery. Right? Make sense?” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
The auditors
The county manager turned the conversation back to the permit situation. Edens stated concerns about how it would be viewed by auditors.
“So, if the auditors came in – and I always look at things on an auditor view, because these people are turning us in left and right, right? If they came in to look to see that a sign thing was done, they paid their fees, right?” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“And then they went to inspections and they paid for that, we have something to show that, right?” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“And we’re not going to get caught out for that?” Edens.
“No, ma’am.” Lowery.
“Right?” Edens.
“Right.” Lowery.
“We might as well follow all that after we didn’t follow the other stuff, right?” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“And we can show that.” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“You can send that to me.” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
“So, I can cover myself at least that way, right?” Edens.
“Yes, ma’am.” Lowery.
After the conversation ended, a man who was in the Planning Office at the time spoke up and his comments were also caught on the recording.
“So, if a commissioner tells you to do something, you’re not supposed to do it? Is that wild or what? I don’t understand that at all.”
The recording ended there.
Further investigation
The News-Journal made a public records request June 4, 2026 asking Lowery, Edens and Attorney Hunt for the following records:
- A copy of any and all permits issued to J&K General Contractors, Munawar Shahbain, or one of their employees, agents, or associates for a convenience store sign to be located at 9130 Fayetteville Road. Identified as Case No. SU-3-26 when it appeared before the Hoke County Planning Board on May 14, 2026.
- A copy of any and all receipts of payment the county received for the permit or as part of the permitting process related to Case No. SU-3-26/the convenience store sign.
- A copy of the permit application for Case No. SU-3-26/the convenience store sign.
- Any and all meeting minutes or other documentation or recordings showing this permit application/request was voted on and approved by either the Hoke County Board of Commissioners or the Hoke County Board of Adjustment before the permit was signed.
Edens immediately replied to The News-Journal’s emailed records request to say, “Jackie and the Clerk to the Board will start to pull the requested information.”
The News-Journal had not received the records by Monday, June 8, 2026. The interim planner said Monday that the county attorney was reviewing the records before they were released to The News-Journal. Edens also confirmed that Attorney Hunt was looking over the records before releasing them.
The recording provided to The News-Journal last Thursday, June 4, 2026 was recorded in the Planning Office, located in the Old Armory building on East Central Avenue. Edens called Interim County Planner Jackie Lowery, and Lowery put the call on speakerphone, with her office door open. There was no apparent effort made to keep the conversation between two public officials from being overheard in a public office where members of the public are allowed to freely enter and conduct business.