Board of Commissioners

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The following is a summary of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meeting, which was held June 19, 2023, at 6:45 p.m. in Room 118 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.

Commissioners recognized the following retired County employees and presented them with plaques in recognition of their service to Cumberland County and its residents.

• Lisa Blauser (Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office) – June 24, 1996 to Dec. 31, 2022
• Patricia Carruthers (Department of Social Services) – July 8, 1996 to Feb. 28, 2023
• Melissa Kampe (Finance) – Mar. 28, 1998 to Dec. 31, 2022
• Nydia Johnson (Library) – Dec. 1, 1997 to Feb. 28, 2023
• Anntoniette Wright-Harris (Department of Social Services) – Aug. 1, 1994 to Dec. 31, 2022

The Board received an update from Chief Deputy Jack Broadus with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office regarding the Coliseum Inn Abatement and Injunction. Chief Deputy Broadus said the Sheriff’s Office served an abatement and injunction order on the Coliseum Inn on June 12, ordering the establishment to cease operations of the property for public lodging and public accommodation. He said the Sheriff’s Office has responded to numerous 911 calls for service at the location over the years, for issues including homicides, overdoses, shootings, domestic issues, theft, property damage, prostitution and drug sales. He said the Sheriff’s Office received 722 calls for service at the location from June 1, 2022 through June 14, 2023, with a total of 6,403 calls for service at the location from Jan. 1, 2011 through June 14, 2023.

The Board unanimously approved the following items as part of the CONSENT AGENDA, unless otherwise noted below.

1. Approval of Proclamation Proclaiming June 24, 2023 in Honor of Fayetteville Pride Fest
2. Approval of Contract Amendments for Temporary Employment Services with 22^nd Century Technologies, Inc., Belflex Staffing Network, LLC, Manpowergroup US, Inc. and the Mega Force Staffing Group, Inc.
3. Consideration of Approval of Property Tax Collection Agreements With the City of Fayetteville and the Town of Spring Lake – This item was removed from the Consent Agenda and approved separately by the Board in a unanimous vote. (See details below.)
4. Approval of Formal Bid Award for Library Books and Audiovisual Materials
5. Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 116 Rainbow Court, Spring Lake
6. Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 508 Scarborough Street, Fayetteville
7. Approval of ABC Board's Request to Adopt Cumberland County's Travel Policy
8. Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendments for the June 19, 2023 Board of Commissioners' Agenda
9. Approval of Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Agenda Session Items
   1. Financial Policies Policy Revision and Budget Ordinance Amendment #B230001 to Transfer Funds to the Capital Investment Fund
   2. Fiscal Year 2023 Audit Contract Amendment
   3. FY24 Community Transportation Program (CTP) Service Contract Extensions
   4. Bid Award for Corporation Drive Outfall Project
   5. Bid Award for Law Enforcement Center and Historic Courthouse Switchgear Projects
   6. Request for Proposals (RFP) for Solid Waste Transfer, Transport, and Disposal Services
   7. Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Transfer Station Construction
   8. Bid Award for 2023 Landfill Gas System Expansion for Cell 9

Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Glenn Adams asked to pull Item 3C (Consideration of Approval of Property Tax Collection Agreements With the City of Fayetteville and the Town of Spring Lake) from the Consent Agenda to provide clarity that the agreements are related to the County’s collection of property taxes on behalf of the municipalities and are not related to sales tax. He also noted that the Board of Commissioners has not voted to change the sales tax distribution method from the current per capita distribution method to ad valorem. The Board voted unanimously to approve this item.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

1. Street Naming Case – SN0501. A road construction project recently completed by NCDOT created a re-alignment of Braxton Road, severing a small portion of the previous road alignment and leaving it with a duplicate street name. Braxton Road is located just south of the Town of Hope Mills and intersects with and extends west of Chickenfoot Road. With the implementation of the “Next Gen E911” street addressing standards, two different streets cannot share the same name. County staff contacted the two affected property owners along the severed portion of Braxton Road (i.e., Barker Gallberry Farms, LLC and PR Barker Jr.), the owners suggested “PBar Lane” for a new street name – a variation of “PR Barker”. This Board voted unanimously to approve this request.
2. Rezoning Case ZON-22-0067. Rezoning from A1 Agricultural District to A1/CZ Agricultural Conditional Zoning District or to a more restrictive zoning district for 62.55 +/- acres; located generally south of Carlos Rd and east of Rebel Rd, submitted by Michael Blakely (applicant) on behalf of Red Rock Materials, LLC (owner). The Board approved this item in a 5-1 vote.

ITEMS OF BUSINESS:

1. Consideration of ARP Committee Recommendations. The American Rescue Plan Committee met on June 6, 2023. The committee recommended the following items be placed on the June 19, 2023 agenda as Items of Business: (1) Consideration of Revision to Policy No. 10-2.9: Small Business Economic Assistance; and (2) Consideration of Nonprofit Funding Recommendations. The Board voted unanimously to approve these items.
2. Consideration of Crown Event Center Pre-Opening Consulting Agreement with Oak View Group and Related Exception to Policy and Associated Budget Ordinance Amendment #B231353. The Pre-Opening Consulting Agreement would engage current Crown Complex Manager OVG for consulting services related to the new Crown Event Center from Feb. 1, 2023, until the opening of the new facility around Nov. 1, 2025, at a cost of $5,000 per month along with a reimbursement of travel and other expenses not to exceed $15,000 through the term of the agreement. The Board voted 4-2 to send the item back through the Board of Commissioners Crown Event Center Committee before bringing it back to the Board for consideration.
3. Consideration of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Hydrogeological Services. On May 15, 2023, the Public Utilities Division advertised a Request for Qualifications from qualified engineering firms that provide Hydrogeological Services. The County is seeking a qualified consultant to assist with ongoing study, assessment, evaluation, and development of groundwater for public drinking water development in Gray’s Creek. The firm selected would assist the County with identifying potential well lots, raw water main routes, test well development and well construction and inspection services for these wellfields. Firms had until May 26, 2023, to submit their Statement of Qualifications. Staff are requesting the Board select of HDR Engineering Inc. of the Carolinas to perform these services and grant permission to enter negotiations for a detailed scope of work and cost of services, and prepare a contract for approval at a future Board meeting. The Board approved this item in a 5-1 vote.
4. Consideration of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Water Resources Study. On May 15, 2023, the Public Utilities Division advertised a Request for Qualifications from qualified engineering firms that provide Hydrogeological Services. The County is seeking a qualified consultant to assist with ongoing study, assessment, evaluation, and development of a new water source for public drinking water development beyond the Gray’s Creek district. The firm selected would assist the County with the water resources study that will be in the format of a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER). Firms had until May 26, 2023, to submit their Statement of Qualifications. Two firms responded to the RFQ and staff are requesting the Board select HDR Engineering Inc. of the Carolinas and grant permission toe enter negotiations for a detailed scope of work and cost of services, and prepare a contract for approval at a future Board meeting. The Board approved this item in a 5-1 vote.
5. Consideration of Contract with Cape Fear Valley Health System to Provide Certain First Responder Programs and Resources for Cumberland County Communities. At its June 20, 2023 Regular Meeting, the board approved creating a line-item budget in the ARPA Project Ordinance Revision 220652 for Cape Fear Valley Health System to establish a Community Paramedic Program with $874,000 in funding and for the Sheriff to purchase Narcan for distribution by the Sheriff’s Office and county fire departments with $140,000 in funding. Staff later determined ARP funds should not be used for these projects. At its meeting November 21, 2022, the board approved Grant Project Ordinance Amendment B230001 to remove this funding from the appropriation of ARP funds. The County Manager reported to the board that these programs would be funded using freed-up capacity general funds. The Narcan distribution program was removed from the Sheriff and placed with Cape Fear Valley Health System. Cape Fear Valley Health System also developed a program to distribute defibrillator pads to the fire departments. Total funding for the three programs is $1,029,081. The Board unanimously approved this item.
6. Consideration of Contract with Fayetteville State University to Provide Certain Economic Development Services Through Its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub. At the May 12, 2022 Agenda Session, the board approved $250,000 for Fayetteville State University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub with staff to determine if ARP funds could be used for this funding. At the June 20, 2022 Regular Meeting, the board approved creating a line-item budget for this project in the ARPA Project Ordinance. Staff later determined ARP funds could not be used. At its meeting November 21, 2022, the board approved Grant Project Ordinance Amendment B230001 to remove this funding from the appropriation of ARP funds. The County Manager reported to the board that this program would be funded using freed-up capacity general funds. The Board unanimously approved this item.

The Board went into Closed Session to discuss Personnel Matter(s) pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(6) and Real Property Acquisition pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(5).

Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meetings are streamed live on CCNCTV (Spectrum Channel 5),  the County’s website cumberlandcountync.gov and the County’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/CumberlandCountyNC.