News Release Full Story

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners met for a regular meeting on August 15 in the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Courthouse.

The commissioners welcomed incoming Fort Bragg Garrison Commander, Col. John Wilcox, who provided a greeting from Fort Bragg and his hope and vision for the relationship between the Fort Bragg and Cumberland County during his tenure here. Prior to the meeting, the Board held a meet-and-greet with Col. Wilcox and other elected officials from across the county.

“It’s a great honor and privilege to be invited to speak to the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and to be welcomed into this great community”, said Col. John Wilcox, Fort Bragg Garrison Commander. “I look forward to developing a strong working relationship between Fort Bragg and Cumberland County and strengthening our friendship and camaraderie throughout the community.”

The Board also considered recommended uses for the County’s Opioid Settlement Funds based on community engagement. The County is expected to receive $16,984,644 over an 18-year period (2022-2038) in Opioid Settlement Funds. The Department of Public Health facilitated a series of community meetings in May and June 2022 to receive input and feedback about the strategies that may be supported with funds. County Health Director Dr. Jennifer Green presented commissioners with the results of those feedback sessions and recommended to:

• Use up to $800,000 in “Spring 2022” and “Summer 2022" payments to fund multi-year pilot projects that align with Option A Strategies:
  1. Early intervention (Strategy 6)
  2. Evidence-based addiction treatment for the uninsured and underinsured (Strategy 2)
  3. Programs to support people in treatment and recovery (Strategies 3, 4, 5, and 12)
  4. Criminal justice diversion programs (Strategy 10) 
• Allocate $10,000 to $70,000 in funding for the purchase of Narcan and Syringe Service Programs (Strategies 7 and 9).
• Implement a $200,000 multi-year pilot project to support Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in Cumberland County Detention Center (Strategy 11)

These recommendations would support $1,070,000 in Option A projects. Remaining balance would be $718,318 allowing for other projects under Option A strategies including the long-term opportunity to explore options to construct and/or lease a physical space for a Residential Substance Use Facility, a Recovery Community Centers (RCC), and transitional housing. 

The Board of Commissioners discussed these recommendations, and other strategies, along with what programs we are currently doing in Cumberland County to address opioid issues.  The board unanimously voted (7-0) and accepted each of these recommendations.  Concerning the purchase of Narcan and Syringe Service Programs (Strategies 7 and 9), the board voted to allocate $70,000.

Other items of business during the meeting were:   

• Report on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) Annual Recertification Progress Report was received by the Board of Commissioners.
• Cumberland County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). Cumberland County currently has a class rating of 8 which allows property owners to receive a 10% discount off their insurance premiums for policies within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
• Consideration of American Rescue Plan Committee Business Application Funding Recommendations. (Approved. Vote: 7-0)
• Steps 1-4 of the Small Business Economic Assistance Program’s application process have been completed.  The county staff’s recommendations total $1,031,353 and are contingent on the successful execution of a contract with the county. Staff have conducted site visits to confirm each business’s operating address and ensure NC Secretary of State filings were current for corporations and limited liability companies.
• Consideration of Correcting the Minutes of the Meeting of December 16, 2002
• It was discovered that the descriptions of the Linden Water and Sewer District and the Vander Water and Sewer District were referenced as being attached to the minutes of the meeting at which each was created on December 16, 2002, but the descriptions were not attached. Copies of the signed resolutions containing the descriptions in the county engineer’s files were retrieved and proposed to be attached to the minutes. (Approved. Vote: 6-1)

The Board held public hearings on the following rezoning cases:

• Case P21-36 Rehearing (Denied – Vote: 4-3)
• Reconsideration of Case P21-36: Rezoning of 12.36+/- acres from A1 Agricultural District to C(P) Planned Commercial District or to a more restrictive zoning district, located east of Cedar Creek Road, north of Tabor Church Road, originally submitted by Bartlett Engineering & Surveying, PC (agent) and Cathy Tatum Vinson (owner).
• Case ZON-22-0046 (Approved – Vote: 4-3)
• Rezoning from A1 Agricultural District to R20 Residential District or to a more restrictive zoning district on 1.40 +/- acres; located at 654/658 Magnolia Church Road, submitted by Todlen Enterprises I LLC (owner/applicant).
• Case ZON-22-0047 (Deny – Vote: 7-0)
• Rezoning from A1 Agricultural District to R40 Residential District or to a more restrictive zoning district for 35.83 +/- acres; located adjacent to Wade Stedman Road and Royal Williams Road; submitted by M.A.P.S. Surveying LLC Michael Adams (applicant) on behalf of Wayne T. Younts Realty & Construction Inc (owner).
• Case ZON-22-0049 (Approved – Vote: 6-1)
• Rezoning from RR Rural Residential District, A1 Agricultural District, and M1(P) Planned Light Industrial District to A1 Agricultural District or to a more restrictive zoning district on 32.88 +/- acres; located at 480 N. Plymouth Street; submitted by Roman & Cynthia Price (owners/applicant).
• Case ZON-22-0050 (Approved – Vote: 6-0)
• Rezoning from R6 Residential District to C(P) Planned Commercial District or to a more restrictive zoning district on 0.22 +/- acres; located at 809 Katie Street; submitted by Rudy McMillian (applicant) on behalf of Majestic Mobility, LLC (owner).
• Case ZON-22-0051 (Approved with condition of no placement of modular homes – Vote: 7-0)
• Rezoning from A1 Agricultural District to RR Rural Residential District or to a more restrictive zoning district on 0.55 +/- acres; located at 5855 State Road; submitted by Robert McLean (applicant) on behalf of Marcus McLean (owner).
• Case ZON-22-0052 (Approved – Vote: 7-0)
• Rezoning from RR/CZ Rural Residential Conditional Zoning District to R6A Residential District or to a more restrictive zoning district on 7.50 +/- combined acres; located at 106 Buckner Street; submitted by Gary Futch (applicant) on behalf of Carolyn, Steven, and Larry Strawbridge, Tracey Roberts, and Wesley Carroll (owners).

The Board also convened as the NORCRESS Water and Sewer District Governing Board in order to discuss consideration of partial certification of Section 2 of NORCRESS Permit of the I-95 Widening Project.  This was approved by a unanimous vote.

The following consent agenda were approved unanimously:

• Approval of August 1, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes
• Approval of Proclamation Recognizing George W. Breece
• Approval of Proclamation for Purple Heart Recipients
• Approval of Resolution for Designation of First and Last Week of August as World Breastfeeding Week and Black Breastfeeding Week
• Approval of Sole Source Purchase of Software for Tax Administration Department
• Approval of FY2022-2023 Tax Levy Charge to the Collector
• Approval of Declaration of Surplus County Property, Budget Ordinance Amendment #230122 and Authorization to Accept Insurance Settlement
• Approval to Pay Prior Year Invoice
• Approval of Proposed Additions to the State's Secondary Road System
• Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendments for the August 15, 2022 Board of County Commissioners' Agenda

The Board went into closed session to discuss Real Property Acquisition and Personnel Matter(s).

Board of Commissioners’ Meetings are broadcast live on CCNCTV Spectrum Channel 5, the Cumberland County YouTube channel and streamed on the Cumberland County website.  They are rebroadcast on YouTube and CCNCTV if you missed the meeting or are interested in viewing the presentations.

Please visit cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/commissioners-group/commissioners/meetings/agendas-minutes-and-videos for the full agenda and meeting notes concerning this meeting and other Board of Commissioners’ meetings.