FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The following is a summary of the May 6, 2024, Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting, which was held at 9 a.m. in Room 118 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse. To view the agenda and supporting materials for this meeting, go to www.cumberlandcountync.gov/bocmeetingmaterials.

Commissioner Veronica Jones acknowledged National Nurses Appreciation Day and thanked nurses for their continued hard work and dedication to the community.

Chairman Glenn Adams recognized Cumberland County Schools for hosting a mental health and wellness fair. May is Mental Health Awareness month and Vice Chairwoman Dr. Toni Stewart encouraged anyone needing assistance with mental health to call the Suicide Crisis Hotline at 988.

The Board recognized the Cumberland County nonprofit organizations that received grants through phase two of the Cumberland County Nonprofit Fiscal Recovery Assistance Program, during which the Board of Commissioners approved $435,665 in grants to nonprofit applicants. The program is funded through feed-up capacity created by using a portion of the County’s American Rescue Plan Act funds for the ARP-eligible expenditures of Restoring Pre-Pandemic Employment.

“Today we recognize and honor the exceptional nonprofit organizations that have made an impact on our community,” said Cumberland County Chief of Staff Tye Vaught, who administers the County’s ARP funds.

Nonprofit organizations recognized include:

• Action Pathways, Inc.: Awarded $30,000
• Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation: Awarded $25,000
• Child Advocacy Center, Inc.: Awarded $41,368
• Community Health Interventions, Inc.: Awarded $12,650
• Cool Springs Downtown District, Inc.: Awarded $10,000
• Cut My City Foundation: Awarded $22,548
• Gate Beautiful: Awarded $40,000
• Greater Fayetteville Chamber: Awarded $15,000
• Greater Life of Fayetteville, Inc.: Awarded $30,000
• Greater Sandhills Chamber Incorporated: Awarded $5,000
• Hope Mills Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.: Awarded $5,000
• Marius Maximus Foundation for Mental Health, Inc.: Awarded $30,000
• My Brother's Keeper Church: Awarded $50,000
• New Life in Christ Ministries, Inc.: Awarded $20,000
• Sandhills Family Heritage Association: Awarded $50,000
• Sweet Tea Shakespeare: Awarded $24,999
• The Soul Harvest Apostolic Church: Awarded $24,100

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

1. Approval of Proclamation Designating May 12-18, 2024 as “Cumberland County Law Enforcement Officers Week” and May 16, 2024 as “Peace Officers Memorial Day” in Cumberland County
2. Approval of Proclamation Recognizing May 2024 as Air Quality Awareness Month in Cumberland County
3. Approval of Proclamation Proclaiming May 5-11, 2024 as Hurricane Preparedness Week in Cumberland County
4. Approval of Proposed Additions to the State’s Secondary Road System
5. Approval to Pay Prior Year Invoices
6. Approval of Formal Bid Award for Fork Truck
7. Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendments for the May 6, 2024 Board of Commissioners’ Agenda

A PUBLIC HEARING was held for the following item:

1. Consideration of Approval of the Issuance of Revenue Bonds for American Titanium Metal, LLC.- American Titanium Metal LLC is considering a site in Cumberland County for the location of a titanium reprocessing facility. The Cumberland County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority agreed to assist in the financing of the project. The Authority approved the issuance of its tax-exempt and taxable revenue bonds in the principal amount of up to $1.3 billion with an amount not to exceed $750 million expected to be issued as tax-exempt bonds. The North Carolina Industrial and Pollution Control Facilities Financing Act requires the Board of Commissioners to approve the Authority’s issuance of bonds for this purpose and conduct a public hearing to receive comments before approving the issuance. Neither the County nor the Authority have any liability for the bonds. No one spoke during the public hearing and the Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution approving the issuance of the bonds.

The following ITEMS OF BUSINESS were discussed:

1. Consideration of Renewal of Lease with Cumberland County Communicare, Inc.- The County’s current lease with Cumberland County Communicare Inc. of 14,494 square feet of office space and joint use of the parking lot at 109 Bradford Avenue, Fayetteville, expires June 30, 2024. Communicare wishes to continue the lease for three additional years commencing July 1, 2024, under the same terms, which include rent of $42,808 annually ($2.95 per square foot) along with utilities and janitorial services provided by the County. NCGS 160A-272 requires 30 days’ public notice of intent to be given before the Board approves the lease. Commissioners expressed concern with the amount the County was receiving for the lease and the proposed payment for utilities and janitorial services and approved an extension of the lease through Aug. 1, 2024, and for staff to come back with a recommended policy for leasing County facilities in the future.
2. Consideration of the Submission of the Program Year 2024 Community Development Annual Action Plan- Cumberland County Community Development has finalized the Program Year 2024 Annual Action Plan, which is a required document that must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by Mar. 15, 2024 in order to continue to receive annual entitlements of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs. The plan outlines how funds from CDBG, HOME and other sources will be utilized and identifies projects scheduled between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. The draft plan was presented to the Board of Commissioners at a previous meeting and was available for public review and comment period between Mar. 20 and Apr. 19, 2024. The Board voted unanimously to approve the plan.

Commissioners made the following APPOINTMENTS:

1. Cape Fear Valley Board of Trustees (2 Vacancies): Dr. Michael Jones and Dr. Myron Strickland.
2. Fayetteville-Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation (1 Vacancy): Dr. Ulysses Taylor.

The Board went into CLOSED SESSION to discuss Real Property Acquisition Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(5), Personnel Matter(s) Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(6), and Attorney Client Privilege Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11 (a)(3).

The Board adjourned the meeting at 10:24 p.m.

Meetings are live streamed on CCNC-TV though the County’s website at cumberlandcountync.gov, YouTube Channel and on CCNCTV Spectrum Channel 5. All documents associated with this meeting can be found on the Cumberland County website to include meeting agendas, minutes and links to the videos under the Board of Commissioners tab.

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