FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The following is a summary of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meeting, which was held Mar. 6, 2023, at 9 a.m. in Room 118 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.
Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Dr. Toni Stewart administered the oath of office to Chris Davis of Fayetteville, who was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper as a member-at-large to the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Commissioners received the following Presentations:
- Public Health Emergency (PHE) Ending and its Impact on Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) & Medicaid – Brenda Jackson, Interim Director of the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, provided Commissioners an update on the impacts to Cumberland County’s residents who receive benefits from the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) and Medicaid programs due to the end of the COVID-19 Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE). Effective March 1, 2023, households that have been receiving additional FNS benefits each month will see a reduction in benefits. Effective April 1, 2023, State Medicaid programs will no longer be required to maintain continuous coverage for beneficiaries and North Carolina will begin the recertification process for Medicaid beneficiaries over the next 12 months as beneficiaries come up for renewal. Recertification could result in a beneficiary’s termination or reduction in benefits.
- Schedule of Historic Architectural Survey – Cumberland County Planning and Inspections Director Rawls Howard provided a presentation regarding an architectural survey of historic buildings and landscapes throughout Cumberland County and selected municipalities. He was joined by Carolyn Gimbal, with JMT Inc., a cultural resources consulting firm, which has been hired to complete the survey. The architectural survey will intensively document historic buildings and landscapes from the early 19th century through the 1970s within the unincorporated jurisdiction of Cumberland County and the towns of Godwin, Falcon, Wade, Linden, Stedman, Spring Lake and Eastover. The City of Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and Hope Mills are not included in the study because they already have their own independent studies. Data gathered from the survey will assist the County in planning for the preservation of its historic resources in the future. Preliminary fieldwork will begin in late March and the project is expected to be completed by August 2024. The County received a $90,000 grant to complete the survey.
Assistant County Manager and Public Information Director Brian Haney shared a presentation in recognition of March as Women’s History Month that included images of Cumberland County’s female County Commissioners, County Department Heads, and elected officials from the Judicial System. The Board also adopted a Proclamation recognizing March 2023 as Women’s History Month in Cumberland County.
The Board unanimously approved the following items as part of the CONSENT AGENDA:
- Approval to Pay Prior Year Invoice
- Approval of Resolution in Support of Medicaid Expansion
- Approval of Proposed Additions to the State’s Secondary Road System
- Approval of Contract Amendments for Temporary Employment Services with 22nd Century Technologies, Inc. and the Mega Force Staffing Group, Inc.
- Approval of Proclamation Recognizing March 17, 2023 as Arbor Day
- Approval of Proclamation for 2023 Severe Weather Preparedness Week
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Properties Located at 530 Magnolia Church Road and ½ Acre Melvin Land, Fayetteville
- Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendment for March 6, 2023 Board of Commissioners’ Agenda
The following items were removed from the Consent Agenda and approved by the Board, though not in a unanimous vote.
- Approval of Formal Bid Award for Opioid Settlement for Public Health Department – This item was approved in a 4-to-2 vote.
- Approval of Sale of Surplus Real Property Located at 2012 Powell Street, and Adjacent to 2012 Powell Street, Fayetteville – This item was approved in a 5-to-1 vote.
- Approval of Sale of Surplus Real Property Located at 222 Dallas Street, Fayetteville – This item was approved in a 5-to-1 vote.
- Approval of Sale of Surplus Real Property Located at 837 Deep Creek Road, Fayetteville – This item was approved in a 5-to-1 vote.
- Approval of Sale of Surplus Real Property Located at 2022 Center Street, Fayetteville – This item was approved in a 5-to-1 vote.
- Approval of Sale of Surplus Real Property Located at 2220 Roosevelt Drive, Fayetteville – This item was approved in a 5-to-1 vote.
- Approval of Sale of Surplus Real Property Located at 5117 Hodge Street, Fayetteville – This item was approved in a 5-to-1 vote.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS:
- Consideration of Approval of a Wave Two Resolution for the Supplemental Agreement for Additional Funds from Additional Settlements of Opioid Litigation – Cumberland County Director of Public Health Dr. Jennifer Green asked the Board to approve a Resolution directing the County Manager to sign onto Wave Two Settlements and a Supplemental Agreement for Additional Funds to receive additional settlement funds from Opioid Litigation. Cumberland County is projected to receive more than $30 million in settlement funds with $16,987,519.49 coming from the previously approved Wave One and $13,598,131.76 coming from Wave Two. The Board unanimously approved this item.
The Board went into CLOSED SESSION to discuss 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.