FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The following is a summary of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Special Meeting held at 4 p.m. and the Regular Meeting at 6:45 p.m. on May 19, 2025, at the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse. Agendas and supporting materials are available at www.cumberlandcountync.gov/bocmeetingmaterials.
During the Special Meeting, Assistant County Manager Heather Skeens provided an update on the Salvation Army’s April 15 closure of its Pathway of Hope Emergency Shelter and a proposal to the County from the Salvation Army to address immediate shelter needs. The proposal included a funding request totaling $562,660.72, with $362,660.72 requested from the County and $200,000 from the City of Fayetteville. The request includes a 12-month commitment of $46,889.30 per month to serve 50 residents, plus an additional $31.25/day per person for up to 10 additional people.
Major Aaron Goldfarb of the Salvation Army of the Sandhills shared updates on the organization’s sustainability efforts, including staffing and a planned grand reopening of its Robeson Street thrift store. He said facility updates are underway at the shelter, which could reopen within two weeks pending a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The Board voted 4-2 to direct the County Manager to negotiate an MOU with the Salvation Army, not to exceed $563,000 annually. Environmental Health staff will inspect the shelter for compliance with health and safety regulations. Staff will continue financial monitoring and explore cost-sharing options with the City of Fayetteville.
Regular Meeting
During the 6:45 p.m. Regular Meeting, Commissioner Henry Tyson introduced Pastor Wayne Tate of Manna Church who gave the invocation. Commissioner Tyson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Vice Chairwoman Veronica Jones thanked the community for their care and support during her time of loss as she mourned the passing of her sister, Anastasia Jones Vann.
The Board recognized Miss Fayetteville 2025 Katie Strain and Miss Fayetteville Teen 2025 Mary Michael McLamb. Strain is a Methodist University graduate and currently a second-grade teacher at Overhills Elementary School. She will compete in the Miss North Carolina Competition in June, aiming to be crowned the 87th Miss North Carolina. Strain introduced her initiative called, “I Love Myself”, which teaches students to practice kindness toward themselves and others. For her initiative, McLamb has partnered with the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department to offer free swimming lessons this summer with a goal of drowning prevention and safe water education.
The Board also recognized the Gray’s Creek High School Envirothon teams which placed in the Area VII Soil and Water Conservation District Envirothon held at Jones Lake State Park on March 20. Students competed in the areas of aquatics, forestry, wildlife, soils and current environmental issues. The Gray’s Creek teams were the Gray’s Creek Crazies FFA and Solar Force FFA teams. The Envirothon is in partnership with the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District. Learn more about the Soil and Water Conservation District on the County’s website.
A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD was held.
1. The Board unanimously approved the AGENDA with the following changes:
- Removal of item 5A, Approval of a Short-term Solution for Sheltering Plan and the Associated Budget Ordinance Amendment #B250196.
- Addition of Personnel Matter Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(6) to the Closed Session.
- Moving Consent Agenda item 3E, Approval of Resolution of Intent to Lease Real Property to the Vision Resource Center, Inc., to Items of Business 5H.
2. The Board heard the following PRESENTATION:
A. Proclamation Honoring the late Major Tandra Adams of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office: Sheriff Ennis Wright, members of the Command Staff, and Major Adams’ family received the proclamation, presented by Commissioner Henry Tyson. Major Adams, who passed away May 2, 2025, served as Chief Jailer at the Cumberland County Detention Center. She served with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office since 2002, starting as a detention officer, and reached the top of the ranks in 2014. Maj. Adams was the first woman and the first African American to serve as the Cumberland County Jail Administrator. She started a backpack giveaway program for students after noting concern for the children of incarcerated parents. Since she launched the program, the Sheriff’s Office hosts a giveaway each August where all students can receive a backpack of school supplies and a haircut. Maj. Adams was a passionate writer and recently unveiled her self-published book: “Learn from the Greatest Networker: How Jesus Built a Movement, Not Just a Team.” Maj. Adams leaves behind to cherish her memory, her husband, three children, many friends and family, and her work family at the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
3. The Board unanimously approved the following CONSENT AGENDA items unless otherwise noted:
A. Approval of a Proclamation Recognizing May 26, 2025, as Memorial Day in Cumberland County
B. Approval of Sole Source for ESRI ARCG is Software Enterprise Agreement
C. Approval of Declaration of Surplus Emergency Services Equipment and Method of Disposition
D. Approval of the Cumberland County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
Funding Allocations for July 1, 2025, Through June 30, 2026
E. Approval of Resolution of Intent to Lease Real Property to the Vision Resource Center, Inc.- This item was moved to item 5H, Items of Business, by unanimous vote.
F. Approval of Resolution of Intent to Lease With Cumberland County Communicare, Inc.
G. Approval of Resolution of Intent to Lease Real Property to Alliance Health
H. Approval of Partial Certification of Eagles Bluff Subdivision – Phase 1 of the NORCRESSPermit-2
I. Approval of Construction Contract Change Order for Test Well Program – Gray’s Creek Phase I
J. Approval of Request to Transfer Funding Allocated for the Ignite Internship Program to a Line-Item Budget and the Associated Budget Ordinance Amendment #B250438
K. Approval of Request to Transfer Funding Allocated for the Bragg Estates Project From Fund 101 to Fund 416 and the Associated Budget Ordinance Amendment #B250121
L. Approval of Request to Transfer Funding From Freed-Up Capacity to Fund 605 NORCRESS Water & Sewer Fund and the Associated Budget Ordinance Amendment #B250168
M. Approval of Request to Transfer Remaining Funds from Completed Projects to ARP Freed-Up Capacity (Unallocated) and the Associated Budget Ordinance Amendment #B250805
N. Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendments for the May 19, 2025 Board of Commissioners' Agenda
4. The following PUBLIC HEARINGS were held:
A. CASE #ZON-24-0031: Rezoning request from PND Planned Neighborhood District to A1/CZ Agricultural District Conditional Zoning or to a more restrictive zoning district for four parcels combining a total of 44.95 +/-acres; located at 430 Carvers Falls Rd.; submitted by Timothy Bryant (Agent/Applicant), City of Fayetteville (Owner). The motion to approve the request failed in a 3-4 vote. The Board voted 5-2 to deny the rezoning request.
B. CASE #ZON-25-0006: Rezoning request from RR Rural Residential District to M(P)/CZ Planned Industrial District Conditional Zoning or to a more restrictive zoning district for a 30.24 +/- acre parcel; located at 2524 Lucas Rd.; submitted by Alex and Shayla Edwards (Owners). The Board voted 6-1 to approve the rezoning request.
C. CASE #ZON-25-0007: Rezoning request from RR Rural Residential and R15Residential Districts to R20 Residential District or to a more restrictive zoning district for two parcels combining a total of 93.10 +/- acres; located on the north side of Johnson Farm Rd, southwest of Elliott Farm Rd.; submitted by Scott Brown (Agent) and owned by ABJ Investments (Applicant). The Board unanimously approved the rezoning request.
D. CASE #ZON-25-0009: Rezoning request from A1 Agricultural District to R40Residential District or to a more restrictive zoning district for a parcel comprising 2.19 +/- acres and located at 2070 Canady Pond Rd; submitted by Jeff Riddle (Agent), Cape Fear Investments (Owner). The Board unanimously approved the rezoning request.
5. The Board discussed the following ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
A. Approval of a Short-term Solution for Sheltering Plan and the Associated Budget Ordinance Amendment #B250196: This item was removed by unanimous vote.
B. Consideration of the Justice Services S.T.A.R.T. Pilot Project and the Associated Budget Amendment BR#250016: Assistant County Manager Heather Skeens and Justice Services Director Courtney McCollum presented a Justice Services request of $860,000 (for two fiscal years) to support a supervisor position, two court coordinator positions for WORTH/Mental Health Court and a case manager position, client services and operating expenses. Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendment BR #250016. The Board unanimously approved the request and associated budget amendment.
C. Consideration of Community Impact Grant Recommendations: Chief of Staff Tye Vaught presented. Grant applicants’ eligibility to receive funding was verified based on demonstrated public purpose and fiscal responsibility. Grant applications were submitted under five categories including Health and Human Services; Religious and Faith-Based Services; Public Safety and Emergency Response; Educational and Youth Development; and Arts, Culture and Community Development. The Board unanimously approved funding for 63 nonprofits totaling $1,380,000.
Other nonprofits not recommended will be reviewed by the ARP Committee at a future special meeting.
D. Employee Health Center Provider: Finance Director Robin Koonce presented a recommendation to award a three-year contract to Proactive MD at an annual cost of $1,254,975, with staffing levels to include two full-time nurse practitioners, two full-time licensed practical nurses, and one full-time office manager. Additional performance measures will be added to the contract, as noted in the “Background”, which provides a financial penalty of $30,000 in the second consecutive quarter if performance measures are unmet, and the option to terminate without cause, if performance measures are not met in the next quarter. The Board voted 6-1 to approve the contract.
E. Consideration of Ordinances Regulating Explosives on Firing Ranges and Amending Firearms Regulations: County Attorney Rick Moorfield discussed the proposed ordinance which was requested by Chairman deViere to prohibit the use of exploding targets on private firing ranges. The Policy Committee reduced the penalties that were originally proposed from $500 and $250 to $250 and $100 and directed the county attorney to provide the proposed ordinance to the Sheriff’s Office for comment and send this matter to the March 13, 2025, Agenda Session as an item of business. Comments from the Sheriff’s Office were not received before the deadline for submittal of agenda items for March 13. At the March 13 meeting, Commissioner Tyson asked to add exclusions to which the ordinance would not apply. The Board directed the County Attorney to bring the ordinance to a later meeting. The County Attorney presented it to the Policy Committee at its May 6 meeting. The Policy Committee approved the changes requested by Sheriff Ennis Wright and Commissioner Tyson and moved to amend Section 9.5-100(a)(2) to increase the distance to 225 yards. The Board voted 6-1. The item will be brought back to a future Board of Commissioners meeting because it did not pass unanimously on the first reading.
F. Approval of Resolution of Intent to Lease Real Property to the Vision Resource Center, Inc. This item was moved from item the Consent Agenda item 3E: Assistant County Manager Heather Skeens presented information about the proposed lease changes. The Board unanimously approved the resolution, including charging the organization $1 per year for a three-year lease and with the County paying for the monthly utilities.
6. There were no NOMINATIONS for this meeting.
7. There were no APPOINTMENTS for this meeting.
The Board recessed the Board of Commissioners meeting and convened as the Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District Governing Board.
8. Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District Governing Board and Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Construction Contract Change Order for Test Well Program – Gray’s Creek Phase I. The Board unanimously approved the change order.
The Board adjourned the Grays’ Creek Water and Sewer Governing Board meeting and convened as the Norcress Water and Sewer District Governing Board.
9. Norcress Water and Sewer District Governing Board and Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Partial Certification of Eagles Bluff Subdivision - Phase 1 of the NORCRESS Permit-2. The Board voted unanimously to approve the partial certification.
The Board adjourned the Norcress Water and Sewer District Governing Board meeting and reconvened the Board of Commissioners meeting.
The Board went into CLOSED SESSION to discuss an Attorney Client Matter Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3) and a Personnel Matter Pursuant to NCGS143-318.11(a)(6).
The Board adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
Board of Commissioners regular meetings and agenda sessions are live streamed on 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.