FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The following is a summary of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting held at 6:45 p.m. on Oct. 20, 2025, in Room 118 the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse. Agendas and supporting materials are available at www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/commissioners-group/commissioners/meetings.
Vice Chairwoman Veronica Jones led the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.
RECOGNITIONS
Participants and Winners of the Disaster Preparedness Art Contest
Emergency Services Director Garry Crumpler and Emergency Coordinator Chini Gault shared highlights from the first annual Cumberland County Emergency Services Disaster Preparedness Art Contest, which engaged K–12 students in learning about emergency preparedness through creative expression.
The contest encouraged students to create artwork illustrating themes such as family emergency planning, weather safety, and community resilience. The initiative helped foster youth involvement, spark family discussions about readiness, and strengthen community awareness.
Entries from across the County showcased students’ creativity and understanding of what it means to be ready and resilient. Public voting determined finalists, with Emergency Services staff selecting the winners based on those results. Commissioner Henry Tyson recognized the winners and participants with plaques during the meeting.
Winners and participants were:
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High School
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Kindergarten-5th Grade
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Other Participants
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Jacob Rosser
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Bleu Hanson
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Emoni Whitfield
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Royal Wooten
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Autumn Shuler
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Aiden Shuler
PRESENTATION
A. Maternal Health: Doulas Program Update This item was moved from agenda item 4A to a presentation, as no business action was required.
Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Green provided an update on the County’s Doula Program, which aims to address persistent challenges in maternal and infant health outcomes. Cumberland County continues to experience higher rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and infant mortality than the state average.
Birth doulas provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to birthing individuals and their families to promote healthy birth experiences. Research shows that doula care is linked to lower rates of cesarean and preterm births, higher levels of respectful care, and increased breastfeeding initiation.
In FY24–25, the Board of Commissioners allocated $150,000 to expand access to doula services for uninsured and underinsured Cumberland County residents, including funding for up to two local doula agencies ($75,000 each). To date, the program has served 44 clients, 73% of its annual target.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
A public comment period was held.
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The Board unanimously approved the agenda with the following changes:
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Removal of Item of Business 4D, Reconsideration of the Appointment of Tracey Pelt to the Social Services Board.
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Addition of Consent Agenda 2O, a proclamation recognizing the 67th anniversary of WIDU.
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Addition of Consent Agenda 2P, a proclamation recognizing the Cape Fear Valley Health and WIDU Women’s Empowerment Luncheon on Oct. 23, 2025.
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Addition of a Closed Session for Personnel Action Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(6).
2. CONSENT AGENDA
The Board unanimously approved the following consent items unless otherwise noted:
A. Approval of a Formal Bid for Doula Services
B. Approval of CureMD Contract Amendment
C. Approval of a Lease Termination with Alliance Health for Sally Hill Group Home
Facility
D. Approval of a Formal Bid Award for Upfitting Equipment for Patrol Vehicles
E. Approval of a Service Agreement for Ann Street LF Leachate Treatment Project
Engineering
F. Approval of a Service Agreement for Sediment Pond and Drainage Improvements
G. Approval of a Service Agreement with Smith Gardner, Inc. for FY26 Stormwater
Compliance
H. Approval of a Service Agreement with Smith Gardner, Inc. for Annual Engineering
and Environmental Services
I. Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Harnett County
J. Approval of an Extension for HOME Conditional Commitment for West Cumberland
Phase 2
K. Approval of a Separation of the Appointment of Members to the Industrial Facilities
and Pollution Control Financing Authority and the Cumberland County Finance
Corporation
L. Approval of a Contract to Engage Outside Counsel for Litigation
M. Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendments for the October 20, 2025 Board of
Commissioners’ Agenda
N. Approval to Pay Prior Year Invoices
O. Approval of a Proclamation Recognizing the 67th anniversary of WIDU This item was added by unanimous vote.
P. Approval of a Proclamation Recognizing the Cape Fear Valley Health and WIDU Women’s Empowerment Luncheon on Oct. 23, 2025 This item was added by unanimous vote.
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Adoption of the Northeast Cumberland Land Use Plan
As part of the Cumberland County Joint Planning Board’s ongoing work to develop and maintain comprehensive land use plans for the County and its municipalities, working in collaboration with local residents, staff prepared a land use plan for the County’s northeast area.
The plan covers approximately 33,000 acres and includes about 3,000 residents within the Towns of Wade, Godwin, and Falcon. The planning area is generally bounded by I-295 to the south, the Harnett County line to the north, the Cape Fear River to the west, and the Sampson County line to the east.
The Joint Planning Board reviewed the proposed plan on Aug. 19, 2025, and voted unanimously to recommend adoption. The plan was subsequently presented to the Town of Wade (Sept. 9) and to the Towns of Godwin and Falcon (Sept. 15), where each town’s governing board also voted unanimously to adopt the plan as recommended.
At the Oct. 9 Agenda Session, the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to advance the plan to the October Regular Meeting with a modification to language addressing utility extensions near Rhodes Pond and the Averasboro Battlefield.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the plan as modified, including an edit on page 45 changing the language near Rhodes Pond from “prohibit” to “limit” large-scale commercial development.
B. Street Naming Case SN0508
Planning and Inspections Director Rawls Howard presented a request from E911 Services to rename Jacob Street in accordance with Next Gen E911 standards, which prohibit duplicate street names within the same fire response zone. Currently, there is another Jacob Street located within the Fayetteville city limits, creating potential confusion for emergency response and commercial deliveries.
To address the issue, County staff contacted the 20 property owners whose parcels abut Jacob Street east of McArthur Road. Following outreach and discussion, nine property owners proposed renaming the road Jacob Evans Street, in honor of the original namesake, Mr. Jacob Evans. A majority of the affected property owners agreed with this recommendation, expressing support for renaming the street in remembrance of Mr. Evans.
The Board voted unanimously to approve the street name change.
4. ITEMS OF BUSINESS
A. Maternal Health: Doulas Program Update This item was moved to a presentation as there was no business action required.
B. Consideration of Phase 2 of the Unhoused Support Center Project
Assistant County Manager Heather Skeens presented an update on Phase 2 of the Cumberland County Unhoused Support Center Project.
Phase 1, which focused on programming and visioning, was completed and accepted by the Board on Aug. 11, 2025. That phase established the program goals, facility concept, and partnership framework, and included a one-year extension of the County’s CMAR contract with Barr & Barr.
Phase 2 advances the project into the design and construction documentation process, beginning with schematic design. This initial step includes review of applicable laws, codes, and regulations, as well as preliminary evaluation of the program, schedule, budget, and delivery methods.
The Board voted unanimously to approve proceeding with Phase 2 through schematic design and to adjust the AIA contract amendment accordingly. The Board also voted 5-1 to direct staff to review and identify alternate site locations for the Unhoused Support Center and present findings at the next Board meeting. Additionally, the Board voted unanimously to direct staff to provide a recommendation for the center provider, along with an estimated operational budget, at the next Board meeting.
C. Consideration of TDA Resolution to Establish Eligibility Requirements for Hotel or Motel Representatives Appointed to the TDA
At its Sept. 24 meeting, the Tourism Development Authority (TDA) adopted a resolution requesting the Board of Commissioners establish formal eligibility requirements for the four TDA appointees representing hotels and motels.
Current state law requires that these representatives be nominated by hotels and motels with fewer than 100 rooms and more than 100 rooms, but the statute does not define a process for nominations or specify qualifications for nominees. To address this gap, the TDA recommended that eligibility be limited to individuals directly involved in the ownership or operation of hotels or motels, aligning with the intent of the statute.
At its Oct. 9 Agenda Session, the Board voted to approve and adopt the TDA’s resolution to serve as the official policy for future appointments. The motion did not pass unanimously and was moved to the Oct. 20 Regular Meeting as an item of business for further consideration.
The Board voted 5-1 to approve and adopt the TDA resolution.
D. Reconsideration of the Appointment of Tracey Pelt to the Social Services Board
This item was removed by unanimous vote.
5. NOMINATIONS
Animal Services: 3 Vacancies
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Joseph Stephens- Knowledge/experience in dog behavior and/or handling position
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Lucinia Yarborough- Knowledge/experience in dog behavior and/or handling position
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Brittney Lee- City of Fayetteville resident
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Jill Parker- City of Fayetteville resident
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Brian Taylor- City of Fayetteville Resident
Child Protection/Fatality Prevention Team: 1 Vacancy
Industrial Facilities & Pollution Control Financing Authority: 2 Vacancies
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Tyler Patton
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Jonathan Profitt
Farm Advisory Board: 1 Vacancy
FTCC Board of Trustees: 1 Vacancy
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Jason Frick
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Vicky Andrews
Home and Community Block Care Grant Committee: 2 Vacancies
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Barbara Brooks- Older Consumer
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Steve Clark- Older Consumer
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William Tarvin- Older Consumer
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Kevin Lynch- Civic Representative
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: 3 Vacancies
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Brett Chivers
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Steven Harper
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Lee Spruill
Senior Citizens Advisory Commission: 7 Vacancies
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Joyce Adams
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Steve Clark
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Sharon Lambert
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Kevin Lynch
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Dwight Palmer
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Linda Taliaferro
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Westana Williams
6. APPOINTMENTS
Board of Health: 4 Vacancies
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Dr. Nitin Desai- Physician
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Dr. Joseph Ballard- Optometrist
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Jermeka Hamilton- General Public
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Cynthia Massie- General Public
Child Protection/Fatality Prevention Team: 1 Vacancy
Fayetteville Cumberland Human Relations Committee: 4 Vacancies
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Rachel Andress
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Frederick Cutter
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Johnny Lanthorn
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Gina Zhang
Local Emergency Planning Committee: 10 Vacancies
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Lou Cherry - Cumberland PIO, Broadcast/Media Representative
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George White - Womack Army Medical Center Representative
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Amy Matao - Local Environmental Representative
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Luis Ferman - Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Representative
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Raymond Becht - Tanner Industries Representative
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Terry Chalk - Goodyear Facility Representative
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Daniel Davis - Hexion Facility Representative
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Mikki Jones - Cargill Facility Representative
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Carson Walker - South River EMC Facility Representative
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Deno Hondros- At Large Representative
Senior Citizens Advisory Commission: 7 Vacancies
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Joyce Adams
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Steve Clark
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Sharon Lambert
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Kevin Lynch
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Dwight Palmer
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Linda Taliaferro
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Westana Williams
Industrial Facilities & Pollution Control Financing Authority: 2 Vacancies
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Tyler Patton
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Jonathan Profitt
Farm Advisory Board: 1 Vacancy
Home and Community Block Care Grant Committee: 3 Vacancies
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Kevin Lynch- Civic Representative
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Barbara Brooks- Older Consumer
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William Tarvin- Older Consumer
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: 3 Vacancies
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Brett Chivers
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Steven Harper
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Lee Spruill
The Animal Services Board and FTCC Board of Trustees nominees will move forward for appointment at the Nov. 3, 2025, Board of Commissioners meeting.
7. CLOSED SESSION
The Board entered Closed Session to discuss:
The meeting adjourned at 9:27 p.m.
The next Regular Meeting will be Monday, Nov. 3, at 9 a.m. in room 118 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.
Board of Commissioners regular meetings and agenda sessions are livestreamed through the County’s website at cumberlandcountync.gov, YouTube Channel and on CCNCTV Spectrum Channel 5. All documents associated with this meeting, to include meeting agendas and minutes, can be found on the Cumberland County website under the Board of Commissioners tab. Cumberland County can be found on social media by searching CCNCGov.