FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners held an Agenda Session on Oct. 15, 2026, at 1 p.m. in Room 564 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse. Agendas and supporting materials are available at cumberlandconc.portal.civicclerk.com.

Commissioner Glenn Adams led the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

The Board unanimously approved the agenda with the following change(s):

• Addition of Item 3A, Special Law Enforcement Bonus

• Addition of a paragraph to Closed Session for an attorney-client matter.

2. PRESENTATIONS

A. CMARC and CMHRP Update

Assistant County Manager Heather Skeens and Deputy Health Director Tamra Morris presented. Prepaid Health Plans will discontinue contracts with local health departments for Care Management for At-Risk Children (CMARC) and Care Management for High-Risk Pregnancies (CMHRP) programs after Dec. 31, 2026. The NC Division of Health Benefits is not establishing a referral end date and recommends a December transition to Prepaid Health Plans. Staff is continuing to assess budget implications, staffing needs, next steps and is communicating with community partners.

The Board reviewed staffing needs and considered possible grant funding opportunities for FY28.

B. Courthouse Security Update

Assistant County Manager Faith Phillips provided an update on a phased approach to enhancing courthouse security, including magnetic lock system improvements and deployment of sworn officers and unarmed security personnel. Phillips also shared recruitment timelines, guard classifications and comparisons with other counties and jurisdictions.

C. Strategic Plan Update: Fall 2026

Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer Diane Rice updated the Board on progress on the County’s Strategic Plan, major initiatives underway, and the next phase of implementation. On April 21, 2025, the Board of Commissioners adopted the Cumberland County Strategic Plan, which established seven strategic priority areas to guide County programs, services, investments and organizational priorities over a three-year period.

The Board considered conducting another Strategic Planning Retreat this winter and a Countywide survey to collect feedback from residents.

D. Water Infrastructure Communications Strategy

Cumberland County General Manager of Natural Resources Amanda Lee and HDR Strategic Communications Lead Sabrina Colón presented a communications and engagement plan to support ongoing water infrastructure projects across the County.

The Board discussed receiving feedback from the public on the communications and engagement plan.

3. CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEMS

A. Special Law Enforcement Bonus This item was added by unanimous vote.

Finance Director Robin Koonce presented a request related to a one‑time state‑funded bonus for sworn, active law enforcement personnel. As part of the FY27 state budget, Cumberland County received $421,990 from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to distribute $1,750 bonuses, including related benefits, to eligible employees. Sworn officers must be active as of June 30, 2026, and part‑time staff and rehired retirees will receive prorated amounts based on their average hours worked in FY26. Koonce requested approval of Budget Revision 270272 to recognize the funds and process the special payroll as soon as possible.

The Board unanimously approved.

B. Approval of a Proclamation Recognizing The Phoenix Center

The Board considered a request to approve a proclamation recognizing The Phoenix Center on its 50th anniversary. The organization, founded in 1976, provides free support services to victims of sexual and domestic assault, serving hundreds of new clients each year to promote safety, healing and recovery. Cumberland County Clerk to the Board Andrea Tebbe noted that the request was received the previous week and was brought forward for immediate approval so the proclamation could be presented at the organization’s event scheduled for the following day.

The Board unanimously approved the proclamation.

C. NC Cardinal Memorandum of Agreement for Cumberland County Public Library

Cumberland County Public Library Director Heather Hall presented a request to approve the NC Cardinal Memorandum of Agreement, Contract No. 3342, in the amount of $29,701.79. Hall explained that funding for the agreement is already included in the library’s current fiscal year budget and noted that participation in the statewide NC Cardinal consortium enables Cumberland County Public Library to share materials and maintain a standardized cataloging system that supports core library services.

The Board unanimously approved the agreement and placed it on the consent agenda for the Oct. 19, 2026 Regular Meeting.

D. Cumberland County Water Capacity Plan and Proposed Funding Allocation Resulting from the Chemours Settlement Funds

County Manager Clarence Grier and General Manager for Natural Resources Amanda Lee provided an informational update on the County’s Water Capacity Plan and the preliminary framework for allocating Chemours Settlement funds. Staff explained that the settlement funds will be restricted in a dedicated account within the NC Capital Management Trust once received, and that establishing new water and sewer districts for Cedar Creek and East Central is already underway, with required public hearings and community meetings being scheduled as part of the outlined communications and engagement plan.

Lee outlined the conceptual approach for allocating funds based on the percentage of parcels affected by GenX contamination within each district and emphasized that the figures presented are tentative until the County receives final settlement documentation.

The Board discussed the methodology, the importance of prioritizing areas with the highest contamination and the need for a required capital project ordinance and public input before any allocation decisions are finalized.

No action was taken.

E. School Safety Ordinance and Sitestream Contract

The Board received an update from Sitestream Regional Sales Manager Brad Dreasher on the proposed School Safety Ordinance and associated contract with Sitestream, a program that would install stop‑arm cameras on Cumberland County Schools buses to identify vehicles that illegally pass stopped buses. County Manager Clarence Grier noted that the school system and Superintendent Eric Bracy have expressed support for the initiative, which would require both a formal ordinance and an agreement with Sitestream.

The Board discussed fine structures, enforcement challenges, potential impacts on school system revenue, the need for data on current violations, implications for out‑of‑state vehicles in a large military community, further legal review and the want to ensure coordination with the Cumberland County Board of Education. The Board also discussed the importance of public input before taking action.

The Board unanimously approved to bring the item, the Board resolution, the incident report, additional data and a copy of an ordinance that has been reviewed and satisfied by the County Attorney to the Nov. 12 Agenda Session. The Board also unanimously approved to place a public hearing for the item as an Item of Business for the Nov. 16 Regular Meeting to receive community feedback.

F. Interagency Planning Team for School Facilities and Land Returned to the County

County Manager Clarence Grier presented the proposed Interagency Planning Team for School Facilities and Land Returned to the County, following a request from the Board at its Sept. 10 meeting. The team will include representatives from Cumberland County Schools, Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Inspections, Engineering and Infrastructure, Finance, the Office of Innovation and Strategy, the County Attorney’s Office and municipal staff as needed. Meetings will be held quarterly as the County evaluates the inventory of the school properties scheduled for transfer.

Lillian Black Elementary, Alger B. Wilkins High School and Manchester Elementary School are the initial properties that will be transferred to County ownership. Staff conducted site walkthroughs earlier in the week and reported no major concerns. Utilities will remain on and will be transitioned to the County following the acceptance of the properties. The Board requested adding Assistant County Manager Tufanna Bradley to the team to support public information needs.

The Board unanimously approved acceptance of the three properties and the formation of the Interagency Planning Team, with the addition of Assistant County Manager Bradley, and placed it on the consent agenda for the Oct. 19, 2026 Regular Meeting.

G. Generative AI Policy

Innovations & Technology Director Daniel Rister presented the County’s proposed Generative AI Policy, which establishes a framework for the responsible, transparent and secure use of artificial intelligence across County departments. Rister explained that while AI offers opportunities to improve efficiency, service delivery and internal workflows, it also requires safeguards related to data privacy, cybersecurity and appropriate human oversight. The policy outlines expectations for employee use, prohibits the use of personal AI accounts for County work and ensures AI-generated content is reviewed by staff before being shared externally.

The Board unanimously approved the Generative AI Policy and placed it on the consent agenda for the Oct. 19, 2026 Regular Meeting.

H. Report on Funding E.E. Smith Band Trip to Chicago

County Attorney Rick Moorefield provided an overview of the legal considerations for responding to a request for financial support for the E.E. Smith High School Magnificent Marching Machine’s participation in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. Moorefield explained that while counties cannot directly fund a nonprofit foundation, state statute allows the Board to appropriate current expense funds to the Cumberland County Board of Education with a request that the funds be used for this specific educational activity in accordance with school board policies.

The Board discussed procedural considerations, the role of the school system in funding extracurricular travel and the importance of following statutory requirements. The Board approved allocating up to $25,000 to the Cumberland County Board of Education for eligible current expenses related to the band’s trip, with any unused funds to be returned to the County. The item will be included on the Oct. 19 Regular Meeting agenda with an accompanying budget amendment.

The Board voted 4 - 2 to approve the allocation.

4. PROJECT UPDATES

A. Aquatic Center

B. Crown Theatre and Arena Modernization and Renovation

C. Unhoused Support Center

D. Capital Improvement Project

E. Water and Sewer

5. MONTHLY REPORTS

The Board unanimously accepted the following reports:

A. Finance Report

B. Health Insurance Update

C. Planning Department Report

D. Grants Update

E. Billing for Out of County Residents Report

F. Wellpath, LLC Quarterly Statistical Report on Inmate Health Care

G. Intergovernmental & Legislative Report: September 2026

6. COMMISSIONER REQUESTS

There were no Commissioner Requests for this meeting.

7. CLOSED SESSION

The Board entered Closed Session to discuss:

• Attorney-Client Matter Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3) This item was added by unanimous vote.

• Real Property Acquisition Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(5)

• Economic Development Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(4)

The Board adjourned the meeting at 5:56 p.m.

The next Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 19 at 6:45 p.m. in Room 118 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse, 117 Dick St., Fayetteville. The next Agenda Session will be held Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. in Room 564.

Board of Commissioners Regular Meetings and Agenda Sessions are livestreamed on the County’s YouTube Channel. Cumberland County can be found on social media by searching “CCNCGov”.