News Release Full Story

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners recognized retiring County Manager Amy Cannon and a pair of outgoing commissioners also received honors during the Board’s regular meeting on Nov. 21 at 6:45 p.m. in Room 118 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Courthouse.

Commissioners Larry Lancaster and Charles Evans will transition off the Board of Commissioners at the Dec. 5 meeting. During Monday’s meeting, N.C. Sen. Kirk deViere presented both outgoing commissioners with North Carolina flags that had been flown over the N.C. General Assembly as a token of appreciation for their service to the citizens of Cumberland County. Following the presentations, both Commissioners shared remarks.

“To my fellow County Commissioners, thank you for your patience with me, thank you for accepting me, thank you for guiding me, and thank you for letting me be a friend,” said Lancaster. “For those of you who are here this evening and those that are listening to my voice, let me leave you with these words – it takes each of us to make a difference for all of us.”

“I want to thank God for the opportunity to have been able to serve the citizens of Cumberland County,” said Evans. “It is truly a great honor and a privilege.”

The Board also honored County Manager Amy Cannon, who will retire Dec. 1, 2022, after more than 32 years with the County – the last eight serving as county manager. Commissioners Evans, Jimmy Keefe and Jeannette Council, who were on the Board in 2014 when Cannon became county manager, presented Cannon with a proclamation from the Board in recognition and appreciation of her service to the County. The Board also proclaimed Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, which will be Cannon’s last day with the County, as Amy H. Cannon Day in Cumberland County.

The Board recognized the following two retired Cumberland County employees:

 Monika Fuller with the Department of Social Services

Toby Foster with the Department of Social Services

In addition to the employee recognitions, commissioners received a presentation from several students and staff with Gray’s Creek High School updating them on the school’s “Bear Necessities” Food Pantry. The food pantry was started in 2018 and has since been expanded with a commercial freezer and refrigerator. Donations are received from Second Harvest Food Bank and the community. School AIG Coordinator Shanna Matthews, and social workers Allison McDonald and Vanessa Wade introduced students Natalie Ware and Malika Jones, who were given certificates of appreciation by Board Vice Chairwoman Dr. Toni Stewart.

The Board also received a brief presentation from Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council members Alan Montes and Hunter Streightliff, and presented them with certificates of appreciation.

The Board discussed the following items of business:

• Consideration of Architect for the Crown Event Center Based Upon a Request for Qualification Process. The Crown Event Center Committee recommends the Board accept the selection of EwingCole as the preferred choice to provide Professional Services in the form of Design and Construction Oversight for the Crown Event Center Project and grant permission to enter contract negotiations for refined scope and final price at which time we will present to the Board for approval. – This item was approved unanimously.
• Consideration of Ordinances to Prohibit Camping on County Property. County Attorney Rick Moorefield presented an amendment to the County’s existing ordinance regulating parking on county property and a new ordinance prohibiting camping on County property. The two items were presented following the City of Fayetteville’s enforcement of an Aug. 8, 2022, ordinance making camping unlawful on city-owned property, and the potential shift of homeless persons camping in the city parking lot across the street from the downtown library to the library property. The ordinance prohibiting camping and parking unlicensed vehicles on county property is intended to avoid the public nuisance created by persons staying on the property overnight. The Board voted 5-to-2 in favor of the proposed ordinances. However since the vote was not unanimous on its first reading, this item must come back before the Board for final consideration.
• Update on Expiration of the Sales Tax Distribution Interlocal Agreement. County Manager Amy Cannon provided the Board with an update on the expiration of the Sales Tax Distribution Interlocal Agreement at the request of Chairman Glenn Adams. The current agreement will expire on June 30, 2023. Cannon previously briefed the Board of Commissioners’ Finance/Audit Committee in August, but FY2022 sales tax numbers were not available at the time, so Monday’s presentation included updated numbers. – This presentation was for information purposes only.
• Consideration of Franchise for Operation of Courthouse and DSS Deli - First Reading. This is the first of two required readings approving grant of a franchise to the Yi's (Lee's) d/b/a Go 'N Joy Restaurant for a term of three years. – The Board voted to approve this item in a 5-to-2 vote. The second reading will be held at the Board’s Dec. 19, 2022, meeting.
• Update on Ann Street Landfill Capacity and Disposal Options. County Manager Amy Cannon provided the Board with an update on Ann Street Landfill Capacity and Disposal Options at the request of Board of Commissioners Chairman Glenn Adams. Cannon and General Manager for Natural Resources Amanda Bader shared short-term options to extend the life of the landfill, which is estimated to have less than eight remaining years of useful life. – This presentation was for information purposes only.

The Board heard the following rezoning cases:

• Case ZON-22-0070: Rezoning from RR Rural Residential District to C(P) Planned Commercial District or to a more restrictive zoning district for two parcels with a combined 1.57 +/- acres; located at approximately 1000 feet north of the intersection of NC HWY 87 and Sand Hill Road; submitted by Joseph Riddle (applicant) on behalf of Linda Adkins Butler and Willie Butler (owner). – The Board voted unanimously to deny the rezoning request from RR Rural Residential to C(P) Planned Commercial District and instead approve C2(P) Planning Service and Retail District.
• Case ZON-22-0068: Rezoning from C(P) Planned Commercial District and RR Rural Residential District to RR Rural Residential District or to a more restrictive zoning district for 284.94 +/- acres; located at 2849 Downing Road; submitted by Karen Patricia Hair Blackman (applicant/owner). – The Board voted unanimously to approve the rezoning request from C(P) Planned Commercial District and RR Rural Residential District to RR Rural Residential District.
• Case ZON-22-0069: Rezoning from A1 Agricultural District to R40A Residential District or to a more restrictive zoning district for 13.35 +/- acres; located at 6313 Tabor Church Road; submitted by Patricia McDonald (applicant) on behalf of Charles Earl McDonald (owner). – This request was approved unanimously.

The Board approved the following Consent Agenda items. Unless otherwise indicated, all items were approved unanimously.

• Approval of Proclamation Recognizing County Manager Amy H. Cannon
• Approval of Proclamation for National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
• Approval of Formal Bid Award and Contract Approval for Aerial Mosquito Control Services Stand-By Contract
• Approval of Formal Bid Award and Contract Approval for Ground Mosquito Control Services Stand-By Contract
• Approval of Volkswagen (VW) Settlement Clean Heavy-Duty Equipment and Vehicle Program Grant and Associated Budget Ordinance Amendment BR #230421
• Approval of Request to Reallocate ARP Funding for the Robin's Meadows Permanent Supportive Housing Project Due to Increased Construction Costs – This item was approved separately in a 5-to-2 vote.
• Approval of ARP Grant Project Budget Ordinance Amendment #B230001 – This item was approved separately in a 5-to-2 vote.
• Approval to Pay Prior Year Invoice
• Approval of Proposed Addition to State's Secondary Road System
• Approval to Unseal Closed Session General Accounts
• Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 1509 Bankston Court, Fayetteville
• Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 3427 Seawell Street, Fayetteville
• Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendments for the November 21, 2022 Board of County Commissioners' Agenda
• Approval of Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Agenda Session Items

1. Memorandum of Understanding Between the Cumberland County Public Library and the City Of Fayetteville For Storywalk© Project At Lake Rim Park
2. Formal Bid Award for Law Enforcement Center Roof Recovering
3. Formal Bid Award for Crown Coliseum Sports Lighting, Parking Lot Lighting, Building Control Replacement
4. Crown Event Center Committee Recommendation on Construction Delivery Method
5. 2023 (FY2024) Federal Legislative Agenda
6. ARP Committee Recommendations – These items were approved separately in a 5-to-2 vote with the amendment to Policy No. 10-1.9: COVID-19 Assistance to Nonprofits to remove the Qualified Census Tract (QCT) language in the policy.
• Small Business Funding Recommendations
• Consideration of ARPA Policy Revisions
• Consideration of Policy No. 3-13: Policy for Records Retention of ARPA/SLFR Funds
• Consideration of Policy No. 10-1.9: COVID19 Assistance to Nonprofits

The Board went into closed session to discuss Attorney Client Matter(s) pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3) and Personnel Matter(s) pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(6).

Please visit cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/commissioners-group/commissioners/meetings/agendas-minutes-and-videos for the meeting notes concerning this meeting and other Board of Commissioners’ meetings.

To watch the meeting and listen to the entire discussion between meeting participants of the Board of Commissioners’ Agenda Session, please visit YouTube.com/CumberlandCountyNC. For more information about Cumberland County government, visit cumberlandcountync.gov. You can also follow the county on social media by searching CumberlandCountyNC.