Cumberland County Commissioners Agenda Session Wrap-Up
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The following is a summary of the March 14, 2024, Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Agenda Session, which was held at 1 p.m. in Room 564 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse. To view the agenda and supporting materials for this meeting, go to www.cumberlandcountync.gov/bocmeetingmaterials.
DEC Associates, the County’s financial advisors, presented updates on the progression of the capital planning models. Doug Carter and Andrew Carter presented on the County’s General Government, Education and Crown models, noting that all three were healthy based on current debt issuance projections.
Ed Boardman and Kevin Quinn, brokers with USI, presented final recommendations for the County’s Health Insurance Plan for FY 2025, following an initial presentation at the Board’s Feb. 8, 2024 Agenda Session. The Board voted to move forward with recommendations including introducing more plan choices by adding a PPO buy-up option and increasing employee PPO contributions by 13% to coincide with the overall projected plan increase for FY 2025. The Board and USI discussed the impact of the growing usage of GLP-1 weight-loss medication on the County’s costs. USI had recommended removing coverage of these medications from the County’s in-house employee Pharmacy, but still allowing prescriptions to be filled at retail pharmacies; however, the Board requested additional information on GLP-1 coverage from USI before deciding. The Board voted to move approval of the FY 2025 Insurance Plan options to the March 18, 2024 Regular Meeting agenda for approval.
Commissioner Veronica Jones presented a resolution supporting a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza. The Board voted 4-to-2 against moving the resolution forward.
The Board voted unanimously to move the following items to the March 18, 2024 Regular Meeting to be approved as part of the Consent Agenda:
- Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Solid Waste Gas Services: Solid Waste advertised a request for qualifications (RFQ) from engineering firms that provide gas services, seeking a qualified consultant to assist with the design of gas collection and treatment system improvements. The selected firm will assist the County with an initial project to construct a new treatment skid for the Ann Street Landfill. Solid Waste received two responses to the RFQ and recommended the selection of Smith Gardner Inc., which had the highest score of the two firms.
- Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Solid Waste Water Quality Services: Solid Waste advertised an RFQ seeking a qualified consultant to assist with the design of leachate, surface water, groundwater and stormwater collection and treatment system improvements. The selected firm will assist the County with an initial project to provide professional services to design, permit, and bid new stormwater treatment ponds for the Ann Street Landfill. Solid Waste received two responses to the RFQ and recommended the selection of Smith Gardner, which had the highest score of the two firms.
- Resolution to Accept NCDEQ Grant Award for Ann Street Landfill Sediment Ponds:The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) awarded Solid Waste a $1,763,374 grant to perform improvements on Sediment Ponds No. 2 & No. 3 at the Ann Street Landfill. The department requested approval of a resolution accepting the grant award.
The Board voted to move the following item to the March 18, 2024 Regular Meeting; however, it was not approved unanimously, meaning it will be considered as an Item of Business:
- Design-Build Team Selection for Government Services Center Parking Deck: Cumberland County Engineering & Infrastructure advertised a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Professional Services in the form of a Design-Build Team for the Government Services Center Parking Deck Project. The new parking deck would provide sufficient parking for a number of County projects, including a new general government services center and the Crown Event Center, as well as make up for displaced parking from the construction of these facilities. The projected cost for the 1,100-stall, six-floor structure is $33M, with a projected completion date of Fall 2025. The County received seven responses to the RFQ and conducted interviews with four finalist firms. Following staff evaluation and interviews, staff recommend the selection of Samet/Creech as the preferred choice to provide the requested services. Following selection, staff will negotiate a contract with the selected firm to bring back to the Board for consideration at a future meeting. The Board voted 5-to-1 to move this item forward to the March 18, 2024 Regular Meeting.
The Board went into CLOSED SESSION to discuss Economic Development pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(4) and to discuss Property Acquisition pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(5).
Commissioners received the following monthly reports in their agenda packet:
- Financial Report
- Health Insurance Update
- Grants Update
- Project Updates
Meetings are live streamed on CCNC-TV though 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.
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