Freshman Fayetteville City Councilman Deno Hondros has said that a recent three-day trip by nine council members to attend the annual Congressional City Conference in the nation’s capital was a worthwhile effort to advocate for the city.
You name it, and Hondros says the council was advocating for it.
“We did it all with a smile in service to every single resident and taxpayer in Fayetteville,” Hondros says.
Two thousand cities nationwide annually are represented at the conference, all meeting with respective congressional lawmakers and others on behalf of their municipalities. Our nine council members, Hondros says, pitched everything from better roads; the U.S. 421 corridor that will eventually become an Interstate 685 connector to Interstates 85 and 95; securing funding for water systems related to Fayetteville Public Works Commission; capital improvements for downtown streets; a direct airline flight from Washington to Fayetteville; mental health and homelessness; military veterans; and reminding lawmakers that Fort Liberty, aka Fort Bragg, the largest military installation in the world, is right next door to Fayetteville.
The cost for the city officials to attend the conference, according to a city spokesman, was $21,974. Registration fees came in at $5,200; hotel accommodations, at $12,041; and travel, at $4,733.
Courtney Banks-McLaughlin of District 8 had expenses of $2,837, with $1,771 for accommodations; $650 for registration; and $416 for travel. The councilwoman was in attendance for four days, according to the city spokesman.
Hondros, of District 9, had expenses of $2,648, with $515 for registration; $1,533 for accommodations; and $600 for travel. The councilman, according to the city spokesman, was in attendance four days.
Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Dawkins of District 5 had expenses of $2,552, with $540 for registration; $1,540 for accommodations; and $472 for travel. The mayor pro tem, according to the city spokesman, was there for four days.
Mario Benavente of District 3 had expenses of $2,477, with $515 for registration; $1,533 for accommodations; and $429 for travel. The first-term councilman, according to the city spokesman, was in attendance for four days.
Shakeyla Ingram of District 2 had expenses of $2,464, with $650 for registration; $1,148 for accommodations;and $666 for travel. The councilwoman, according to the city spokesman, was in attendance three days.
Brenda McNair of District 7 had expenses of $2,351, with $515 for registration; $1,155 for accommodations; and $681 for travel. The first-term councilwoman, according to the city spokesman, was in attendance three days.
Kathy Keefe Jensen of District 1 had expenses of $2,382, with registration of $650; accommodations at $1,051; and $681 for travel. The five-term councilwoman, according to the city spokesman, was in attendance two days.
D.J. Haire of District 4 had expenses of $2,177, with registration of $650; accommodations for $1,155; and $372 for travel. The 11-term councilman, according to the city spokesman, was in attendance three days.
Derrick Thompson had expenses of $2,086, with $515 for registration; accommodations for $1,155; and $416 for travel. The freshman councilman, according to the city spokesman, was there four days.
All expenses were verified by city officials on Monday.
Breaking down the cost
“The variation in registration is due to three variables,” says Loren Bymer, director of marketing and communications for the city. “The first is first-time attendees; second is personally registered early-bird; and the third is the regular rate.”
Hotel accommodations varied, too.
“Everyone was authorized to be on site for four days,” Bymer says. “The four council members who have the highest amounts were present in D.C. for the entire four days. The next four most expensive were present for three days, while one only stayed for two days. Additionally, not all council members were able to stay in the same hotel, which means rates varied as well.”
Bymer also clarified travel expenses.
“Nearly everyone traveled by air, while two members drove personal vehicles, and there was a change in travel plans for one council member who rode the train to D.C. but returned by air,” Bymer says.
Epilogue
Eight members of the Fayetteville Cumberland Youth Council, the youth council adviser and a male chaperone also attended the conference, according to the city, at a cost of $8,169.60. Total registration for the eight delegates, according to the city, was $1,480. The registration cost for the adviser and the chaperone was $185 each. Hotel accommodations for the eight youths, according to the city, was $2,389, and $1,194.90 for the adviser and $1,194 for the chaperone. Total Amtrak costs for the eight youths, according to the city, were $1,232. Travel costs for the adviser were $154. Travel costs for the chaperone were $154.
The total cost to the city, including the Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council, comes in at $30,143.60.
“It is very important that we have city of Fayetteville representation in Washington, D.C., during key points throughout the year,” says Douglas Hewett, the city manager. “This conference is one such opportunity where council can discuss issues and solutions with key leadership in our nation’s capital and demonstrate their commitment to advocating for resources to meet the needs of Fayetteville residents.”
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
