Fayetteville, Cumberland County In Conflict On Who Should Run 911 Call Center

The Fayetteville City Council and Cumberland County Board of Commissioners each voted unanimously on Thursday to combine their 911 call centers, but they disagreed on how to govern the consolidated service.

At issue: Whether the city and the county would jointly operate the combined call center, or, instead, have one local government operate it. Under both arrangements, the costs would be split 50-50 between the city and the county, according to a presentation made at the two board’s joint meeting.

The positions:

• The county commissioners voted 6-0, with one commissioner absent, to have the city and county jointly oversee the call center. This was recommended by county Emergency Services Director Garry Crumpler.
• The city council voted 6-2, with two members absent, to have the city solely be in charge. This was recommended by Fayetteville Police Chief Roberto Bryan and Fire Chief Kevin Dove. An effort by the council to reconsider that decision failed with a 4-4 vote.

During the 4-4 vote, Council Member Mario Benavente made comments that the next Fayetteville City Council, which takes office December 1, will be “a rubber stamp for our current mayor.” He was referring to Mayor Mitch Colvin, who won reelection. Benavente is leaving office following a failed bid for mayor in this year’s elections. Colvin told city staff to mute Benavente’s audio after he said it a second time.

The disagreement between the city and county’s positions did not end the plans to combine their 911 services, which officials expect would be a more efficient use of tax dollars and improve emergency response.

Colvin said he would reach out to Kirk deViere, chair of the county commissioners, to schedule a follow-up meeting in January to further discuss the effort. The most important votes were the unanimous votes at the beginning of the meeting, Colvin said, showing “the willingness for the two bodies to figure this out.”

DeViere had similar thoughts.

“While we continue to discuss the best governance approach, we’re committed to working together with the City to find a path forward that serves everyone in Cumberland County,” deViere said in a news release. The news release says the city and county managers will work with each other to “chart a path forward.”

The city operates a 911 center from City Hall in downtown Fayetteville to serve people with emergencies in the city limits. But the center is running out of room and needs a new building, the city has said.

The county opened its current 911 center in 2022 on Executive Place behind the Harris Teeter grocery on Raeford Road. The Emergency Communications Center serves the rest of Cumberland County, which has the Sheriff’s Office, the Hope Mills Police Department, the Spring Lake Police Department, Cape Fear Valley Emergency Medical Services, and the county fire departments.

This is the fourth time since 2007 that the city and county have tried to unify their 911 services, according to Thursday’s presentation. The previous three attempts failed “due to disagreements over governance and control between city and county,” one of the slides said.

Sparks Fly Between Colvin, Benavente

Benavente and Colvin clashed toward the end of the meeting.

When the city council voted 6-2 (with two absent) in favor of having the city operate the joint 911 center, Colvin and Council Member Malik Davis voted “no.” Benavente and Council Members Lynne Greene, Deno Hondros, Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, and Kathy Keefe Jensen voted “yes.” Council Member D.J. Haire did not vote. But council members who are present at council meetings are not allowed to abstain, so his vote was automatically counted as a “yes.”

Council Members Brenda McNair and Derrick Thompson were absent.

Later, the council debated a motion by Haire to reconsider that vote. Benavente, who opposed the idea, sniped at Colvin. He said the city’s professionals had made it clear they prefer to have the city run a consolidated 911 center instead of sharing power with the county.

“And I know that the politicians aren’t liking their answer,” Benavente said. “I think there’s a lot of potential for the next council to be much more of a rubber stamp for our current mayor.”

He tried to say more, but Colvin interrupted him.

“If you don’t stick to the topic, you’re gonna get muted,” Colvin said. (Benavente was participating remotely.)

“This is part of the topic, sir,” Benavente said.

“Do not make pointed remarks,” Colvin said.

“The expectation of our city staff and professionals has been made clear today,” Benavente said. “I highly doubt that it will be taken to heart, unfortunately, knowing what is to come.” On December 1, Benavente will leave office along with Jensen and Banks-McLaughlin, and three new city council members will take office.

The new city council will have the option in January to consider how to run a consolidated 911 center, Colvin said. He called for the vote to reconsider the previous decision, and Benavente interjected again.

“Rubber stamps, yes, sir,” he said.

“Mute him please,” Colvin told the city staff.

The vote was 4-4. 

Colvin and Council Members Greene, Davis and Haire voted “yes.”

Council Members Benavente, Hondros, Banks-McLaughlin and Jensen voted “no.”

Senior reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at pwoolverton@cityviewnc.com.

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