When the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners convened on Monday night, they unanimously voted to authorize their town manager to purchase a property at 5770 Lady Lane Road for $510,000. The town plans to invest an additional $156,000 to convert the building into a police substation, bringing the total cost to approximately $800,000.
The request came from Police Chief Stephen Dollinger, who explained to the board that the town’s new $17 million Public Safety Building had already reached full capacity. The town held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the building on Aug. 4, 2023.
“We were at full capacity the day we moved in,” Dollinger said.
The town recently hired additional police officers, including several women who currently lack adequate locker room facilities and space. Dollinger emphasized that the new building would not only provide much-needed room but also establish a police substation in a critical area. The new location, he said, would better serve the public and accommodate the department’s growth due to the town’s frequent annexations and expansion.
The $17 million public safety building, completed in 2023, is being paid for over 30 years. However, after just one annual payment, the police department and the town find themselves seeking solutions to address their rapid growth.
Commissioner Elyse Craver called the situation “heartbreaking.”
Several members of the board were caught off guard Monday. Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin had previously described the facility during construction as the town’s “crown jewel.” The building was state-of-the-art and designed to meet future needs.
Mayor Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray, who participated in the meeting via phone while recovering from surgery, expressed her concerns.
“I was never told that the day they moved into the building they didn’t have enough space. This is new to me. During the construction process, we repeatedly asked, ‘Was this building designed for the future?’ and we were told, ‘Yes,’” McCray said. “That doesn’t change what’s happening now, so we need the substation.”
Commissioner Craver asked Dollinger if any modifications could be made to the new building, such as converting the workout gym into a locker room. Dollinger explained that the gym was essential for officers’ physical fitness and that even with modifications, the space would not be sufficient. He stressed the need to plan for future growth and the hiring of additional officers.
Mayor Jesse Bellflowers pointed out that the building’s design was 10 years old. “What did the town look like 10 years ago?” he asked. “Look at the amount of annexation and growth in Hope Mills. Could anyone have predicted this level of growth when the building was first designed?
“We have one of two choices: we say no to growth — which we’re not going to do — or we plan better to provide services,” Bellflowers added.
After hearing from other members of the board, Commissioner Jerry Legge summed up his thoughts.
“I know we just built a new building. But, my goodness. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do to keep up,” Legge said. “If we don’t keep up with the town, the town’s going to outgrow us.”
Before the vote, Commissioner Bryan Marley had questions for the town attorney and requested a closed session with the board and attorney to discuss them. After reconvening, the board unanimously approved the purchase of the property at 5770 Lady Lane Road.
In other business
On Monday, the Hope Mills Police Department promoted four officers:
- Sergeant: Yury Bondarev and Valerie Moore
- Captain: Robbie Grady
- Lieutenant: Claudony Joseph
Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 20, the board’s next meeting will be held on Jan. 21. The board’s special budget meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 7, has been rescheduled for Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.
