Cumberland County commissioners approve design-build team for courthouse parking deck

County commissioners approved a design-build team for a downtown Fayetteville parking deck Thursday, marking the next step in bringing additional parking to the county courthouse and the future Crown Event Center.

With the exceptions of Commissioner Michael Boose, who was not present, and Commissioner Marshall Faircloth, who voted against approval, the board voted to select Samet/Creech as the design-build team for the deck.

The six-floor, 1,100-stall parking garage is projected to cost $33 million and be completed by fall 2025, according to a March 5 memorandum from Director of Engineering and Infrastructure Jermaine Walker.

According to a request for qualifications posted by the county, the parking garage will also include 30 electric vehicle charging stations. The garage will be placed at the rear entrance of the Cumberland County Courthouse and the Cumberland County Law Enforcement Center.

Chairman Glenn Adams asked if county staff were confident in Samet’s commitment to the project, noting that the corporation’s contract with Guilford County for a multimillion-dollar public safety center was terminated in 2023.

“During that time period, it was during Covid, and Samet was experiencing some staffing changes at the upper management level,” County Manager Clarence Grier said. “Based on the evaluation and talking with Jermaine [Walker], I don’t have any concerns with Samet.” 

Faircloth said he would vote against the selection because he was opposed to the parking deck project.

“If we wouldn’t take up all of our parking with buildings, we wouldn’t have to build it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s necessary.” 

The board briefly held off on voting on the item to go into a 30-minute closed session, citing attorney-client privilege. After returning from the closed session, the selection was approved in a 5-1 vote.

In other business:

• The board voted to approve a 13% increase in premiums for employees on its health insurance and to expand employees’ insurance options by offering a PPO Buy-up plan. According to a presentation by health insurance brokerage USI Insurance Services, “[e]mployees that choose this plan would pay the entire difference in premium cost.” 
• The board voted to hold off on changing its policy on GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Ozempic for employees. USI staffers recommended terminating coverage of the medications at its employee pharmacy, noting that 80% of GLP-1 pharmacy claims originated there, and only covering fills at retail pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens. The board directed USI to research the possibility of different policies for those taking the medication for prediabetes or diabetes versus  those taking the medication purely for weight loss.
• A motion by Commissioner Veronica Jones to approve a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and humanitarian aid failed 4-2, with Jones and Vice Chairwoman Toni Stewart voting in favor. Jones told CityView she respected her colleagues’ decision but was disappointed, noting that she proposed the resolution because of Cumberland County’s strong military ties. Fort Liberty announced Thursday that it will send a unit of the 18th Airborne Corps to Gaza to build a temporary pier off the coast, WRAL reported.

The board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. March 18 at the Cumberland County courthouse.

Reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at lsolomon@cityviewnc.com or 910-423-6500.

This story was made possible by contributions to CityView News Fund, a 501c3 charitable organization committed to an informed democracy.