HOPE MILLS — At Monday’s regular board meeting, Hope Mills commissioners heard a proposal from town staff regarding a right-of-way landscape and maintenance proposal that could cost the town roughly $653,000 and raise taxes for residents by 3 cents.
“The object would be to entice business development within the town. First impressions are lasting,” Don Sisko, the town’s public works director, told the board.
The landscape project proposal was presented after Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin informed the board in a memo that the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation had received interest from multiple industrial companies in the Hope Mills area.
“However, the current condition of our gateways may create a negative impression, as these entrances into the Town lack consistent landscape maintenance,” the memo states. “This could hinder regional economic development opportunities.”
In response to the concerns, town staff has partnered with the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation and North Carolina Department of Transportation to determine “priority gateway areas” that could be improved.
According to several board members including Commissioners Joanne Scarola and Kenjuana McCray and Mayor Jessie Bellflowers, cleanliness and the town’s appearance have been among the top complaints from residents.
“We look at this as an investment in the town. They say you got to spend money to make money,” Sisko said. “If you can’t entice someone to come in, then you don’t have someone in.”
Sisko told the board the money will beautify 10 gateways to the town and cover 84 miles of road and gutters. After the initial design and clean up estimated at $417,781.96, town staff are recommending hiring a full-time maintenance crew to maintain the roads and gateways at a yearly rate of an estimated $234,519.66 per year.
“By improving first impressions for potential investors and businesses, the initiative could indirectly foster growth and generate new tax revenue for the Town of Hope Mills,” the staff memo states.
Scarola asked Sisko if they would receive assistance from NCDOT.
“We know that the roads are atrocious and full of trash, but sometimes we just can’t afford stuff,” Scarola said. “So, it’s not like we’re ignoring it. We are financially addressing it but I don’t think we can financially afford it.”
McLaughlin said that while there is a reimbursement agreement with NCDOT, it has not yet yielded the desired outcome. The current appearance of the roads is acceptable per NCDOT’s standards but not what the town needs, McLaughlin said.
“This is an economic development engine, it’s a beautification engine,” McLaughlin told Scarola. “This is our way of basically saying this is the best approach.”
The investment would also raise the town’s taxes by an estimated three cents. Commissioner Elyse Craver suggested to board members that since the taxes were just raised in Hope Mills, they should table this project until next year’s budget discussions.
The board agreed to schedule a meeting with officials from NCDOT to gather answers to their questions and see how they could partner together.
Code enforcement
Bellflowers told the board that alongside the issue of cleanliness, the town also faces a lack of code enforcement. “If there is a residential address that has weeds and trash, code enforcement cites the home. Why don’t we do the same for businesses?” Bellflowers asked.
McLaughlin reminded the board the town only has two code officers for 17,000 residents. A third officer designated for commercial use was requested in the new budget but didn’t make the cut. “We don’t have the staff to aggressively go after them the way we want to,” McLaughlin said.
Former Mayor Jackie Warner honored
Before the regular board meeting, commissioners held a special meeting at 6 p.m. to honor former Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner. Warner and her family were on hand for the presentation from Bellflowers, who unveiled Warner’s framed portrait photograph. The portrait was then hung on the wall next to the town’s former mayors.
Warner served six consecutive terms for a total of 12 years, and is the first and only female mayor in the town’s history. While in office, Warner oversaw the creation of the Public Safety Building and the restoration of the town’s lake and dam. Bellflowers said Warner regularly attended public events and never raised taxes during her service to the town.
“Jackie, I don’t know how you did it,” Bellflowers said.
When asked what the honor meant to her, Warner told CityView it was “humbling.”
“It’s nice to see the people come,” she said. “It made it all worthwhile.”
Warner said several people pointed out to her that among the portraits of former mayors hanging on the wall, she was the only one still alive.
“That’s why it was so important for my family to be here — my children and my grandchildren,” she said. “This is a great memory for them and to remind them of what I did. You usually only hear of a person’s accolades till after they’re gone at their funeral.”
Warner, a former principal and teacher, now serves on the Cumberland County School Board of Commissioners.
She said serving the students in education has always been her passion. She is a regular at Friday night high school games. “I’ve only missed one football game in 20 years and it was the time my son was born,” Warner said.
Other business
Also during the meeting, commissioners swore in four police officers: Logan Adams, China Athill, Dajuan Williams and Anthony Walker. They also promoted five officers: Yearey Bondarev, Robert Fields, Enrique Medina, Nathan Vaughn and Elizabeth Walker.
The town will hold a special Hope Mills Area Land Use Plan kickoff meeting from noon to 7 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Center. The town is asking for input from residents as it moves forward with planning the long-term growth for Hope Mills.
“The future of this town will not be decided by politicians, or this board, but by the people of the town,” Bellflowers said.
The next regular Hope Mills Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 6 at Town Hall.
