BY HANNAH LEE | CityView Staff
Hope Mills commissioners heard from leadership of town committees about their budgetary needs for the upcoming fiscal year, and discussed updates regarding the Rockfish Baseball field renovations.
Committee budget requests
- What happened: The chairperson for each town committee presented budget requests to the board ahead of the 2024-25 fiscal year budget workshop. The proposed budgets for the respective committees:
- The Appearance Committee is requesting $5,000 to fund decorations, the Fourth of July and Christmas events, informational pamphlets, horticultural projects, and summer camp activities, among other items.
- The Cultural Arts Committee requests $20,000 to install and create sculptures, create a mural project, and contribute to the Juneteenth festival at Dirtbag Ales.
- The Historic Committee is requesting $8,600 for recurring costs, hosting Charter Day and the Chapel Christmas events, and upkeep for the chapel piano.
- The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board is requesting a budget of $5,000. Half will go to the Christmas Festival, and the other half will go to signage at the parks, park upkeep, and security cameras.
- The Veterans Affairs Commission is requesting $4,847.40 to pay for new flags, a new tent, 20 wreaths for Wreaths Across America, and the Purple Heart event.
- What’s next: The board will meet on March 7 for their budget retreat to discuss whether these budgeted amounts will be appropriated.
Hope Mills Rockfish
- What happened: Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin updated the board about the Hope Mills Rockfish Baseball Team’s field renovations and alcohol licensure.
- Why it matters: McLaughlin said the baseball team will be working this month and April to prepare the baseball field for the baseball season this summer. A new fence will be installed this month, sod and soils for the infield will be delivered in early April, and plans are in place for a new press box building.
- The town is working with the baseball team to help them obtain alcohol licensing. The town and the team have agreed that the team will only sell alcohol during the Rockfish baseball games, that wristbands will be issued at the gate, that buying and drinking alcohol will only happen within the fence of the baseball field, and that sales will be cut during the 7th inning. The only alcohol available will be beer.
- There were some questions from Commissioners Jerry Legge and Elyse Craver about the alcohol sales and the approval of the license. The alcohol will only be sold in the new press box building. McLaughlin said the team will be in charge of the alcohol, not the town. The town may have to put an officer out at the baseball games to help with enforcement, but it won’t be different than any other community event.
- Craver also asked about the contract between the town and the Rockfish. McLaughlin said that nothing has changed. The baseball team will make money from their games only. Outside of the Rockfish baseball games, the field can be used by the town.
Deaver Circle
- What happened: The board approved holding a discussion about the state of the road Deaver Circle. No action was taken.
- Why it matters: Deaver Circle is an orphan road, meaning no entity owns it. McLaughlin said the road is in disrepair and has a pothole, which affects many Hope Mills residents living in the area surrounding Deaver Circle.
- McLaughlin said that the town is thinking of adopting the road, but it would only make fiscal sense to adopt it after the N.C. Dept. of Transportation finishes widening Rockfish Road. The runoff water from Deaver Circle drains into Rockfish Road. If the town waits for the N.C. DOT to finish their project, it won’t have to pay to fix the stormwater system by Deaver Circle.
- McLaughlin also had to clarify that even if the houses on Deaver Circle were part of Hope Mills, the street itself was never adopted by the town.
- It was recommended for the town to reach out to Rep. Frances Jackson (D-Dist. 45) to see whether the road would be eligible for a state grant from the N.C. DOT for orphan roads.
Public hearing
- What happened: The board held a public hearing on the petition request for a potential annexation of 7.95 acres at 6905 Camden Road.
- No one from the public spoke in favor or against the annexation.
- The board voted unanimously to rezone the annexation.
- Why it matters: The town staff will zone the majority of the property into a residential district. The other portion will be zoned as planned service and retail.
Public comments
- What happened: Only one person signed up for public comments, former Commissioner Grilley Mitchell. He talked about the need for a multi-use and multipurpose building for the town that can also serve as a white flag shelter. He also said that it’s time for the town to raise taxes in order to fund projects the town needs to finish.
Town manager report
- What happened: McLaughlin updated the board about several construction projects and community events happening in Hope Mills.
- The Senior Expo will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Hope Mills Recreation Center. This expo will feature important information, vendors, and breakout sessions that could be useful to Hope Mills' senior citizens. Sen. Val Applewhite (D-Dist. 19) will also speak.
- Hope Mills’ Charter Day is March 9. The town plans to host a celebration at the Thomas Campbell Oakman Memorial Chapel at 1 p.m. There will be food and speakers from Hope Mills’ Historic Preservation committee.
- The Cotton Tail Trail will be Hope Mills’ Easter event. The family-friendly event will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 23 at Hope Mills Municipal Park. There will be food trucks, a petting zoo, vendors, and a visit from the Easter Bunny.
- Hope Mills will also be hosting The Dignity Closet at the Hope Mills Recreation Center from 3 to 7 p.m. March 28.This event will allow women in need throughout Cumberland County to come and receive clothing, toiletries, and other supplies for free.
- Work is expected to start on the Hope Mills Lake Multi-Use Path on March 15.
Other business
The board approved proclamations in recognition of Women’s History Month and Hope Mills Town Charter Day.
The Stormwater Department asked the town to approve a Household Hazardous Waste & Shred event for April 20 for residents. The event is held annually for residents to get rid of excess paper and legal documents. The official motion would also instruct Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin to contract with a shredding firm.
The board unanimously approved a bid proposal from Diamond Constructors Inc. for the construction of the Veterans Memorial Parking Lot. The contract will not be more than $128,000, according to the agenda.
The board also voted to dispose of three vehicles considered surplus property and to adopt three streets to the town. The streets are Scenic Pines Drive, Mayfern Drive and Legend Creek Drive. The adoption of these streets officially finish phase four of the Sheffield Farms Subdivision project.
The board also voted to approve nine volunteer applications for town committees.
Before the board finished for the evening, they went into closed session for around 20 minutes to discuss attorney client privilege and personnel matters.
The board will next meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the Public Safety Building for its budget retreat.
Contact Hannah Lee at hannahleenews@gmail.com.
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