Hope Mills board discusses several items at retreat
By Donnie Sewell
The Sandspur
The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners made the most of a retreat held Feb. 17, focusing on a range of topics including infrastructure needs, possible public transportation solutions and a couple of parks and recreation projects.
Town Manager Randy Beeman said the board spent about five hours discussing various topics, including taking action on several items.
The highlights included:
Creating a capital improvement plan, including providing funding from the general fund or creating a revenue source solely for the plan. Beeman said that would be part of the budget process.
Included in the CIP would be developing a plan for a satellite fire station and police station and a new Public Works building. Beeman said there was some discussion on possibly considering combining the satellite fire and police stations as one.
The board also discussed staffing increases for the police and fire departments as they are needed as the town grows through annexation.
He said the town would pursue grants and other opportunities to help pay for increased staffing.
As for the Public Works building, Beeman said that it is outdated, old and in "very bad shape."
"It's a very difficult situation. I don't believe there is a lot of remodeling that could be done to it," Beeman said.
Beeman said the board discussed public transportation needs in the town. He said the board discussed several options, including reconnecting to the Fayetteville system or taking a similar approach as Spring Lake, which recently contracted with a private company to provide public transportation shuttles into Fayetteville.
Beeman said the board did not take any action during the retreat, but that board members realize it is an important issue.
"It's not just about providing transportation to another area," Beeman said. "It could also benefit us by bringing people here."
Beeman said the board discussed possible solutions to providing sewer to areas of town that do not have sewer service. Some areas were annexed without established sewer service, including neighborhoods along Chaucer Drive, Clovis Court and Labonte Drive.
"The town doesn't have sewer that goes along some parts of Rockfish (Road)," Beeman said.
Included in that discussion was the possibility of closing some doughnut holes throughout the town through annexation.
The board discussed using an 8-acre tract of land along Legion Road for soccer fields. If it's unable to be used for fields, the town may consider selling it, Beeman said. He said the land was originally purchased for a satellite fire station. Those plans were scrapped, however, because of the electrical grid right-of-way on the land that limited its use as a fire station.
The board agreed to work with N.C. State University and the county Planning Department to develop Heritage Park near Hope Mills Lake.
Funding for the agreement with N.C. State was included on Monday's consent agenda.
N.C. State students will work with the town to develop a plan for the park, which sits on the south side of Lakeview Road.
The board approved funds for and chose a location for a skate park near the concession stand at Hope Mills Municipal Park.
Beeman said the skate park would be between fields Nos. 4, 5 and 6. He said the town is exploring options on what material to use to construct the skate park ramps. The original plans called for a wooden structure, which would be a high maintenance item, Beeman said.
The board voted to proceed with replacing the Hope Mills Lake pier near Big T's. Beeman said the town had funds in the budget for the project. He said the town received a quote in October 2009 but will seek updated bids for the project.
The board discussed ways of marketing the Exit 41 interchange near Interstate 95. Beeman said the town will work with the Cumberland County Business Council and the Hope Mills Area Chamber of Commerce to help develop the area.
The board discussed installing a surveillance system at Hope Mills Lake dam, including a camera and lighting system for the spillway sidewalk area.
Beeman said an anonymous donor had previously expressed interest in donating funds for a large water structure in the lake. He said the board was interested in checking to see if the donor is still interested in the project.
Beeman said there was discussion of adding signage to the spillway stack honoring the boards who oversaw the dam/spillway project.
Beeman said the board discussed exploring a paperless agenda system, including an electronic voting system. The computerized voting system would be similar to the one Fayetteville uses, which shows each board member's vote.
Beeman said going paperless could provide large savings in paper cost and could improve communication between board members and town staff.
Staff writer Donnie Sewell can be reached at sewelld@fayobserver.com or 486-3570.