Cumberland County Commissioners Sept. 10 Agenda Session Wrap-Up

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners held an Agenda Session on Sept. 10, 2026, at 1 p.m. in Room 564 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse. Agendas and supporting materials are available at cumberlandconc.portal.civicclerk.com.

Commissioner Glenn Adams led the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

The Board unanimously approved the agenda with the following change:

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The Board unanimously approved the Aug. 13 Agenda Session minutes.

3. PRESENTATIONS

A. Crown Corridor Update

Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Robert Van Geons gave an update on the Crown Corridor project and the next steps regarding the study. The Crown Corridor consists of 631 acres and 251 parcels ranked by availability for development or redevelopment.

No action was taken.

B. Animal Services Update

Animal Services Director Diane Pfeifer updated the Commissioners on Animal Services operations, trends, initiatives and future plans. The presentation included information about the Community Engagement Division Pilot, which is a program designed to bring together customer service, foster/rescue, volunteer services and dispatch. Animal Services has also reestablished collaboration with Friends of Cumberland County Animal Services.

No action was taken.

C. CMARC and CMHRP Update

Assistant County Manager Heather Skeens and Deputy Health Director Tamra Morris presented. The Care Management for At-Risk Children (CMARC) is a program designed to provide care management services for children from birth to five years old who are considered at risk due to long-term medical conditions, exposure to adverse childhood experiences, placement in foster care or time spent in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Care Management for High-Risk Pregnancies (CMHRP) is a program designed to support pregnant women at risk for adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth or low birth weight.

The Board discussed maternal health needs in Cumberland County and requested more information about what the County can do while working with community partners to address maternal health needs in the County.

D. Opioid Settlement Funds Data Presentation

Assistant County Manager Heather Skeens and Local Public Health Administrator Sanquis Graham presented an annual Opioid Settlement Funds update at the Aug. 13 Agenda Session. Cumberland County is receiving $31,843,355 over 18 years. The settlement funding is being used to promote multi-sector partnerships between healthcare agencies, mental health substance-use providers and community-based agencies that get individuals into treatment, provide recovery support and reentry services, and naloxone distribution.

No action was taken.

4. CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEMS

A. Crown Theatre and Arena Modernization and Renovation Scope

Representatives from Turner & Townsend Heery presented an update on the status of the Crown Renovation project. Information was presented about the work necessary to modernize and renovate the existing Crown Theatre and Arena. A significant amount of demolition and reconstruction is required. Commissioners discussed past studies of the Crown and work on the floor slab of the Arena in 2006.

No action was taken.

B. State of North Carolina Department of Transportation/NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program FY 2027 Funding

Justice Services Director Courtney McCollum presented. In January 2026, the State of North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) issued a request for grant applications under the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program (NCGHSP). Justice Services applied for funding to support the Sobriety/DWI Court. The NCDOT approved Cumberland County to begin the next phase of the funding process. Grant funding begins Oct. 1, 2026 and runs through Sept. 30, 2027 in the amount of $138,620.

The Board unanimously approved.

C. Request for Public Hearing for 5311 and Approval Submission of FY 2028 Applications for the Community Transportation Program (5311, 5310, 5307, ROAP Grant Funds, 5311 Certification and Resolutions)

Planning and Inspections Director Rawls Howard presented. Staff requests that a public hearing be held regarding the FY 2028 Community Transportation Program (5311) Grant Application, which is due Oct. 2, 2026. Staff also requests approval for submission of grant applications for ROAP, 5310 and 5307. This is an annual request that funds the Cumberland County Community Transportation Program, which coordinates existing transportation programs operating in Cumberland County using local transportation providers.

The Board unanimously approved the public hearing for 5311 and Approval Submission of FY 2028 applications for the Community Transportation Program.

D. Adoption of the Hope Mills Area Land Use Plan

Planning and Inspections Director Rawls Howard and Comprehensive Planning Manager Trey Smith presented. The planning area encompasses approximately 65,000 residents, including the Town of Hope Mills and is bound by the Robeson County line to the south, the City of Fayetteville to the north, the Hoke County line to the west, and Interstate 95 to the east. The Joint Planning Board unanimously recommended approval of the plan at its June 16 meeting. The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners formally adopted the plan on Aug. 3.

The Board unanimously approved adoption of the Hope Mills Area Land Use Plan.

E. Adoption to Utilize Cumberland County’s Alliance Health Fund Balance to Fund Best Days Psychiatry and Counseling

At the Aug. 13 Board of Commissioners Agenda Session, Alliance Health staff presented a request to utilize $300,000 of the County’s fund balance held by Alliance to fund Best Day Psychiatry and Counseling. A request to provide data regarding services was made. Medicaid reimbursement has not kept pace with the cost to provide psychiatric services in Cumberland County. Without this additional funding, Best Day may not be able to continue serving Medicaid and uninsured clients at the current service rate. Best Day has been serving Cumberland County since 2004.

The Board unanimously approved adoption to utilize Cumberland County’s Alliance Health Fund Balance to fund Best Days Psychiatry and Counseling.

5. PROJECT UPDATES

A. Aquatic Center

B. Crown Theatre and Arena Modernization and Renovation

C. Shaw Heights

D. Unhoused Support Center

E. Water and Sewer Updates

6. MONTHLY REPORTS

The Board unanimously accepted the following reports:

A. Finance Report

B. Health Insurance Update

C. Grants Update

D. Intergovernmental & Legislative Report July-August 2026

E. Capital Improvement Projects Report

7. COMMISSIONER REQUESTS

A. Interagency Planning Team for School Facilities and Land Returned to the County

Chairman Kirk deViere presented. As part of the consolidation plan of the Cumberland County Board of Education, school facilities and the land beneath them will return to the County. Chairman deViere requests staff convene an interagency planning team to inventory these properties, map them by the timing of their return and bring recommendations back to the Board for potential action at each location. The team should address every school facility and parcel identified for return to the County under the consolidation plan, whether the return is imminent or anticipated in a later phase.

The Board voted unanimously to bring a planning team item back to the October Agenda Session.

8. CLOSED SESSION

The Board entered Closed Session to discuss:

Attorney Client Matter Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3)
Economic Development Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(4)
Real Property Acquisition Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(5)

After the Closed Session, the Board voted unanimously to direct the County Manager to close the Crown Theater and Crown Arena to public events to allow for continued due diligence on the future of the facilities.

The Board adjourned the meeting at 5:04 p.m.

The next Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 21 at 6:45 p.m. in Room 118 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse, 117 Dick St., Fayetteville. The next Agenda Session will be held Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. in Room 564.

Board of Commissioners Regular Meetings and Agenda Sessions are livestreamed on the County’s YouTube Channel. Cumberland County can be found on social media by searching CCNCGov.

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