Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1009811
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 1-7, 2018 UCW 15 Hope Mills commissioners reject veterans retreat center by BILL BOWMAN (continued from page 4) PUBLISHERS PEN was made, just an explanation of the organization, its mission and the project. FACT: After that meeting, the board was enthusi- astic and optimistic, and all spoke favorably about the project. ey led Jung to believe they wanted the project in Hope Mills. FACT: e mayor knew about LSF's interest in Hope Mills. However, before the LSF could present any program/proposal, its representatives wanted to make sure the site was workable. FACT: LSF completed its due diligence, a process that included soil and terrain testing and several site visits. e FCCEDC has maps and information about all tracts of land available for economic develop- ment, both private and public. It is the FCCEDC's job to provide information and assist potential investors interested in locating within Cumberland County. FACT: It is at this phase of the due diligence that the town's attorney and town manager assist in the pro- cess. ere were never any secrets. Nor was informa- tion withheld from the Hope Mills commissioners as alleged. Everyone was doing their job for the better- ment of Hope Mills and Cumberland County. FACT: e McAdams Firm is working on a separate project, the Hope Mills Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan. For the most part, the fact-finding and surveys have been completed. Based on the residents' comments, the project's primary focus will be on the Hope Mills Lake Park, Heritage Park and the golf course. ese were identified as priorities. is is still a work in progress. However, it has been acknowl- edged that there are many town-owned properties that could be considered for development in the future. However, town management is aware that cost and funding will be a major factor. A comprehensive site plan will be developed soon. Currently, the above mentioned three areas will take priority. Recently, a special town meeting was requested by Mitchell and Larson for Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. on the premise of discussing the Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan. It will also include a closed session to discuss a "personal matter." Since the three areas of development have already been determined, this meeting is speculatively being viewed as a retaliato- ry delay tactic to postpone or scuttle the scheduled Aug. 20 public hearing about the LSF project. Even though Commissioner Bellflowers has sup- ported this action, he is concerned. He wrote Mitchell requesting assurance that all discussions and actions regarding the LSF proposed project would take place in a public session. If the Aug. 20 meeting gets can- celed, Bellflowers will lose his do-over opportunity to prove he hasn't turned his back on his fellow veterans. In a recent memo, Bellflowers stated "… know, from the July 23rd meeting forward, ALL discussions and actions regarding the Lone Survivor Foundation proposed project will be conducted in open-session, with public input." His credibility is on the line here after being accused by many of being a hypocrite for not supporting military veterans and advocating for the LSF project. e closed session is another matter. At first, it looked like it was shaping up to be an organized be- rating session of Mayor Warner, but she is an elected official, so that wouldn't classify as a "personal matter." So, who does that leave? e town attorney? e town manager? Both have performed their jobs flawlessly with dedication and pride. Again, most of this dust-up about the LSF is aris- ing from personal issues each commissioner has against the mayor. And for what? Doing her job? For working hard and staying on top of the town's busi- ness and looking out for what's in Hope Mills' best interest? Below are the facts concerning the feasibil- ity of the Lake Bed #2 site. is information was eas- ily accessible to all Hope Mills commissioners had they taken the time to do their jobs. FACT: e FCCEDC found the LSF the perfect location in Lake Bed #2, and it had everything to do with the suitability. e property was beauti- ful, quiet, serene and available. It's good for Hope Mills, the veterans, Cumberland County and North Carolina as we would become known nationwide as a state that takes care of veterans. FACT: e land in question is split by a creek, and most of that is in a flood plain and not suitable for development. e 4-acre area that can be developed is what the LSF is interested in for constructing the retreat center. It even has a PWC lift station on prop- erty, sewage and electrical easements. e other needed 14+ acres will provide additional beauty, serenity and seclusion, all of which will be condu- cive to the therapy and treatments. e remaining 40+/-acres would remain with the town. FACT: e LSF offered to pay for the property; it was even willing to lease it. It wanted to work within what- ever parameters the commissioners set forth to make this a win-win achievement. To this end, the LSF made an initial good-faith offer and expected further negotia- tions. at never happened. e project was rejected out of hand even after LSF offered to add a reverser clause so if the town were to ever build a dam in the future, LSF would return the property. With that said … FACT: Lake Bed #2 has no possibility of being reinstat- ed as county reservoir. is was a misdirection put forth by Larson, Mitchell and the Hope Mills Chatter. Larson stated that she was "not willing to give it (property) away because of its potential value as a future reservoir." She didn't do her research. e records show that PWC, after evaluating the area, stated unequivocally that it would not consider damming up Lake Bed #2 as a res- ervoir. In addition, it would be financially burdensome with estimated costs of more than $10 million. FACT: Larson knew this going into the July 23 meet- ing. Mick Noland, PWC's chief operations officer of the Water Resources Division, contacted Hope Mills through Mayor Warner and discussed both the 1999 and 2014 studies. Evaluations conducted by PWC and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality since the completion of the 1999 and 2014 studies indicated that the Cape Fear River would be sufficient for a water supply well beyond 2050. Again, based on the study, PWC has no plans to recommend construction of reservoirs in the Hope Mills area. On July 18, Larson was advised of this decision to not pursue further evaluation or permitting of a reservoir. FACT: What was not been disclosed is that Hope Mills Chatter page administrator Lisa Carter Waring owns property in Cumberland County on Lake Bed #2 and would personally benefit if this development were to change in the future. FACT: e Hope Mills commissioners never noti- fied the LSF after rejecting the offer. It was stated that Teddy Warner was told of the decision. Again, Teddy works for the FCCEDC and was never the contact for negotiations. Commissioner Mitchell directed Town Attorney Dan Hartzog Jr. to send a letter of notifica- tion to LSF. It was received weeks after the rejection. FACT: e LSF's proposal was rejected in a three- to-one vote with Mitchell, Bellflowers and Larson against the project and Pat Edwards for it. FACT: When the open session resumed, the com- missioners told the public they had taken no action. e residents of Hope Mills had a right to learn about the LSF project and comment on it. e purpose of LSF returning for the July 23 meet- ing was threefold: To inform Hope Mills residents of the real intentions of the LSF; to defend and salvage its reputation that had been maligned by the Hope Mills Chatter Facebook page; and to get an affirma- tion of public input. e meeting was democracy in action. e town hall was filled with tax-paying citizens who wanted to be heard. ere was no may- hem, no circus, no rudeness or outright displays of outrage. Well, maybe Alex Warner did become a little overly sensitive, but only after his wife and son were maligned and mischaracterized. Honestly, if they assaulted my family like they did his, security would probably have escorted me from the building. FACT: e time is now to grow and brand Hope Mills as a renowned and respected Cumberland County community. at takes strong, respected leadership void of rumors, innuendo, suspicions and petty personal politics. It's time to shed the negative cliché of "Hopeless Mills." Mayor Warner is Hope Mills' flagship as was Eddie Dees and Ed Deaver. She's also a mother, grandmother, business owner and tax payer. Who better can relate to the residents of Hope Mills? Hope Mills does not need a leadership team of boastful braggarts, glamour girls, self-righteous au- thorities or comatose leaders from the '70s and '80s. If the Hope Mills commissioners turn their backs on the LSF project, the town and its tax-paying resi- dents, its active-duty military population, the thou- sands of veterans who support the community, and more importantly, the opportunity to do something significant and really, really good for humanity, then you might as well take the "hope" out of Hope Mills. I'll conclude this editorial piece with this not-so- ironic development. On Aug. 9, Cumberland County is hosting the North Carolina League of Municipali- ties to conduct a session that will focus on ethics in government. In view of what is taking place in Hope Mills, you would think the timing for this event would be perfect. No so. In a strange and unprec- edented move, most of the Hope Mills commission- ers are boycotting the event and refusing to attend. Despite the opportunity to talk and mix and mingle with other successful state and municipal leaders, they are blatantly ignoring their responsibilities and commitment to represent the citizens of Hope Mills. It's crazy. Even crazier, Commissioner Larson went on the record saying, "Ethics training is somewhat meaningless if it doesn't transfer into our everyday behavior." at's a statement we all can agree on. FACT: e Lone Survivor Foundation is an awe- some organization, and it does great things for so many. We know it will be successful. We can only hope it is here in our community. Stay tuned. ank you for reading and trusting Up & Coming Weekly.