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/1422329
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 27-NOVEMBER 2, 2021 UCW 9 WARNER: One of the achievements that our board can be proud of is the successful adoption of another balanced budget with no property tax increases for our citizens. Our budgets have provided cost of living increases for our staff and met the needs of our community with a focus on public safety. Another achievement would be successful planning, financing and ground breaking of our new public safety building. is construction is on schedule and our board receives timely reports on expenditures and progress. ird, results from a first ever round-table discussion with area legis - lators of town needs that have been granted within the state budget of 2021. Our Capital Improvement Plan allowed quick access to projects with estimates of cost to give necessary information to our legislators. Our request for $350,000 for stormwater projects was put in the budget first and thanks to our delegation more projects were requested for possible funding. We should receive with approval of the state budget the following funding: at Municipal Park -$340,000 for splash pad, $340,000 for all- inclusive playground, at dam area-$500,000 for Rockfish Creek Bed clearing, $2,500,000 for repair of sides of creek bed on East Patterson Street (due to flooding damage from hurricanes) and $650,000 for pave - ment and repairs of streets in Woodland Hills. Our board can now re- prioritize the remaining Capital Improvements and plan for additional community needs. is mayor is thankful for Senators deViere, Clark, Representatives John Szoka, Billy Richardson, Marvin Lucas and Diane Wheatley for making this happen for Hope Mills. With Hope Mills Mayoral Candidates NEWS Working collectively with the other Hope Mills Commissioners over the current term, what three achievements are you most proud of? BELLFLOWERS: Town operating budget. e town board approved its budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year that does not include an in- crease in the tax rate. e approved budget is the largest town oper- ating budget in the history of Hope Mills that meets the needs of the town while living within its means without raising property taxes! John W. Hodges Public Safety Center, the town board unanimously approved a new police and fire department complex at the site of the old headquarters next to Town Hall. e new safety facility is being built and completed in 2022. e town budgeted $17 million for the project which is funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan. Even with completion of this project, we must still find a workable, affordable solution to build at least one or two new satellite facilities over the next five years. Closing Crampton Road stub. As our community continues to grow, neighborhoods must be protected from the dangers of too much traffic. For example, recently the citizens of two established neigh - borhoods (Golfview and Brightmoor) voiced their concerns about a potential traffic problem that would have evolved with an apartment complex that wanted to use their neighborhoods as a possible ingress and egress for apartment traffic. I agreed with their safety concerns. is issue dragged on for eight months while Mayor Warner formed a committee to study it. e committee only met one time without resolution. Finally, after frustrating delays by Commissioners Marley and Edwards, Mayor Pro-tem McCray and Mayor Warner, the town board made the decision to close the road stub. It was the right thing to do to protect and maintain the safety for these neighborhoods. e U.S. Congress is currently debating infrastructure legislation. What infrastructure project(s) in Hope Mills should have the highest priority? What ways would you maximize funding resources for Hope Mills? BELLFLOWERS: e American Rescue Plan (ARP) is a defining moment with a unique opportunity to invest in our town's long-term future. But, I would like to emphasize the importance of municipalities-county collabora- tion. For example, elected officials should think as one Cumberland County regarding the strategizing of priorities for spending this one-time funding throughout our county. In July 2021, the town received $2,525.517.90 in ARP funding. e town will receive the second half of the funding in July 2022. e town has until 2024 to obligate the funds, and 2026 to use them. is is not the time to make quick, unresearched decisions to spend this money on immediate needs that may not be eligible for these funds. Eligible uses for ARP include: supporting public health expenditures; addressing the negative economic impacts of the pandemic; providing premium pay for es - sential workers and investing in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. Remember, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity not only for Hope Mills, but all the municipalities in Cumberland County. Collectively, it may not be the best practice to duplicate spending efforts. If elected mayor, my sound recommendation to maximize funding for Hope Mills: Identifying eligible ARP funding priorities should start with reviewing the town's current Capital Improvement Plan and the Stormwater Strategic Master Plan. During the Spring 2022 Budget Retreat, departments should make priority recommendations during the budget process to begin the process of researching the priorities that may qualify for matching grants, therefore, adding additional funding to the ARP funds. We have one time to get this right regarding appropriate uses of the funds and the audits required. WARNER: In my opinion, the maintenance and paving of our town streets should be ranked near the top. We have had a study completed with a plan for maintenance and paving for all town streets with the price tag that we simply can not afford. Even budgeting on a yearly basis, it would be difficult to stay on target with inflation issues, normal road deterioration, etc. Also needed is the ever-present, growing funding for stormwater prepara - tions. ankfully, included within the state budget expenditures for 2021 is $350,000 for our town's study for future requirements for storm water funding. When this study is completed we can use it for leveraging our infrastructure funding. Our town's strategic plan can be used for evidence in both instances (street maintenance and stormwater) to assure ways of acquiring and maxi - mizing funding. ELECTION DETAILS Election Day is, Nov. 2. On Election Day, go to the polling place as- signed to your precinct between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. ose in line by 7:30 pm, will be able to vote. If you go to the wrong polling place in Hope Mills and don't have time to go to the correct poll, ask to use a provisional ballot. If you have any questions or concerns you can call the Cumberland County Board of Elections at, 910-678-7733. If you are properly registered, your vote will count. Jacquelyn Warner is a small business owner at Carleen's Baby Boutique and a retired principal and teacher. Warner was born June 24, 1950. She is married to, Alex, and has two children a son, Teddy, daughter, Molly and has five grandchildren. Warner has served as mayor of the town of Hope Mills since 2011 and previously served as a town commission- er from 2007 to 2009. She can be reached at 910-309-7779.