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.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 13-19, 2023 UCW 7 LETTER TO THE EDITOR Citizens of Hope Mills, As your full-time Mayor, I dedicate my time and efforts to the residents of Hope Mills by networking and facilitating the town's vision and strategic plan. My days are long, and my calendar is full, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I serve Hope Mills because I love Hope Mills, its history, culture, and, most importantly, its citizens. Our Hope Mills staff and Board of Commissioners have worked together for three successful terms to move Hope Mills forward. We are incredibly proud of our achievements and successes, proving we are better together! As your Mayor, I remain committed to building a talented and enthusiastic team that will include partnerships inside and outside of Hope Mills to continue improving our quality of life, planning for strong economic growth and development, improving our town's infrastructure and recreational resources, and providing a safe and secure environment for all Hope Mills citizens. Working for and advocating for the Town of Hope Mills is a full-time commitment, not a political stepping stone. Below are a few examples of what I, the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners and staff, accomplished in just two short years. However, there is still so much left to do. We will get it done! I would appreciate your support and your vote in the upcoming election. #1. Infrastructure: Hope Mills has encumbered more project funds than ever in history. Here is the breakdown: e NC Department of Public Safety funds $3,650,000, the NC Department of Environmental Quality $650,000, NC Office of the Governor $680,000. Federal Government ARPA Funding $5,050,036. Main Street Lake Park pedestrian walkways and crossing approximately $800,000. #2. Completion of: Public Safety Building, omas Oakman Chapel, restrooms and parking lot, new municipal parking at Town Hall and Parks and Recreation buildings, new sound system in Board room, and digital marquees at the lake and municipal park to improve communication with our citizens, opening of new basketball court, all-inclusive playground and splash- pad, and relocation of our Dog Park. And to start additional parking for Veterans Memorial Park with a recent grant from Federal EPA Community Project Funding of $350,000 to start and complete Heritage Park. #3. Traffic Solutions: Resolution with Fayetteville City Council to change Highway 59 designation to Main Street and Hope Mills Road, thereby GPS to direct through fare traffic to Highway 162 and I-295 to bypass Hope Mills. I-295 will give our growing housing developments another route to other parts of our County (Fort Liberty especially) rather than Main Street and its arteries such as Rockfish, Golfview, and Camden Roads. Our Multimodal Congestion Plan was developed with DOT to widened traffic patterns for better and safer access for our citizens. #4. Teamwork: Team Hope Mills's partnership with United Way for the Meal Packing Event 2022 won the Spirit Award for Most Participants. We participated in their Packing Meals this year at the Crown on August 24th. Child Advocacy Center partnership 2023 brought the first Pinwheel Event to Hope Mills, planting 1000 pinwheels at Town Hall. e Child Advocacy Center also trained town staff in Stewardship for Children. High school students were interns in our Planning and Parks and Recreation Departments. Hope Mills police department and Alms House partnered with Cumberland County Continuum of Care. Hope Mills Ministerial Association now meets regularly to plan Easter Sunrise Service at the lake, the National Day of Prayer, anksgiving Community Service, and Town Board Invocations. For staff development and to build a solid, harmonious team, the Fayetteville Cumberland County Human Relations Department facilitates our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training. #5. Planning: Our Budget Process starts early and includes all departments for 2021, 2022, and 2023. We developed a balanced budget meeting our town's needs without increasing property taxes. We continue to discuss with FAST bus lines, Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and FAMPO, to have a bus line to Hope Mills with stops at various locations so our citizens can travel within Hope Mills and a line to areas outside Hope Mills. e Development of an MIA Plan (municipal influence area) to include an update of the Southwest Cumberland County Land Use Plan (or a new land use plan) to address the growth not expected in the writing of the 2010 SWCLUP, which extends to 2030, is underway. #6. Leadership: Appointed by Cumberland County Commissioners as Senior Tarheel Delegate to the General Assembly and as an elected Mid Carolina Council on Aging member. I serve as Chair of the Mayors Coalition, which meets quarterly to discuss ways to support each other and Cumberland County. Former 2021-2022 chair of FAMPO –Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. We aim to develop plans that provide the safest and most efficient transportation while protecting and enhancing our environment. Please Vote Early October 19 thru November 4th or on November 7th. ank you— Moving Forward Together, Jackie Warner Up & Coming Weekly is accepting platform submissions from candidates for municipal office in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Email editor@upandcomingweekly.com or call 910-484-6200 for information