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/777012
JANUARY 25-31, 2017 UCW 9 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JEFF THOMPSON, Senior News Reporter. COMMENTS? news@upandcomingweekly. com. 910.484.6200. NEWS "We need to send a clear message to the county that we won't be caught flat-footed again," said Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin. That was a year ago when City Council begrudgingly agreed to a temporary sales tax revenue distribution method. In North Carolina, county governments have the authority to divvy up sales tax money to cities and towns. They must use one of two methods stipulated by the state; per capita population or ad valorem property basis. The population method currently in use tends to favor the City of Fayetteville and towns. But there's a caveat that Mayor Nat Robertson wants done away with. The city agreed in 2004 to rebate 50 percent of new city sales taxes collected in the big bang annexation area. About 46,000 residents on the west side of the county were taken into the city, significantly increasing sales tax collections for the city. Over time, the city has refunded about $65 million, mostly to county government, with smaller amounts going to the towns. Robertson wants to phase out the rebates over the next 14 years. Under his plan, if county commissioners were to agree to it, the 50 percent revenue refund would be reduced by 10 percent a year over 14 years, after which the city would no longer rebate any tax receipts. "We just want them to do the right thing," Robertson said. In January of last year, county commissioners began talking about possibly changing the formula. The county threatened to adopt the other distribution method, which doles out revenue by tax district. That would benefit the county and financially hurt the city and towns. "It would be political suicide" for commissioners to make any changes," Colvin said, noting that most of the county's voters live in Fayetteville and the small towns. Commissioners and City Council members agreed to a truce for three years, with the condition that the boards begin new negotiations this month. County Commission Chairman Glenn Adams is suggesting that a joint committee of local government officials meet to hash out a new deal. It would go into effect in July, 2019. His idea is that a small group of six elected officials, including two from Fayetteville, one each from Hope Mills and Spring Lake and two members representing the county's small towns come together to begin negotiations. Adams hasn't said how many commissioners would join in the discussions, but he hinted at three. Fayetteville decided instead to place four of its councilmen on the committee. "The problem is they would have more members on the committee than we would," Adams said. "Clearly four is not going to work. It's just a working committee, and it's only about coming up with proposals," he added. "It's a great opportunity for compromise," Councilwoman Kathy Jensen said. "If they don't want to compromise, we'll figure it out," she added. City and County Agree to Disagree by JEFF THOMPSON The city agreed in 2004 to rebate 50 percent of new city sales taxes collected in the big bang annexation area. Local governments have endorsed and committed funding for the North Carolina Civil War History Center proposed for Fayetteville. Cumberland County Commissioners joined Fayetteville City Council in adopting formal resolutions in support of the proposed $65 million branch of the state Museum of History. The city and county agreed to provide $7.5 million each if the state legislature and Governor Roy Cooper approve an appropriation of $30 million from the state. Rep. Billy Richardson (D-Cumberland) is optimistic the funds will be included in the governor's budget. State Sen. Wesley Meredith (R-Cumberland) says he believes the Senate will favorably consider funding the history center. The History Center Foundation budget asks the state for $30 million. The rest of the money would be raised statewide in private contributions. Foundation President Mac Healy says $6.5 million has already been pledged locally. The facility would be built on the site of the historic Fayetteville Arsenal in Old Haymount. City Council endorsed the project late last year. Commissioners were asked by the foundation to make a commitment in September. They had not publicly discussed the matter since then, but adopted their resolution of support and funding last week without comment. Their vote was unanimous. Once built, the center would become a state-owned branch of the North Carolina Division of History. Neither city nor county taxpayers will pay to operate it. Healy notes the history center will be the first of its kind in the nation. It will examine the antebellum period, the impact of the Civil War and reconstruction. He describes the center as an education facility, not a museum. "It will deal honestly and factually with the entire period and will examine the events and impacts of this tragic time in our history on all who lived through it," Healy said. City Councilman Chalmers McDougald says that can't be emphasized too much to allay concerns of African Americans. Here's one of the stories from the Civil War Center Foundation's historic research: Henry Lawson Wright was only 19 when he left his home in Tarboro to go off to war with the Edgecombe Guards. Henry was one of 88 privates in the Edgecombe unit. It had nine noncoms and four commissioned officers. This group became Company A of the First Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers. On June 10, 1861, the First North Carolina was in Virginia near a place called Big Bethel Church, not far from Hampton. That's where the war began for Henry. His unit got into a skirmish with a group of Massachusetts troops. On the battlefield was a house. Inside were some of those Massachusetts soldiers. An officer decided it would be a good idea to burn them out. So, on that Monday morning in 1861, Private Henry Lawson Wyatt and four comrades crossed a field to burn the house. It isn't known how far Henry advanced or what his thoughts were as he and his comrades undertook their mission. None of it really matters anymore. What matters is that shots were fired from somewhere along the Federal line. What matters more is that one of those shots slammed into the head of Henry Lawson Wyatt. The Battle of Bethel Church ended after about two hours, and the Federals retreated. Henry never opened his eyes again. He died that night. He was the battle's only Confederate fatality and was the first soldier from North Carolina who died in combat. Thirty-five thousand North Carolinians followed over the next four years. Civil War History Center Endorsed by JEFF THOMPSON The North Carolina Civil War History Center will deal honestly and factually with the entire period, said Mac Healy.