Hope Mills receives clean audit
By Donnie Sewell
Staff writer
The town of Hope Mills had a 24 percent reserve fund balance at the end of fiscal year 2008-2009.
Mark Hedgepeth of Haigh, Byrd Lambert presented an audit report on the 2008-2009 fiscal year at Monday's regular meeting. Hedgepeth said the town was in good financial standing. Hedgepeth presented the report to the town's Finance Committee before the meeting, and the board unanimously accepted the report.
Finance Director John Ellis said during the Finance Committee meeting that the town has spent about $400,000 of the unreserved fund balance in this fiscal year, the bulk of that coming from the town's new recycling program and for the required dam monitoring program.
911, dispatch services
The board unanimously voted for the town to begin discussions on consolidating Hope Mills' dispatch and 911 services with Cumberland County. The discussions would include the costs to the town should it relinquish dispatch and 911 duties to the county. Mayor Eddie Dees said the town needed to know the possible costs before negotiations could begin.
The board followed the recommendation of Town Manager Randy Beeman.
Police Chief Robert Hassell had suggested turning over dispatch and 911 duties to the county during a board meeting last month. There was no discussion on the matter before Monday's vote.
Hassell said the current dispatch and 911 system at the police station could present a safety hazard. He also said maintaining the call system on site would be cost prohibitive for the town.
Several members of the board, including the mayor, had questioned the wisdom of giving up local control of emergency call and dispatch system. At the Jan. 4 meeting, the board voted to table the matter until a later date.
Board retreat
The board voted unanimously to hold a retreat to discuss a variety of town issues. The retreat will be held at 9 a.m. Feb. 17 at the Holiday Inn Express on Main Street.
Some of the items the board may discuss are the construction of a new police station, construction of a satellite fire station, staffing increases for the Police and Fire departments, Heritage Park development, a skate park and public transportation to connect with Fayetteville among others.
Other business
The board voted unanimously to consider closing a portion of Moulder Street. The request was made by Dr. William Kent Dean, who owns property on both sides of the street.
The street is currently a dirt road. Closing the portion of street bordered by Dean's property might allow the town to pave other portions of Moulder Street.
The closing would require a public hearing at March meeting.
The board approved $13,255 from the Powell Bill Fund for the repair of a street sweeper by Carolina Industrial Equipment.
The board unanimously approved the purchase of glass enclosures for Town Hall and the Hope Mills Recreation Center. The enclosures would provide more security for the areas of both buildings where financial transactions take place.
Beeman informed the board he had received a response from N.C. State University about using community planning students to help develop a plan for Heritage Park and Hope Mills Lake. He said the town must supply more information about projects they would like to see planned in the area to the college so the program can continue.
Staff writer Donnie Sewell can be reached at sewelld@fayobserver.com or 486-3570.