Luther chosen for board seat
By Donnie Sewell
The Sandspur
Former Commissioner Doris Luther was selected to fill a vacant seat on the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners on Monday.
Board members voted 4-0 to appoint Luther to serve on the board. Luther fills the seat that was initially won by Tina Odom in the November general election.
Luther was a three-term commissioner before finishing in sixth place in the November election, behind Odom.
Odom's town residency was challenged after the election. The county Board of Elections upheld the challenge, saying Odom did not live at the Legion Road residence listed on her voter registration.
Odom was not sworn onto the board in December. The town decided to keep the seat open until Odom's legal action had run its course.
Odom's Superior Court appeal of the elections board's decision was denied in February. Odom said she will not appeal the ruling. She filed for the N.C. House of Representatives District 45 race instead.
Commissioners declared the seat vacant at the March 1 meeting and began accepting letters of interest to fill the seat.
Nine people submitted letters, including Luther. Luther will be sworn in at the April 5 meeting.
Luther said she is ready to get to work for the town after waiting four months to see how things would turn out.
"In six years of service, I only missed two meetings," Luther said. "And one of those I participated over the phone. I have always put Hope Mills Number 1, and I'll continue to do so."
Luther said there are several issues she'd like to see addressed over the next two years.
Among them are finding ways to curb safety issues caused by burglaries, vandalism and other illegal activities in the town.
She said she will continue to pursue green issues. Annexation also will be something the town will need to study, but shouldn't be done until the town can pay for needed services.
"I have always said annexed areas should be able to pay for services itself," she said. "I don't believe (existing) residents should have to pay for the services for new residents."
Other business
Town Manager Randy Beeman said the town's new recycling program may be showing some good results.
He said the town put 104 fewer tons of refuse in the landfill in February as compared to January, when the recycling program was started. Beeman said the town collected 311 tons of garbage in February compared to the 415 tons collected in January, about a 25 percent reduction.
The board voted to close a portion of Moulder Street between Casper Street and Bolt Drive after a public hearing.
Dr. Kent Dean, owner of Southern Oaks Animal Hospital, owns property on both sides of Moulder Street. He informed the board that he may be willing to donate several lots of the land for a future dog park or a similar use.
The board appointed Amy Barrett to the Parks and Recreaton Advisory Committee.
The board authorized the purchase of five self-contained breathing apparatus air packs, tanks and related items for $26,592.35.
Staff writer Donnie Sewell can be reached at sewelld@fayobserver.com or 486-3570.