Harnett County commissioners approve budget amendments, park timber harvest, school financing action and multiple grants

The Harnett County Board of Commissioners approved a bundle of administrative and project actions at its March 3, 2025, meeting, including budget amendments; acceptance of the high bid and authorization to contract for a 476.3-acre thinning and regeneration harvest at Anderson Creek Park; and a resolution authorizing negotiation of an installment financing contract for construction of Flatwoods Middle School.

The approvals reflect routine county business and project preparations, county staff said during the meeting recap. The board also approved minutes, accepted a grant for the public library, approved a fireworks application for Campbell University baseball games, and reappointed a planning board member.

Board action and context

The board approved budget amendments during the county manager’s report. Parks and Recreation’s request to accept the high bid for a thinning and regeneration harvest covering 476.3 acres at Anderson Creek Park was approved, and the board directed staff to enter into the contracts necessary to complete the project. Emergency Services’ request to approve a fireworks application from Pyro East Coast Incorporated for Campbell University’s baseball season displays was approved.

The finance officer requested, and the board approved, a resolution authorizing negotiation of an installment financing contract to support construction of Flatwoods Middle School; the transcript records the request but does not specify final contract terms or a financing amount. Veterans Farm of North Carolina Incorporated asked the board to reimburse system development and tax fees totaling $21,000; that reimbursement request was approved as recorded in the meeting recap.

The Harnett County Board of Commissioners reappointed Donna Wood to the Harnett County Planning Board as the District 5 member. The board also accepted an award under the American Library Association’s Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant program to the public library.

Other actions and recognitions

A resolution supporting the North Carolina Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s legislative request for increased recurring state funding for the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council was adopted. The board approved a resolution confirming creation of an America250 North Carolina County Committee. A special presentation recognized Scott Tartt for his participation in a donation effort for Western North Carolina. The meeting opened for public comment; five citizens provided remarks, though the recap does not list their names or subjects.

What the board directed next

Beyond formal approvals, the board specifically directed staff to enter into contracts related to the Anderson Creek Park timber harvest. The financing resolution for Flatwoods Middle School authorizes negotiation of an installment contract but does not itself finalize loan terms or an executed contract.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of meeting minutes for Feb. 17 and Feb. 25, 2025 — Outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified. - Resolution supporting NC Division of Juvenile Justice legislative request for increased recurring state funding for the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council — Outcome: adopted; mover/second: not specified. - Parks and Recreation: accept high bid and authorize staff to enter contracts for thinning and regeneration harvest of 476.3 acres at Anderson Creek Park — Outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified; note: board directed staff to enter contracts. - Emergency Services: approve fireworks application from Pyro East Coast Incorporated for Campbell University baseball displays — Outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified. - Finance: adopt resolution authorizing negotiation of an installment financing contract for construction of Flatwoods Middle School — Outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified; note: resolution authorizes negotiation only. - Veterans Farm of North Carolina Incorporated: reimbursement of system development and tax fees, $21,000 — Outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified. - Reappointment of Donna Wood (District 5) to Harnett County Planning Board — Outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified. - Public library: accept ALA Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant award — Outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified. - Resolution confirming creation of America250 North Carolina County Committee — Outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified.

Meeting logistics and next steps

The county announced a town hall meeting scheduled for March 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Anjer Depot to be hosted by Commissioner Jaggers and Commissioner Matthews. The next work session is scheduled for March 11 at 9:00 a.m., and the next board meeting is scheduled for March 17 at 9:00 a.m. The county’s meeting recording and materials are available at www.harnett.org/b0c. The meeting recap did not include vote tallies or names of individual movers and seconders for motions.