Commissioners approve rezoning, grant submissions, contract amendment and multiple water/sewer plans

Cumberland County commissioners on Sept. 15 approved a slate of land-use, contracting and administrative items, including three rezoning requests, authorization for the county manager to submit FY2027 community transportation grant applications to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, a first amendment to the inmate health-care agreement with Wellpath LLC, updates to personnel tuition and reimbursement policies and asset-management plans for several water and sewer districts.

The board met in the Cumberland County Commissioners Chambers and voted on multiple consent and standalone agenda items. Most votes were unanimous. Commissioner Tyson recused from one rezoning vote. The approvals affect county capital planning for water and sewer, the county jail health-care contract, staff education benefits and several pending private development projects.

The board authorized the county manager to submit FY2027 grant applications for the Community Transportation Program — including FTA 5307, 5310, 5311 and the NCDOT ROAP program — as required for operating funds for the county’s transportation services for targeted populations. Ross Howard, director of Planning and Inspections, presented the transportation item; the board approved the authorization by voice vote with no public speakers at the hearing.

On land-use matters the board approved three zoning cases heard in public hearings: - Case ZON25-0030: Rezoned from R6A (residential) to C2P (planned service and retail) for property at the Camden Road/Rockfish Road intersection; the board found the request consistent with the Southwest Cumberland land-use plan. The vote recorded Vice Chair Sherwin Jones, Chairman Kirk J. DeVier, Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Faircloth and Commissioner Adams in favor; Commissioner Tyson recused. - Case ZON25-0031: Rezoning from A1CZ (agricultural conditional) to A1 (agriculture) near Dunn Road for a proposed single-home use; staff recommended approval and the planning board had an 8–0 supporting vote; the board approved the request unanimously. - Case ZON25-0032: Rezoning from A1 (agricultural) to RR (rural residential) on Smoky Canyon Drive for a proposed second dwelling on a 0.92-acre lot. Staff and the planning board recommended denial (8–0); the full board approved the rezoning by motion, voting unanimously.

The board approved the first amendment to the county’s inmate health-care services agreement with Wellpath LLC. County Manager Clarence Greer told commissioners the contract amendment increases the contract amount to about $5.3 million and adjusts pricing in line with the consumer price index. The amendment passed unanimously.

Commissioners also approved updates to the county personnel policies that expand school-participation provisions, increase the existing tuition-assistance benefit (specific new caps were not specified in the meeting material) and add a new category to allow reimbursement for professional certification costs. During discussion Commissioner Adams proposed adding a certification reimbursement category at a suggested range of about $250–$1,000 per employee per year; county staff said they would implement the change and monitor usage against the existing line-item and bring any needed budget adjustments to a future meeting. The personnel policy changes passed unanimously.

Several water and sewer district items were approved as separate governing-board actions: the board accepted 10-year asset-management plans and capital-improvement plans for the Grays Creek, Kelly Hills (including a utility service agreement for a Slocum Road project), Norcrest and Overhills Park water and sewer districts. All those actions passed by unanimous vote.

Other business included proclamations and departmental recognitions presented earlier in the meeting and a public comment period in which community members urged reuse of the county event center site for an African American museum and representatives of the Vision Resource Center (VRC) thanked the board for funding that organization’s recent hires.

Votes at a glance (selected items spoken on the record): - Motion: Authorize county manager to submit FY2027 Community Transportation Program grant applications (Sections 5307, 5310, 5311 and ROAP) to NCDOT. Mover: Vice Sherwin Jones; Second: (not specified). Outcome: Approved (unanimous). - Motion: Approve rezoning Case ZON25-0030 (R6A → C2P). Mover: Commissioner Patel; Second: Commissioner Adams. Outcome: Approved (votes recorded: Vice Sherwin Jones, Chairman Kirk J. DeVier, Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Faircloth, Commissioner Adams; Commissioner Tyson recused). - Motion: Approve rezoning Case ZON25-0031 (A1CZ → A1). Mover: Commissioner Patel. Outcome: Approved (unanimous). - Motion: Approve rezoning Case ZON25-0032 (A1 → RR). Mover: Commissioner Faircloth; Second: Commissioner Adams. Outcome: Approved (unanimous); staff and planning board recommended denial. - Motion: Approve first amendment to inmate health-care agreement with Wellpath LLC (approx. $5.3 million total). Mover: Vice Sherwin Jones. Outcome: Approved (unanimous). - Motion: Approve updates to personnel policies (sections 7.1, 8.4, 8.5) to expand school participation, increase tuition-assistance eligibility and add certification reimbursement. Mover: Commissioner Adams. Outcome: Approved (unanimous). - Motion: Approve asset-management plans/10-year CIP for Grays Creek, Kelly Hills, Norcrest and Overhills Park water and sewer districts; approve Kelly Hills utility service agreement for Slocum Road project. Outcome: Approved (unanimous).

The board recessed into closed session later in the meeting for real property/economic development discussions under North Carolina law and reconvened, reporting no public action taken from the closed session.

Ending: The board adjourned after the closed-session reconvening; commissioners indicated staff will monitor new personnel policy usage and that planning staff will continue to work with applicants on infrastructure and utility extensions associated with approved rezonings.