Cumberland County commissioners authorize transit grants, renew inmate health contract and expand employee tuition benefits

Cumberland County commissioners on Sept. 15 voted unanimously to authorize submission of multiple N.C. Department of Transportation grant applications for the county's community transportation program, approve a first amendment to the inmate health-care agreement with Wellpath LLC and update county personnel policies to expand tuition assistance to include short professional certificates.

The actions, taken during a regularly scheduled meeting in the Cumberland County administrative complex in Fayetteville, include approval to submit FY27 grant applications for the community transportation program (grant categories 5307, 5310, 5311 and ROAP), authorization for County Manager Clarence Greer to sign the applications, a contract amendment for inmate medical services totaling approximately $5,300,000 and a personnel policy change that adds reimbursement for certification programs in addition to degree tuition assistance.

Board Chair Kirk J. DeVlier and Vice Chair Sherwin Jones joined all other commissioners in voting on the measures; zoning items and other routine consents were also adopted during the meeting.

Why it matters

The NCDOT community transportation grant funds support mobility services for older adults, people with disabilities and other targeted populations in Cumberland County. The Wellpath contract covers delivery of medical services to people housed in the county jail and represents a multi-million-dollar recurring…