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Residents and organizers urge county to pursue public pool funding; invite commissioners to mental health town hall
Summary
During the meeting’s public-comment period speakers urged Person County commissioners to pursue a public pool and to attend a county mental-health town hall. Organizers cited prior county funding opportunities that were not used and noted a federal grant (Thriving Communities) with application deadlines in April and July.
Four speakers used the board’s informal comment period on April 7 to press for investments in community amenities and services, including a public pool, and to publicize an upcoming mental-health town hall.
Benita Persil invited commissioners to a Thursday town hall at City Hall on mental health, intellectual disabilities and substance use; she said a representative from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid division and the CEO of Via Health would speak.
Kim Wheaton, a resident who said she has lived in Person County nine years and recently had knee surgery, urged commissioners to “reconsider” building a public pool, stressing benefits for seniors, families and rehabilitation. Anita Charnacker, who said she has lived in the county nearly 25 years, also urged a county pool and suggested the parks-and-recreation property between the basketball court and offices as a possible site.
Sam Lias, community organizer with Downhome North Carolina, reported that residents he canvassed repeatedly place a public pool among their top priorities. Lias said Person County has had funding opportunities for a public pool in the past that were not used, and he encouraged the county to pursue new funding. He told the board there is a federal grant opportunity he described as the “Thriving Communities” grant offering between $75,000 and $350,000 for pool-type projects and said the first application deadline was April 30 with a second deadline in July.
Speakers offered petitions and flyers; the board did not take action during the meeting but commissioners thanked the speakers and did not schedule specific follow-up during the session.
