Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure And Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge city to prioritize parks, sewer extensions and housing supports
Summary
Speakers at the May 13 meeting urged the Oxford Board of Commissioners to address a lost Thriving Communities grant, secure a neighborhood park for the Grama community, expand sewer service near Salem Road development, and consider nonprofit proposals for first‑time homebuyers.
Several residents used the May 13 public comment and public hearing periods to press the Oxford Board of Commissioners for action on parks, sewer service and housing support.
Jason Duncan, an organizer with Down Home North Carolina, reported that a Thriving Communities grant his group had been pursuing was discontinued and renewed a public plea for a park in the Grama neighborhood. ‘‘There will be a park within five miles of every established community — that was in the 2006 plan — and it’s been 19 years,’’ Duncan said, asking the commission what the city will do in this budget cycle to complete the project.
Karen McGee, representing the Granville County Fuller Center for Housing, told the board her nonprofit is developing a proposal to assist first‑time Oxford homebuyers and said the group would be following up with a written plan and requests for city partnership with builders and lenders.
During the public hearing period, Philip Harris, a Salem Township resident, raised concerns about a large new development along Salem Road. Harris said his homestead community lacks sewer service and asked the board to ensure long‑time residents are not bypassed when utilities are extended for new development.
Other commenters, including Christian Thomas, urged caution on large new projects while the city is experiencing turnover in department leadership and recommended hiring an assistant city manager to improve administration during transition. Thomas also urged the commission to consider using fund balance to maintain the city’s 20% ownership share in the Carr Lake Regional Water Treatment Plant after the city lost a $10 million grant for an expansion.
None of the public‑comment items resulted in an immediate board vote; commissioners acknowledged the concerns and said staff would follow up as part of budget and planning discussions.
