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Residents and nonprofit leaders urge continued outreach and raise safety and code‑enforcement concerns
Summary
Public commenters praised community outreach programs and the Airfield 4‑H Center's regional services, and raised safety concerns at the Food Lion intersection and about dump‑site cleanliness and unregulated 'junk' operations.
Several citizens used the board’s citizen comment period on Sept. 24 to highlight local outreach programs and raise public‑safety and code‑enforcement concerns.
A resident (S6) described recent Southampton Meadows Outreach activities supported by sponsors and the sheriff’s office, listing community events (book‑bag distribution of roughly 125 bags, trunk‑or‑treat, a spring extravaganza attended by about 500 residents) and roughly 75–78 families assisted. The speaker emphasized systems‑building to bring resources to under‑resourced neighborhoods and thanked county partners.
Dr. Kathy Gindon (S2), introduced herself as the new executive director of the Airfield 4‑H Center (Southeast 4‑H Educational Center) in Wakefield and said the center serves 16 jurisdictions including Southampton County. She reported that 85 Southampton youth attended summer camp in 2024, said she has raised more than $500,000 for maintenance and program improvements, and invited supervisors to an Oct. 5 open‑house event.
Resident Warren Simmons (S5) urged the board to act on traffic safety at the Food Lion stoplight, asking, “How long will it be before we have one at the Food Lion stoplight?” He also described hazardous scrap metal found at a county recycling/dump site and urged more consistent on‑site cleanup, and asked whether the county should adjust its enforcement or licensing where property activity looks like a business rather than a yard sale.
Why it matters: Public commenters provided specific examples of community programming and volunteer partnerships that benefit families, and raised immediate safety and sanitation concerns that supervisors referred to staff for follow up.
What happens next: Staff and supervisors indicated they will follow up on code‑enforcement complaint procedures and on reported dump‑site and stoplight safety issues; Dr. Gindon’s open‑house invitation provides an opportunity for board members to view program facilities.
