Board to again consider ordinances to remove homeless from county property

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners on Monday again will discuss and vote on a proposed ordinance to ban camping on county-owned property.

 The scheduled vote and discussion will occur at the regular monthly meeting. The board meets in Room 118 at 6:45 p.m. at the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.

 The city of Fayetteville adopted a similar ordinance on Aug. 8. The city’s ordinance makes it unlawful to camp on city-owned property. County officials predict that enforcement of that ordinance will likely shift the homeless people camping in the city parking lot across from the downtown library to the county-owned library property.

 According to information given to commissioners by its legal staff, “as the city continues to enforce its ordinance, it is likely more campsites will be shifted to county property. The library is already experiencing human waste being dumped in the dumpsters and persons urinating and defecating in the storm drain grate and urinating on the public walkways on the property. The ordinance prohibiting camping and parking unlicensed vehicles on county property is intended to avoid the public nuisance created by persons staying on the property overnight.”

 The proposed ordinance banning camping on county property and an amendment to the current parking ordinance are on Monday’s agenda for a second reading because commissioners did not vote unanimously to approve the recommended ordinances at their Nov. 21 meeting.

 County Attorney Rick Moorefield recommends the amendment to the ordinance regulating parking on county property and the ordinance prohibiting camping on county property be adopted.

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In other business, commissioners are scheduled to hold public hearings for two economic development requests.

Robert Van Geons, president and CEO of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corp., is scheduled to request the county provide tax incentives for the next several years for Goodyear Tire Co. The incentives would be a reduction by 50% of the annual county taxes generated by Goodyear.

The annual tax incentives requested total $179,775 for 2023; $239,700 for 2024; $299,625 for 2025; $359,550 for 2026; $419,475 for 2027; $479,400 for 2028; and $539,325 for 2029. The total is $2,516,850. 

In return, Goodyear has to maintain 1,789 jobs during the term of the incentive agreement. Terms of the incentive agreement also include: 

• Incentive payments for six years in an amount not more than 50% of the increase in Goodyear’s taxes annually due to its increased investment in taxable property after Jan. 1, 2023. 
• The direct jobs must be maintained all years, to include beyond the five years required by the state grant. 
• Any breach of the state grant shall constitute a breach of the county agreement. 

Additionally, Van Geons is scheduled to ask for $1.25 million in matching funds for an economic development services contract. However, a contract had not been prepared in time to add it to the agenda background material, but Van Geons has agreed the contract shall contain the following essential terms and conditions: 

• The county shall transfer $1.25 million to FCEDC. 
• FCEDC shall provide services to assist businesses located in Cumberland County and employing less than 50 employees to grow their businesses and create at least 100 new full-time jobs in Cumberland County within five years, commencing when the transfer of funds is made. 
• FCEDC may use and withdraw up to $12,500 for each job created up to 100 jobs. 
• If any new job is not maintained by the employer for one year, FCEDC shall repay $12,500 to the county. Maintaining the job includes hiring another employee to fill the newly created position if an employee separates from employment. 
• If FCEDC fails to repay any funds, the county shall withhold those funds from other county funds appropriated to FCEDC. 
• Any funds not used for this purpose during the contract term shall be repaid to the county. 

 Since this is an expenditure for economic development, it requires a public hearing. 

 The commissioners also are expected to go into closed session to discuss buying property and discuss attorney/client issues. 

 Jason Brady covers Cumberland County government for CityView. He can be reached at jbrady@cityviewnc.com.