County Mayor’s Notes – April 15th, 2024

Cumberland County Commission Meeting
The April 2024 meeting of the Cumberland County Commission was held tonight with all in attendance except Commissioners Walker.  Before the Young Marines presented the colors and led the pledge to the flag, I recognized Gunnery Sergeant Costanza Billups for all her hard work as a part of the Young Marines and wished her well as she is graduating.  Well done!  This was also the first meeting for the new Assistant Director of the Finance Department, Christian Kerley.  Finance Director Jennifer Turner selected him to be the assistant and the Financial Management Committee approved the appointment.  Congratulations Christian!

Resolutions
The following resolutions were considered by the Cumberland County Commission.  The sponsor of the resolution is in parenthesis.

RESOLUTION 04-2024-1 – TO ACCEPT OFFERS(S) TO PURCHASE DELINQUENT TAX PROPERTY OWNED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY (HOLBROOK). The following delinquent tax properties were approved in a unanimous vote in favor of accepting the offers to purchase and will now go back on the tax rolls.

Offeror(s)     Property Address                                 Price            Ad
Laurie & Andrew Berben
1132 Goti Drive/150C C 8.00                   $269.20           $45.00
512 Seca Drive/150J N 7.00                    $270.40           $45.00
7028 Ute Lane/162A L 13.00                   $277.40           $45.00
520 Hiawatha Dr/162B G 7.00                 $273.20           $45.00
Roberts Property Ventures      
4160 Chica Rd/150O J 23.00                   $282.90           $45.00
904 Cahita Lane/150O L 9.00                  $259.10         $45.00
608 Arrow Dr/162B D 16.00                    $256.20           $45.00
2118 Black Wolf Dr/162B H 32.00            $275.40           $45.00
The Builders, LLC
52 Avalon Ct/103D C 60.00                     $255.60           $45.00
Jeff & Lindsey Armes        
                    16 Fox Den Ct/78P B 36.00                     $271.10         $45.00
                    121 Newcastle Ln/91A C 9.00                 $274.40         $45.00
Betzabe Navarro                          
811 Cahita Lane/150O G 30.00                $293.60           $45.00
Court Wiedenmayer 
1116 Goti Drive/150C C 16.00                 $670.50           $45.00

RESOLUTION 04-2024-2 – TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION (FOSTER).  Willie Freeman, Bill Hargis, Daniel Husk, Levon Hubbard, and Teddy Wanamaker were appointed, in a 17-0 vote, to the Board of Equalization.  This board reviews property owner complaints regarding property tax assessments.

RESOLUTION 04-2024-3 – APPROVING CUMBERLAND COUNTY’S PARTICIPATION IN UPPER CUMBERLAND WORKFORCE’S WORK EXPERIENCE (WEX) PROGRAM (MAXWELL).  The Upper Cumberland Workforce’s Work Experience (WEX) Program was created to provide valuable hands-on work experience to individuals wishing to develop and enhance employment skills.  This resolution, approved unanimously, allows Cumberland County to host participants, employed and paid for by the Upper Cumberland Workforce, while working in various county jobs.  Participants are eligible to work up to 25 hours per week and can work 10-12 weeks.

RESOLUTION 04-2024-4 – REMOVING AN END SECTION OF PLATEAU FIRE TOWER ROAD FROM THE COUNTY ROAD LIST (COOPER).  This resolution concerned reducing Plateau Fire Tower Road by 0.08 miles, from 0.53 miles to 0.45 miles.  It was approved 17-0.  The request had previously been approved by the Planning Commission and Environmental Committee.

RESOLUTION 04-2024-5 – APPROVING A FLAT FEE FOR ANY ROAD CHANGE REQUESTS TO THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION (WILSON).  This resolution set a flat fee of $100 for road change requests.  The cost was evaluated in an attempt to reflect the actual charges incurred by the county including publication of notices in the paper.  The resolution was approved unanimously.

RESOLUTION 04-2024-6 – APPROVING CHANGES TO THE SOLID WASTE TIRE DISPOSAL FEE (SEIBER).  This resolution concerned changes to old tires received by the county from companies and individuals.  Currently, the county is charged $135 per ton for tire removal.  The fees charged ($1.00/tire) for this disposal do not cover this cost.  This resolution authorizes the Solid Waste Department to charge the same tonnage fee of $135 to local companies disposing of truckloads of tires.  The $1.00 per tire disposal fee for residents will not change, but only five tires can be disposed of in one day before the tonnage fee will be charged.  The resolution was approved 17-0.

RESOLUTION 04-2024-20 – AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF INTEREST-BEARING GENERAL OBLIGATION CAPITAL OUTLAY NOTES OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY (STONE).  This resolution was an accounting mechanism to allow the use of Debt Service Fund Balance in the amount of $1,700,000 for capital items.  These expenses were approved in this budget, but still required this authorizing resolution for the mechanics of the spending.  The resolution was approved unanimously.

RESOLUTION 04-2024-21 – FUNDING CUMBERLAND COUNTY COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION (YORK).  You may recall that Governor Lee, Speaker Sexton, and Senator Bailey, gave Cumberland County a $2,000,000 grant in an effort to help with the repairs to the former courthouse.  This resolution moved those funds into the Courthouse Maintenance Fund so they can be used toward this project.  The resolution was approved 17-0.

The following routine budget amendments were approved by the Commission for various county departments:

  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-7 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, SOFTWARE AND OTHER CONTRACTED SERVICES (STONE).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-8 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, CERTIFIED SUB, CTSO’S, TRAVEL AND MAINTENANCE (YORK).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-9 – GENERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, SCHOOL BUS (SEIBER).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-10 – CENTRAL CAFETERIA FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, USDA GRANT FUNDS (SHERRILL).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-11 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, ARPA, NORTH KIDS CLUB GRANT (STONE).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-12 – CENTRAL CAFETERIA FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM, USDA GRANT FUNDS (YORK).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-13 – CENTRAL CAFETERIA FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, USDA GRANT FUNDS (STONE).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-14 – GENERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, K-8TH GRADE SUMMER LEARNING AND TRANSPORTATION (MAXWELL).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-15 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, COUNTY CLERK (SHERRILL).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-16 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS (MAXWELL).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-17 – SANITATION FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, CONVENIENCE CENTER (SEIBER).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-18 – SANITATION FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, RECYCLE CENTER GRANT (STONE).
  • RESOLUTION 04-2024-19 – SANITATION FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, RECYCLE CENTER, SUPPLIES (YORK).

Financial Update
The new Cumberland County Codes Department issued 51 building permits, 36 general mechanical permits, and 46 general plumbing permits in March 2024.  A total of $65,201 in fees were collected.  EMS collections were $397,131, which is above the budgeted monthly amount of $366,667.  Year to date, EMS is $72,378 ahead of budgeted projections with total collections of $3,372,377.  Sales tax for the BOE was $1,130,567 which was $95,723 below budget.  Year to date, collections are $296,143 below budget.  Property tax collections are at 99.29 percent of budget year to date, compared to 99.26 percent at this time last year.  Hotel/Motel collections are $851,446 of the $1,308,411 annual budget, and were $856,923 in the prior year at this point.  Prisoner boarding collections from the state stand at $231,440 (seven months of revenue).

Thank you for being part of the solution and for the opportunity to serve as your County Mayor.  If you are interested in hearing my thoughts and views on news, events, and activities in Cumberland County, please subscribe to my newsletter, and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Thank you.

Allen Foster
Cumberland County Mayor
http://allenfoster.com