ST. PAULS – Commissioners here spoke about the city’s role in the Interstate 95 expansion project, feeding workers at Sanderson Farm, and changing a tampon ordinance at their regular meeting of Thursday.
The Council of Commissioners has taken no action regarding the proposed expansion or amending the Food Truck Ordinance so that Sanderson Farms employees can be fed.
However, they approved the amendment of the Buffer Ordinance to include the erection of privacy fences between businesses in the hotel district. The ordinance previously provided for the planting of evergreen foliage to separate businesses in the district. But, the commissioners voted to cancel the factories in the amended ordinance.
“It came when we were talking about new businesses coming to town,” said Debra McNeill, City Clerk and Acting City Administrator.
McNeill said one incident occurred when a company planted vegetation to act as a buffer, but the vegetation did not grow long enough or in height to meet the standards of the ordinance.
“It takes time to grow a plant,” said Mayor Elbert Gibson.
In other areas, McNeill said she was approached by a representative from the North Carolina Department of Transportation who requested that the Oakridge Cemetery land be turned over to the state to help with the project. expansion of Interstate 95. The city could sell or donate the land to the state, NcNeill said.
“I think we should ask for some kind of infrastructure (improvements),” said Commissioner John Gudauskas.
One request could be for road works improvements and another could be to place a privacy fence between the road works and the cemetery, he said.
Gibson asked if a consultation should be done with McGill Associates, an engineer the city is working with on several projects. McNeill said consultation with McGill and the city’s lawyer could be done before a decision is made on the request.
No action has been taken on this matter.
Commissioner Donna Patterson asked if it was possible to change the times in the Food Truck Order from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. to an earlier time so that breakfast vendors could serve Sanderson Farms employees.
Mayor Pro Tem Evans Jackson said the council of commissioners needed to “review all of this” to ensure food trucks were not setting up in residential areas early in the morning while residents slept.
“If you’re going to do this, you’ll have to look at an industrial area separately from other areas of town, okay?” Gibson said. “Because that’s the only place you’re going to have a 5:30 am food truck where you have the traffic to warrant it.”
The move may also help motorists and help reduce the number of traffic accidents, said St. Pauls Police Chief Steve Dollinger.
When Sanderson Farms employees take their breaks, “it’s like a freeway coming out of there,” Dollinger said.
The police chief said employees were rushing home before their short breaks from work were over so they wouldn’t be penalized by the factory.
“There have been a lot of accidents caused by passers-by on the yellow doubles (lines)…” he said.
They only have vending machines and no hot food has been served in the cafeteria since the COVID-19 hit, the police chief said.
“We need something there,” Jackson said.
No action has been taken on this matter. McNeill said she would look at what other cities are doing.
The commissioners approved the appointment of Buck (Terry) McClure to the planning board for a three-year term as an alternate member. The Planning Council has nine members, but adding a tenth member would mean that the number of members needed to hold a meeting would be six. McClure can act as an alternate member who ensures that enough members are present to conduct the business of the board.
In other cases, Deputy Director of Public Works Benton Rogers has said the Wilkinson Drive project has stalled due to communication issues. Rogers said he had not heard any updates or had been in communication with those involved in the project in the week leading up to Independence Day or this week, but the chief of project will come back next week and things could change.
“They install new sewer lines when the weather is nice. Other than that, I mean, just keep going, ”Rogers said.
The commissioners also heard a request from David Sgro, a former missionary in the Philippines and former martial arts teacher, who wants to organize awareness events. He hopes to host a Serve Day event on July 18 that will feature food boxes, soccer and a fire truck at a community trailer park.
He also hopes to partner with a church in South Carolina to host a vacation Bible school at RE Hooks Community Building.
“The idea is just to provide something constructive and positive for the children of the city,” said Sgro.
Jackson said events like VBS should be suitable for the whole community.
Dollinger suggested asking permission to hold it at a local school gymnasium if more than 24 children enroll, which could be near full capacity for community building.
McNeill said she would review the requested dates for VBS.
Commissioners also heard from Robeson County Assistant District Attorney Leah Britt Lanier, who came forward and said she was running for a judge’s seat in the district court.
“I am running for district court judge in November 2022. My goal for the rest of the year is just to travel to different communities. I was born and raised in Allenton so this is my part of the county so I try to get to know people in different areas that are not mine, ”she said.
She was joined by her husband, John. Lanier said the couple were active in events in their area of the county, but would like to be more involved in other areas as well.
The Commissioners also learned that there is growing interest in the Police Cadet Program which will begin in September and run within the police department. The program will teach boys and girls ages 10 to 17 about policing and feature speakers from agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A first interest meeting took place on June 29.
“I’ve been getting calls all week about this,” Dollinger said.
The first meeting will be held on September 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall courtroom.
