LAURINBURG —City residents plan to ask council about how they plan to solve flooding issues within the municipal limits.
Michael Edds and Michael Schmidt have asked to speak to the Laurinburg City Council tonight about flooding throughout the city during heavy rains. The council agenda said the pair wants to know how the city will address the issue.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the municipal building at 303 West Church St.
Tonight’s meeting will feature two more delegations, including David Richardson, Lumber River Council of Governments N.C. Tomorrow Plan director. Richardson wants to introduce himself and talk about the work his initiative does to prepare communities for new kinds of work.
Council will also hear a request from Jo Ann Gentry, executive director with the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport Commission, to approve an access and easement agreement between the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport Commission and Mountaire Farms.
Council may also hear from Mayor Matthew Block, who has expressed concerns that the board may need to revisit how the city allocated $3, 466.68 to WPDE for a series of promotional programs on Laurinburg and Scotland County.
Block said council member Mary Jo Adams, whose brother David Bridgeman is a manager at the television station, had a conflict of interest when she voted to give taxpayer money to help fund “On the Road with Cecil.”
The city attorney and an a lawyer with the UNC School of Government said there was no conflict and the council did not need to revote.
Block said he would address the issue during the council comments portion of the meeting.
“I will clear it up at next Council meeting in my comments,” Block said in an email.
Additionally, the city council will recognize former Assistant police chief Cliff Sessoms, who retired Aug. 10. Sessoms served in the Laurinburg police department for 25 years, first serving as a patrolman and advancing through the ranks to a detective, patrol lieutenant, and lastly assistant chief in 2013.
In other business, the city will a public hearing on an application for a $2 million CDBG infrastructure grant to rehabilitate existing sewer lines and/or lift stations in low to moderate income areas within the city.
Council is also expected to vote on a resolution amending the correct date that the key to the city of Laurinburg was awarded to Jim Quick, a Laurinburg native and winner of multiple beach music awards. He was given the award Thursday before performing at the Smithfield’s Foods Laurinburg After Five concert series.
Council will also consider approving contracts with Ediface, the construction firm working with Laurinburg’s City Hall/police department project, pending funding approval from the North Carolina Local Government Commission, who will vote to approve the project Oct. 3 in Raleigh.
Laurinburg resident Doris McLaughlin will ask council if she can purchase a lot on Lincoln Street. The property is near her home and she plan to build a car port. The city-owned property has been appraised at $1,750
Officials will also consider a joint pursuit of a Brownsfield Assessment Grant of up to $600,000 by the city of Laurinburg, Scotland County, and the Scotland County Economic Development Corporation. The grant are used to develop land that may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminants.