Fifth District City Councilman Bobby Hurst is considering not seeking re-election in the fall. Councilman Ted Mohn, who represents the 8th District, said earlier that he will not run. Hurst said, “My new job with Senator Meredith and Cardinal Landscaping and Fayetteville Beautiful are priorities that take a lot of my time.” Hurst became an aide to Meredith after closing his family business recently. “Perhaps it is time to let someone else serve this great city,” Hurst added. He has been on council since 2007 and before that from 2000–2001. Mohn has served four terms, the last two of which came following a two-year interruption after he chose not to run.

Hurricane Matthew Costs
City of Fayetteville taxpayers may end up picking up part of the tab for costs associated with Hurricane Matthew last fall. Budget Director Tracey Broyles has told city council the Federal Emergency Management Agency will likely reimburse the city much of the $9.6 million in damages or recovery costs the city has incurred. FEMA will send the city $6.9 million; the state will reimburse the city $2.3 million and insurance will cover $150,000 in costs. After $225,000 has been taken from city reserves or fund balance, it will leave a projected $325,000 which may not be reimbursed, Broyles said. It too would likely come from this year’s fund balance, which is an unappropriated surplus the state requires local governments to maintain.

Chamber Hunt for CEO Nears an End
The Greater Fayetteville Chamber hopes to select a new President and CEO in a matter of days. “Three finalists among 20 candidates from across the country have been interviewed,” said Interim CEO Darsweil Rogers. None of them are from North Carolina, he added. Rogers has held down the post for 10 months. “It’s been a wonderful ride,” he said. Rogers says the most important thing he has learned in his chamber experience is the importance of communicating among members. He suggests it will be job one for the new CEO. “There’s a presumption the chamber is a good ole boy’s club,” he said. “There has been a gap, a misunderstanding” of what chambers do, Rogers added.

Housing Rehab Contractors Needed
Building contractors are encouraged to apply for Cumberland County’s approved Community Development registry. Contractors who reside in Cumberland County and want to be added to the registry should apply at the Cumberland County Community Development office at 707 Executive Place. Information is online at www.co.cumberland.nc.us/community_dev.aspx. Those jobs include single-family, owner-occupied homes and homes damaged by Hurricane Matthew. Homeowners must reside within Cumberland County but outside the city limits of Fayetteville which has its own community development program. Cumberland County has been awarded funds by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency through the Disaster Recovery Act of 2016. Funding is also provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.