SILER CITY — The town board of commissioners stepped through a series of resolutions and amendments in its regular meeting on Monday, which also saw public comments from a disgruntled resident and a preview of downtown improvement options.
Siler City crime appears to have intensified in recent months according to town residents and commissioners alike.
“The community to me, looking at what I can make out, is going downhill pretty quickly,” said Donald Matthews, a Siler City resident who attended Monday’s meeting and spoke during the public comment section.
Matthews cited two shootings in Siler City in the last few days — a troubling start to the new year.
“It’s time for us to go to work and clean up,” he said of town residents who are responsible for their neighborhoods. “But we are wanting the city to do their part. I think jointly we can have a great community if we work together.”
He implored the board to “really look at the communities, what is needed in the community, and take care of them.”
Matthews’ entreaty did not fall on deaf ears. Commissioner Lewis Fadely, in particular, was prepared with his own a address to the board.
Before delivering his thoughts, Fadely asked Major James Underwood — the only police department representative present at the meeting in person — to step forward.
“We all get some calls that stick with us,” Fadely said, “and I got one today from the District Attorney’s office in light of the two shootings that we’ve had over the weekend and the traffic fatality.”
The DA expressed concern, Fadely said, that Siler City is law enforcement staffing shortages are inhibiting the town’s ability to care for its residents’ well-being.
“It’s not a phone call you want to get,” he said. “... Evidently, they’re getting calls from our citizens expressing concerns for their safety. So, that’s a problem.”
During last years budget meetings, town staff and the commissioners investigated ways to shore of the police department, but the pandemic’s onset forced a redirection of funds.
“When you get a call from another law enforcement agency concerned about our ability to protect our citizens,” Fadely said, “it’s very ironic given that the first thing in our mission statement is that we are a safe town, and now that’s being called into question because of increased gun violence, increased drug activity, increased gang activity.”
The commissioners will have their annual budget retreat on Feb. 6 and will discuss allocation of funds to support the police department and other town entities.
“We’ve got to protect our citizens,” Fadely said, “because if we can’t, nothing else we want to achieve is going to happen.”
The commissioners approved a proposed fund balance policy from town staff that will cap the unassigned balance at 30% of the town’s general fund, not to fall below 25%.
The unassigned fund balance, according to Finance Director Tina Stroupe, “refers to funds that remain available for appropriation by the board of commissioners after all commitments for future expenditures, required reserves and previous board of commissioners designation have (been) calculated.”
At the town’s last audit, the unassigned fund balance constituted 43% of the general fund, or $3,186,056. After the new fund policy is enacted, that number will drop to $2,252,378.
Grace Messinger of the Loves Creek Watershed Stewards presented some of the team’s latest accomplishments as part of its Paper Alley Floodplain restoration project.
The initiative spanned four years, concluding in December. In total, LCWS and its contributors restored 400 linear feet of the Loves Creek tributary 1, removed 648 tons of debris and garbage and treated 5.3 acres of land for invasive management, according to Messinger’s presentation.
The group also performed extensive wetland planting to enhance the riparian buffer, “the area along the stream that is composed of vegetation,” Messinger said. That natural protective border contributes to the local ecology’s health and helps to minimize flooding.
The project in total required about six acres of downtown land which had formerly been owned by four families and their heirs. In recognition of their contribution to the project, the town passed a resolution of gratitude honoring the “outstanding former Landowners and Volunteers” who “distinguished themselves by their remarkable sustained commitment of time, talent, and good will for the betterment of Siler City.”
Under advisement by the Development Finance Initiative, a non-profit program from UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Government, the town of Siler City is actively pursuing downtown development opportunities.
DFI studied conditions in Siler City to evaluate market indicators of demand for market-rate multifamily housing, retail and office development. Of the three categories, DFI determined that demand is highest for multifamily residences. Its analysis identified a need for about 60 to 70 units over the next five years.
“We see this as a tremendous opportunity,” said DFI representative Eric Thomas. “We hear from the developers and brokers downtown that the demand for downtown residential spaces — there’s a waiting list for the limited product that currently exists.”
Thomas presented three sites for potential development: Boling Chair, Siler City Mill and the Pilgrims Pride property. Each had advantages, but the Siler City Mill offered the most realistic opportunity for development in the near future.
In other downtown development news, the board approved a request by the Wren Family Estate for a proposed encroachment into the alley behind the buildings at 101-143 N. Chatham Ave. The alley will be modified to support “a mostly and primarily pedestrian use,” said Town Manager Roy Lynch, as part of larger development project to improve downtown Siler City’s aesthetic and functionality.
“I’d just like to say that I’m glad to see downtown being revitalized,” said Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Bray.
“Yes, yes,” said the chorus of commissioners, “amen.”
Reporter D. Lars Dolder can be reached at dldolder@chathamnr.com and on Twitter @dldolder.