After spending one night questioning what to do about Western District Park, the Sampson County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously the next night to move full speed ahead with the park project.

When interim county manager Rick Moorefield informed the board Monday that the town of Roseboro was going to hold back its annual donation of approximately $26,000 to the county’s park program, he asked commissioners to consider reducing the size of the Western District Park or dropping the project completely. By doing so, he established, the town may be able to keep its afterschool care program and summer day camp program.

Then, when the county board met again Tuesday, Moorefield urged members to make a decision, saying there was a need to produce contracts for companies as well as a July 1 state deadline for the county to be reimbursed for its “dollar per dollar” matching grant.

To date, the county has invested over $400,000 in the Western District Park project.

With commissioner John Blanton absent from the meeting, vice chairman Jefferson Strickland pointed out that he and Blanton both felt they could work through the community to get the contributions needed to keep the park project alive, even during unsteady economic times. The pair represent the Roseboro area as part of their commisisoners’ districts.

“I feel that the community should be a big part of this park,” Strickland remarked, noting that he is aware it may call for the community to help raise the additional funds needed to do so. The total project costs approximately $1 million.

“(Mr.) Blanton feels the same way. He and I will pursue this, and we will give this a good faith effort,” Strickland commented.

Chairman Jarvis McLamb expressed that if the county had $490,000 invested in Western District Park, then it is something that should be continued.

“It makes sense to go forward with the park,” Strickland added “With all things considered, I move that we proceed, move forward, with the Western District Park.”

Commissioner Malachi Faison, remaining silent through the discussion, seconded the motion.

McLamb asked if there were any additional comments. Commissioner Billy Lockamy commented that the county should still keep its eyes on the town’s park program, even if it continues the Western District Park.

“I still think that we need to keep our eyes on Parks and Recreation because we are in some troubled times,” Lockamy stressed.

As Lockamy finished his statement, McLamb called for a vote, and it was approved unanimously.

Roseboro’s current

park programs

While the board chose to continue with Western District Park, it still has to weigh its options for continuing Roseboro’s current park programs that include an afterschool day care and a summer camp.

In an interview with Roseboro mayor Roland Hall, he pointed out that the town has had to consider cutting back due to the need for a new fire truck, which will cost approximately $267,000, and the digging of a new well, which would cost about $175,000.

That’s why, he said, he and the town board began looking at the current parks and recreation program as well as the county’s nutrition program as areas that could be reduced.

Hall pointed out that the town is looking to the county to take back its current park program, one the town currently donates over $26,000 a year to help maintain. The town also helps to take care of the maintenance of the facility and the cost of insuring it.

“We are proposing that the county take over the parks and recreation in Roseboro. We feel that the county should take over the facility,” said Hall.

In addition, the mayor said he is looking to the county to start paying for the community building in the town, a facility the county currently uses for its nutrition program.

“We are requesting that the county pay for some expenses for the building, which they use five days a week. We can’t afford to pay for the facility,” Hall established.

He also pointed out that the town leaders have talked to assistant county manager Susan Holder and Moorefield about the town’s summer camp and afterschool care center.

He expressed that such programs may be in danger unless additional funds are found, but he is suggesting that they increase the fees for such programs.

“Our discussions have been about increasing fees in order to generate more revenue for the programs,” said Hall.

In the end, Hall pointed out that he and the town board are willing to sit down and talk with county leaders and negotiate what the next step should be for these programs.

Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by email at silife@myclintonnc.com.