By Bobby Tingle

Bobby.tingle@orangeleader.com

PINEHURST — The City of Pinehurst may be breaking ground soon. McArthur Drive at the corner of 28^th Street could become the new home for a major retailer. Warren ‘Bubba’ Landry has considered various options and has worked with the city to proceed with redevelopment. Negotiations are ongoing but an announcement could be made as soon as the next few weeks.

Code Enforcement Officer Harry Vine reported to the council on plans to develop a planning commission.

“The idea is to get citizens and business owners involved in development,” Vine said. The commission would allow business owners and residents of Pinehurst to participate by making recommendations. The commission would not have authority to make decisions but would be advisers to Vine, city officials and the council.

Chief of Police Fred Hanauer is pursuing a grant to aid the city in the purchase of body cameras for police officers. Several options are being considered. The cameras will provide recorded audio and video information as officers perform their duties. Hanauer also presented a summary of the 2015 Racial Profiling Report. The department records information at the time citations are issued. This data is then analyzed to determine if the department is in compliance with department standards and current legislation. The department issued 848 citations in 2015, forty-nine of which also resulted in an arrest. The department was found to be in compliance.

The third Tuesday of each month residents can meet at city hall for “Coffee with the Mayor.” Mayor Runnells will be on hand along with department heads in an informal gathering to give citizens an opportunity to ask questions. The first meeting is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. February 16.

“The Lark Street sewer project is nearly complete,” Hood said.

The project was made possible by a grant from the Department of Agriculture. The project has gone well and could be expanded.

“A change order is being considered to expand the project to an area 1,500 west of the park,” Hood said.

This area was not in the original plan. Residents in the area are reporting an improvement in sewer services.

Hood is working on several other items including a planning grant to assess infrastructure needs for the next 10 – 15 years, job descriptions for all city positions and updating and improving the city’s website.

Pinehurst officials will consider issuing permits to contractors offering tree, brush trimming and cutting services. Contractors will be held responsible for removal of debris resulting from their work as a part of the permitting process.