Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hoke County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
26 issues with high priority
Group Home Special Use Permits on Hector McNeill Road
Eight requests to run group homes on Highway Commercial-zoned parcels along Hector McNeill Road and Laurinburg Road were pushed to the November 16 meeting, so neighbors will have to wait for the hearing and vote.
Sheriff's Department Budget Amendments
The sheriff moved $25,000 in forfeiture funds into equipment, won permission to buy more vehicles with leftover capital outlay funds, and the jail added $110,000 for transportation-team vehicles. Taxpayer money is funding it, but the sheriff argued it keeps officers and residents safe.
Jail and sheriff's office overtime shortfall
The sheriff told commissioners overtime is driven by growth and vacancies — two deputies left for higher-paying Raeford PD jobs — and moved $40,000 to cover November overtime, warning response times suffer when deputies are tied up on calls.
Event center nuisance complaints on Posey Farms Road
Kevin White returned three months after first complaining about noise and disruption from a neighboring event center, saying he's had no county response and now must take his kids to hotels on weekends; he was told the matter is now between attorneys.
Water Restrictions
The county leases the former prison's water system from the state but wants to own it before investing millions; commissioners also want state rules cleared so private partners can help build wells.
Sheets gas station rezoning on Fayetteville Road
Commissioners approved rezoning half an acre at 8861 Fayetteville Road to Highway Commercial, likely bringing a Sheets convenience store and gas station near Cape Fear Valley Hospital. Neighbors from Woodbury subdivision worry about traffic on an already congested and accident-prone stretch of 401, 24-hour noise, and strain on the county's water supply — the county already buys water from PWC and has paused some building.
Tractor-trailer parking in residential neighborhoods
A Ravenwood resident asked for an ordinance banning semi-truck parking in neighborhoods, citing road damage, dumped motor oil near a future subdivision and watershed, and safety risks. Commissioners confirmed the 193-page zoning ordinance says nothing about it and directed the county attorney to help draft one.
Regional Water Treatment Plant Partnership
The county is splitting a $24,700 grant application cost with Robeson County to pursue a six-million-gallon-per-day water plant on Rockfish; Hoke would get half the water. Commissioners also pressed for the long-delayed PWC water contract amendment.
Starz Truck Stop Special Use Permit
A gas station near the county line wanted to become a truck stop with overnight parking. Neighbors worried about noise, refrigerated trucks running overnight, and dangerous traffic on Fayetteville Road. Commissioners approved it but required buffers and fencing before compliance, plus backed a $1,000 fine for existing violations.
Economic development and commercial water capacity
The county approved water allocations for a list of subdivisions in the PWC and 401 service zones and raised the allocation cap from 70% to 80%. Commissioners stressed there's no water shortage — the constraint is infrastructure in certain zones — and a test well in the Neil Sinclair area plus a larger pipeline on Highway 211 could open up more capacity.
Pool Road speeding and traffic safety
A resident says Pool Road has no clear speed limit markings and unsafe speeds, and a child was recently struck while riding a bike there. The chairman directed staff to contact NCDOT about the speed limit and possible signage.
Solid Waste Hauler Credits and Disposal Fees
Private haulers are collecting fees from customers while stacking up county disposal credits worth $150,000-plus each, some waste may be coming from outside the county, and unverified residency cost about $47,000 in yard debris fees. A revised ordinance targeting July 1 is in the works.
Chestnut Drive cul-de-sac access and safety
Residents of Forest View say a developer cut through a cul-de-sac children used for play, bringing heavy equipment traffic and drainage problems. The county must first determine whether the road is public or private before it can act.
Residential growth strain on water, schools, and services
Even after approving this small site, commissioners said data centers are coming and the county needs a plan — one resident asked for a moratorium while the county studies the issue.
Hoke County Schools Funding Requests
Commissioners used the audit discussion to push for more school spending and urged school board members to pursue available state lottery repair-and-renovation funds — roughly $8 million — for capital projects.
Quarter-cent sales tax referendum
Hoke residents already pay the extra 0.25% when shopping in Cumberland and Moore counties; putting it on the November ballot lets voters decide whether to capture that revenue locally for schools and public safety. It's advisory only — the Board would still have to act.
County Credit Rating and Debt Capacity
Chairman Leach warned the Board it can't keep plugging budget holes with fund balance — about $6 million of a gap remains after roughly $5 million was found. He urged creating new revenue and living within the County's means.
Rockfish Road Rezoning RZ-25-4
Nearly 20 acres on Rockfish Road were rezoned for future homes, over neighbors' objections about dangerous traffic near the school, water pressure problems, and the loss of their rural buffer. Commissioners say the actual subdivision would still need separate approvals.
Arson-detection K-9 for Fire Marshal's Office
Emergency Services wants an accelerant-detection dog since Moore County's K-9 retires next year and the next closest resources are hours away. A local businessman covered over half the $13,500 cost with a $7,000 donation.
Pennsylvania Transformer road funding
Rep. Garland Pierce landed another $383,000 in DOT money for road work around the plant, on top of $615,000 already awarded — a project expected to bring roughly 195 jobs.
FY2027 county budget process
All department requests are in; department heads appear before the board May 19-20, and the manager aims to deliver a balanced recommended budget by June 1 amid rising service costs.
Broadband access for underserved northwest Hoke County
The new OLT site will deliver fiber internet to about 400 homes that currently lack reliable service, using state grant funds. Commissioners framed it as essential for schools, jobs, and future growth.
New County Administration Building (~$22.6M)
The administration building moved from downtown Raeford to land near the Aquatic Center, grew by about 9,000 square feet, and needs extensive remediation of buried concrete and asphalt; commissioners greenlit $1.9 million in design and site work and $2 million from a restricted fund.
Industrial Park Sewer for Project Orion
The county is building a sewer pump station and 2.5 miles of line to serve Pennsylvania Transformer's expansion in the industrial park — and it came in about a million dollars under budget. This infrastructure is what lands and keeps the manufacturing jobs at Project Orion.
FY27 budget planning
Departments must submit requests by April 13, with workshops in May and June and adoption targeted June 23. Federal cuts, soft sales tax projections and rising costs loom over the process.
Highway Commercial rezoning at 14099 Hwy 15-501
Rhetson Companies wants to renovate the old Southeastern Tool & Die site — two warehouses and an office building — into a light manufacturing operation, with two dwellings kept for company lodging. Commissioners unanimously approved the rezoning after the Planning Board's unanimous recommendation.