Hoke County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hoke County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2026 Employee Christmas Bonuses
The county manager will report on Christmas bonuses for county employees in 2026, a use of county funds the board will hear about.
Group Home Special Use Permits on Hector McNeill Road
Darrin McNeill has applied for eight special use permits to operate group homes on properties along Hector McNeill Road and Laurinburg Road. The Planning Board recommended approval in October, and residents will get a chance to weigh in at Monday's public hearing before the commissioners decide.
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.
Voluntary Agricultural Ordinance Update
The county is considering adopting an updated Voluntary Agricultural Ordinance, which affects how farmland and farming operations are recognized and protected in unincorporated areas.
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.
County Fuel Point savings
The county's in-house fuel point saved about $288,000 in 12 months — beating projections by over $50,000 — and is on track to pay for itself in about four more months.
Long-delayed animal shelter project
A resident pressed commissioners on the slow pace of the roughly half-million-dollar donated shelter project and on future staffing, cat facilities, and a communication committee.
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.
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.
Federal funding cuts hitting DSS and county budget
Vacancies at Social Services are slowing case processing; the county will pilot using lapsed salary funds to hire outside contractors to keep performance standards and state reimbursements on track.
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.
Hoke County Justice Center ribbon-cutting
The new Justice Center should be substantially complete by July 14, 2026, with a possible August 1 occupancy and ribbon-cutting. The elevator installation is the main holdup.
Antioch area iron-filtration well and possible Lumbee Tribe EPA grant
Commissioner Tony Hunt announced his tribe's federal recognition opens access to federal grant money for a well in the Aneac area, health clinics in four counties, school tutoring funds, and home weatherization — with the county as a partner.
Lindsay Road widening utility relocation
The utility relocation work tied to the state's Lindsay Road widening project is growing by $50,000 — but NCDOT reimburses it all, so no local tax dollars are involved.
Jail and sheriff's office overtime shortfall
The Sheriff's Office and jail both ran short on overtime, medical, fuel and food lines; commissioners patched the gaps by moving lapsed hospitalization money and other funds so services aren't disrupted.
Hazmat response training grant
A competitive $20,000 state grant will pay for training local emergency responders to handle hazardous materials incidents.
Narcan Access and Recovery Month
Trillium Health Resources is putting Narcan boxes in all thirty county buildings and delivered 483 Narcan kits, funded by bottle tax dollars, to help reverse overdoses. The board declared September Recovery Month.
Homecoming Tailgate Security Funding
The homecoming tailgate draws thousands back to Hoke County and has been a sticking point over how many officers the sheriff can staff. Commissioners gave the county manager authority to spend up to $15,000 so the event stays safe.
Arabia Road Rezoning for Auto Shop
Dwight Jackson wants to sell 0.85 acres behind the Arabia Road store to Marlon McNeil, a former Hoke County High School auto mechanics teacher, so he can own his shop instead of renting. The rezoning from residential-agricultural to highway commercial passed.
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.
Public health infrastructure funding
The Health Department landed $189,804 in state funding to boost staffing, training, and equipment — no local dollars required.
Recognition of America 250 committee leadership
The county honored Iris Flowers for leading the America 250 "We Are One" committee, which put together community celebrations of the nation's 250th birthday.
Animal Shelter Improvements
Longtime advocate Kathy Leandro pressed the board again — nearly two years after a pledged donation — for answers on the promised animal shelter project, citing rising animal abandonment and abuse.
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.
Event center nuisance complaints on Posey Farms Road
A homeowner next to the Chobane Farms and Event Center described years of noise, trespassing, litter, traffic, drainage damage, and lost property value, and asked the county to enforce its ordinances. The board heard his complaint; no immediate action was announced.
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.
America 250 / We Are One Committee community programs
The county approved $75,000 toward a two-day America250 celebration on July 3-4, expected to draw up to 20,000 attendees, with the total event value around $312,000 including county in-kind services like stages, security, and park use. Commissioners flagged parking capacity as a planning concern.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tiny homes and subdivision rules
Commissioners are shaping rules for tiny homes — concerned about big clusters of them — and a tiered subdivision review process. Decisions deferred pending more research and input from the County Attorney.
Paddock Acres development
A proposed ~220-acre equestrian-style community between U.S. 211 and North Old Wire Road, with 8-to-20-plus-acre lots — presented for information only, not yet formally reviewed.
Solid Waste ordinance overhaul
New rules for commercial haulers, a tonnage-based charge replacing the credit system, a 10-bag convenience site limit, higher illegal-dumping enforcement, and mulch cost recovery — all effective July 1.
Work Permit Ordinance repeal and code enforcement
The 26-year-old fire agreement is being rewritten, the Work Permit Ordinance is repealed July 1, and new code officer Terrence Moore brings 25 years of experience — all part of a wider development-ordinance cleanup.
Water Capacity, Rates and Allocations
Growth is straining county water: the county buys about 30 million gallons a month from PWC at rates its own water fees don't fully cover, and new fire-code rules will demand far more water capacity for developments without public water. The Board raised the allocation threshold to 80 percent to keep projects moving and discussed — but didn't adopt — possible rate increases.
ABC Board Redevelopment and Distributions
The ABC Board wants to keep half its profits for 3-5 years to redevelop its Highway 401 site, which could shrink the county's annual cut that now runs about $150,000.
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.
Subdivision road additions to state system
Two consent resolutions ask NCDOT to take over roads in the Walters Meadow and Carolina Crossing subdivisions, shifting maintenance responsibility to the state.
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.
North Carolina Fall Festival 2026
Festival leaders previewed a free community lineup for October and flagged that the traditional turkey dinner can't return without help covering school-staff overtime. County leaders agreed to keep talking about it.
Private donations to county services
MSquare Construction's David Hassan gave $7,000 for the arson K-9 and $1,000 to the schools' back-to-school program — an example of local businesses reinvesting in the community.
Property tax releases and refunds
A church's 2025 property tax value was cut from $737,120 to $153,530 because of the building's deteriorated condition, significantly lowering its tax bill.
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.
Illegal handicap parking enforcement
A Paralyzed Veterans board member described being blocked out of accessible spaces and asked deputies to enforce N.C.G.S. 20-37.6, including on private lots; the board agreed to send letters to the sheriff and police.
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.
State fire code flow requirements and housing costs
Commissioners worry minimum hydrant flow rules force sprinkler systems on rural homes, driving up prices for first-time buyers — they asked their lobbyist to push for changes.
Surplus property dispositions
The county is selling two small leftover parcels — one at a modest profit, one at cost.