Laurinburg · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Laurinburg public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Bridge Creek demolition
The old Bridge Creek structure will be torn down by Lucas Construction for $93,500, covered entirely by state ARPA funds.
Speed bumps request on Midland Way
Residents asked for speed bumps; staff and the city attorney say liability rules don't support them in 35 mph zones, and lowering speed limits citywide isn't on the table. Expect more signage and police patrols instead.
Downtown revitalization and Brownfields plan
Terracon's Main Street Corridor Reuse Plan lays out five years of goals: cut storefront vacancies from 43% to 25%, add downtown housing and restaurants, and build a connector plaza from McDuffie Square to Main Street. Council will comment before the plan is finalized.
Peden Street duplex rezoning
Two residential lots on Peden Street can now host duplexes after the rezone to Office/Institutional. A neighbor objected at the planning board stage, noting a duplex already sits next door (grandfathered).
Zoning appeals consolidated under City Council
The rarely-used Board of Adjustment is gone; the council itself now hears variances and zoning appeals, wearing a second quasi-judicial hat. An ETJ member appointed by county commissioners will sit with them.
Disposal of vacant city-owned parcels
The city has accumulated about 149 tiny leftover parcels through tax foreclosures — some .01 acres. Council wants most of them sold cheaply to neighbors via sealed bid, starting with a formal resolution in November.
Potential electric rate impacts from NCEMPA wholesale rate change
An independent audit of 67,000-plus bills found Laurinburg's electric billing 99.96% accurate, with about $132,000 in small recoverable revenue. Residents pay 23% less than the national average, and reliability beat the state average too.
Three sidewalk projects
Long-awaited sidewalks along Atkinson Street, West Boulevard, and Main Street may finally happen, with the feds paying 80 percent. But the plans could require cutting beloved oak trees on Atkinson and West Boulevard, and council members are urging residents to review the plans.
Purchasing policy and minority participation requirements
The state repealed Historically Underutilized Business requirements in its July budget, so the city had to scrub them from its purchasing policy to stay compliant. Officials stressed that minority- and women-owned businesses remain eligible to bid — only the outreach mandate is gone.
Special Use Permit request on Dundee Drive
The hospital is buying 13.9 acres next to its new surgical center for future development, now that the land is rezoned. Neighbors were promised a wooded buffer, and no one objected.
2026 Sky High Aerospace Expo
The second annual airshow lands the weekend of October 17, with organizers hoping to double last year's 4,000 attendance, adding a night show, a bigger STEM day for students, and free public events Friday night and Sunday morning.
City vs. County water system friction
The city manager set the record straight after last week's county commissioners meeting: the county owns and runs its own water system and sets its own rates; the city just sells, bills, and repairs under an interlocal agreement. He also disputed claims that last-minute information caused the county to pull the joint fueling facility from its budget.
McGirt's Bridge Road multifamily special use permit
The council set a September 22 public hearing for a multifamily housing development on McGirt's Bridge Road. The city attorney warned this will be a quasi-judicial hearing where the council acts as judges, and urged proponents and opponents to be well-versed in the UDO and consider legal counsel.
Water and sewer capital projects
The city is in the middle of a record-building spree on water and sewer systems — new wells, a McColl Road line replacement, tank renovations, sewer rehab, and pump stations — funded largely by about $31 million in state grants. More funding requests are coming in September.
Hillside Cemetery Improvements
Ordinance O-2026-14 would fund a road at Hillside Cemetery and a cemetery equipment shed, with completion expected next fiscal year.
City Manager's Salary
Council was scheduled to set City Manager Charles D. Nichols III's salary in closed session — a personnel decision with budget implications.
FY 2026-2027 City Budget
A batch of ordinances shifted money to cover police and IT capital projects, higher wholesale power costs, fire department part-time wages, and McDuffie Stage naming-rights revenue.
Southeastern Regional Airport Authority Sponsorship
Council was to discuss whether to sponsor the regional airport authority — a decision about putting city dollars toward a shared regional asset.
Community Garden Special Use Permit
A special use permit was proposed for a community garden east of Deluca Street between R. Graham and West Allen Streets. The hearing would let neighbors weigh in before any council decision.
Bridge Creek & College Park Sewer Rehabilitation
The council moved $250,000 into the water/sewer capital fund to keep the gravity sewer replacement project on South Main Street moving.
127 Main Street restoration project
The city's old bank building downtown is getting a $669,979 makeover using $1.1 million in grant money. Work must finish by late November so the city can be reimbursed, and the brewing company leasing it takes ownership next year.
FY 2026-27 Budget Input and Retreat
A public hearing is set for June 16, 2026, at 6 p.m. so residents can weigh in on next year's city budget before adoption.
Special use permit hearing on Parcel No. 01004202025
A special use permit request for land near Deluca, R. Graham, and West Allen Streets gets a public hearing on June 16 — neighbors will have a chance to comment.
Aberdeen Road Pump Station Renovation
The city was set to award a contract to renovate the Aberdeen Road pump station, a piece of sewer infrastructure residents rely on daily.
McColl Road Water Line Replacement Phase II
The city was set to award a bid for Phase II of its raw water lines project, part of ongoing investment in the water supply system.
Consumer Billing Department Budget Amendment
Ordinance O-2026-07 would add funding to the Consumer Billing Department, the office that handles utility bills.
McDuffie Square Stage Naming Rights
Scotland Memorial Hospital was in line to sponsor and name the McDuffie Square stage — a deal that could bring sponsorship money to the downtown gathering space.
Substance Abuse Treatment Center Zoning Amendment
The city will hold an April 21 hearing on changing Section 7.47.2 of the Unified Development Ordinance, which governs substance abuse treatment centers/offices.
McKay Street Tank Rehabilitation Project
A bid award was on the agenda to rehabilitate the McKay Street water tank — maintenance of the city's water storage capacity.
Wagram Road rezoning request
A request to rezone 18200 Wagram Road from Residential-20MH to General Business gets its public hearing on February 17, 2026.
Circle K store site plan
The council was set to consider approving the site plan for a new Circle K store, a step toward bringing the convenience store project to construction.
Bridge naming for former Police Chief Robert Lee Malloy
Resolution R-2026-02 would request that a bridge be named in honor of former Police Chief Robert Lee Malloy, a memorial honoring his service to the city.
Humane Society funding request
The Scotland County Humane Society is asking the city for funding in Fiscal Year 2026-2027, a request that affects animal welfare services and next year's budget.
Economic development grant payment
Ordinance O-2026-03 would amend the current-year budget to pay a scheduled economic development grant — a direct use of city funds to support local economic development commitments.
Sesquicentennial Celebration Planning
Laurinburg turns 150 in February 2027, and a planning committee is forming to organize the celebration. Residents can still get involved, and funding will be worked into the upcoming budget.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Laurinburg’s fire chief and the city are being sued over a deadly 2022 fire truck crash. That means a settlement or court judgment could land on local taxpayers.
Charter Dissolution
East Laurinburg’s mayor is pushing back on a state move to dissolve the town’s charter, saying it amounts to punishment. If it goes through, the town could stop existing as a municipality, and residents could see big changes in who runs local services and represents them.
Municipal Charter Revocation
East Laurinburg is facing a state recommendation that could dissolve its town government by revoking its charter. If that happens, local services and decisions would likely shift to the county, so residents need to watch who ends up running things.
Crime Perception Debate
Laurinburg is having a real argument about whether its 'dangerous' reputation is earned or overblown. The stakes aren't just pride—officials and residents say the label can scare off jobs and growth. So the fight is really about crime facts versus the story a city tells about itself.