LUMBERTON — Councilman John Cantey is asking residents to attend Monday’s City Council meeting to speak out against a resolution recently passed by the council that seeks permission from state legislators to limit early voting in Lumberton municipal elections.
“Your rights are being stripped away — protect your rights,” the Precinct 5 councilman said in a letter distributed last week. “… If there is ever a time to rally, speak out or stand up — then the time is NOW.”
The council on March 27 passed a resolution requesting authority from the General Assembly to limit or eliminate early voting for city elections. If approved, it would not affect county, state or federal elections.
Councilmen Leon Maynor, Don Metzger, Harry Ivey, Robert Jones and Erich Hackney voted in favor of the resolution, while Cantey, John Robinson and Jackie Taylor voted against it.
In the letter, Cantey says the resolution would disenfranchise voters who don’t have transportation on Election Day, dislike long lines or who may be out of town.
Also on Monday, the council is expected to discuss applying for a renovation and reuse grant that will assist in the renovation of the former Golf Zone building at 3525 Lackey St. Porchia & Jeremie have asked the city to submit a N.C. Rural Center grant to cover half of the renovation costs.
The 12,000-square-foot building would house a DreamLand AdVenture Zone indoor family entertainment center that includes inflatables, interactive centers, a parental lounge, a snack area and an arcade arena. It would create 14 full-time jobs and five part-time jobs.
Also on Monday, the council is expected to:
— Approve $250,000 to construct a scoring tower and restrooms for the athletic fields at Northeast Park.
— Accept the donation of a 1995 Serro-Scotty fire safety house from Dobbs Motor Company to the Fire Department.
— Schedule the 22nd annual Family Fourth Celebration for July 3.
— Reject a donation of property on Haywood Street.
— Designate $900 of Community Revitalization Funds to the Golden Leaf Lodge No. 124.
— Authorize the Fire Department to apply for a Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety grant.
— Designate $345 of Community Revitalization Funds from Precinct 6 for housing repairs at 108 Powell St.
— Authorize the purchase of 12 Apple iPads and Grancius Solution software to implement an agenda management system for the council during Council Planning Conference.
— Approve a partnership with the N.C. Department of Agriculture on the construction of 80 horse stalls at the newly constructed pavilion at the N.C. Southeastern Agricultural Center/Farmers Market.
— Approve the release of about $25,400 in taxes from 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
— Approve the purchase of a $10,000 utility truck for the Public Works Department.
— Approve a $3,000 donation from the general contingency fund to the Lumberton Football Association to assist with costs and sponsorship for the 2012 Mike Brill Football Clinic.
— Approve a resolution allowing the city manager to accept donations on behalf of the city of up to $5,000.
— Re-appoint Bruce Huggins as a trustee to the library board.
If one-stop voting had been used for its intended purpose we would not have seen such under-handed voting tactics in our city or county.
Look for him to play it off with the race card and blame the whole thing on others without mentioning the irregularities that plague the voting system in the county.