LUMBERTON — Lumberton residents may soon have another travel option.
The City Council on Wednesday set a public hearing for Sept. 10 for two taxi cab franchises that want to give local residents a lift.
T&P Taxi Service of Fayetteville and Rise an Shine in Lumberton each submitted an application requesting a franchise in Lumberton. The Police Department has determined that both businesses meet the requirements necessary to operate in the city. The council must hold a public hearing before a certificate of convenience and necessity can be awarded to the businesses.
Jason Andrews, of Rise an Shine, said the city is in need of a taxi service for not only Lumberton residents but visitors as well.
“Every week, customers with AAA auto club ask about a taxi service to either get them from the side of the road … or to get them to the Fayetteville airport to rent a vehicle when local rental is either closed or sold out,” the company said in a memo to the council. “Also, many hotel guests that are spending the night in Lumberton have asked for a taxi service and are told there is not any in town.”
Andrews said he got the idea for a taxi service after giving rides to people whose vehicles had broken down.
According to the memo, the business would operate a Chevrolet Venture van 24 hours a day. Andrews said that the service would get rolling “as soon as possible” after the council approves it.
Rise an Shine has operated an auto repair shop and 24-hour towing service since 1985.
According to a document submitted to the city by T&P, the service operates mainly in the Fayetteville area, but has received numerous phone calls from residents in Lumberton, Pembroke and Whiteville asking for service.
The company’s website says it will take customers up to 400 miles away. The service would be operating a seven-passenger Ford Windstar van in the city.
In other action on Wednesday, the council:
— Approved the purchase of a new lawn mower by the Public Works Department at a cost of $6,935.
— Approved a letter to be sent to the Department of Transportation seeking more information about a study on soil in the Tanglewood area proposed by the department.
— Awarded a $75,200 bid to Ricky Morgan’s Plumbing for services that include the connection of 72 units to sewer service and the crushing and filling of septic tanks.
— Authorized the Police Department to accept the 2013 Governor’s Highway Safety Program grant that will be used to fund the department’s traffic enforcement team.
— Authorized the Police Department to accept the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant Grant in the amount of $38,902, which will pay for Tasers, training and overtime for officers.
— Awarded Register’s Land Development a $2,194 contract for the demolition of a home on Oleander Street.
— Referred to the Planning Board a re-zoning request and a conditional-use permit request by Johnathan David Edwards, who wants to develop six duplex units at 2109 Griffin St.
— Scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 10 for the annexation of property located on Fayetteville Road across from Robeson Community College. David Goode and Sonny Oliver have submitted site plans for a Bojangle’s restaurant on the property.
— Approved a special meeting for Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. to discuss the levee accreditation process.
— Adopted a resolution accepting medians in Oakridge, Amberdale Village and Mayfair subdivisions under the city’s median irrigation policy.
— Approved an awning encroachment for a building on Fourth Street.
— Approved a draft franchise agreement from Robeson Community College to allow its solid waste collection to be handled by Robeson County.
— Adopted a resolution for loan assistance for the West Lumberton sewer separation project.
— Authorized the city manager to enter into a service agreement with Power Services Inc. to relocate City Hall’s standby generator to the new police station on Godwin Avenue and purchase a new, larger generator for City Hall.
— Approved about $4,200 in tax releases for the month of June.
— Approved the purchase of a new water main tapping machine for the Public Works Department from Waterworks Inc. for $7,882.57.
— Designated $100 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 1 for pine straw on the median of Phase III on Pinedale Boulevard.
— Designated $2,000 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 8 for community watch signs.
— Designated $245 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 5 for a meal at Abigail’s Tea Room on Monday.
— Designated $2,050 in community revitalization funds for the Lumberton Youth Baseball Association as follows: Precinct 1, $200; Precinct 2, $200; Precinct 3, $200; Precinct 4, $200; Precinct 5, $150; Precinct 6, $200; Precinct 7, $200; Precinct 8, $200; and the mayor’s discretionary fund, $500.
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