Staff report

LUMBERTON — The City Council on Monday night will honor an 84-year-old Robeson County native who has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor after a more than 60-year wait.

James E. Jones, who was a member of the Tuskeegee Airmen, a black fighter pilot squadron that fought during World War II, received the medal on July 28, according to Councilman John Cantey. Jones was one of 365 airmen to whom the award was presented to at a White House ceremony in 1997, but administrative errors prevented him from attending, Cantey said.

At the meeting, the City Council will present Jones with a “Pride in Lumberton” award.

Cantey, who holds the title of Worshipful Master at the Golden Leaf Masonic Lodge No. 124, says that the Masons of the 29th district will be at the meeting in ceremonial dress to honor Jones, who is treasurer of the lodge. The deputy grand master and other dignitaries will be in attendance, as well as the Sisters of the Eastern Star.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall’s third floor.

In other action on Monday, the council is expected to:

n Approve the purchase of a new lawn mower by the Public Works Department at a cost of $6,935.

n Approve 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.

n Award 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.

n Authorize 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.

n Authorize 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.

n Award Register’s Land Development a $2,194 contract for the demolition of a home on Oleander Street.

n Refer 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.

n Schedule 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.

n Approve a special meeting for Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. to discuss the levee accreditation process.

n Adopt a resolution accepting medians in Oakridge, Amberdale Village and Mayfair subdivisions under the city’s median irrigation policy.

n Approve an awning encroachment for a building on Fourth Street.

n Approveda draft franchise agreement from Robeson Community College to allow its solid waste collection to be handled by Robeson County.

n Adopt a resolution for loan assistance for the West Lumberton sewer separation project.

n Authorize 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 larger generator for City Hall.

n Approve about $4,200 in tax releases for the month of June.

n Approve the purchase of a new water main tapping machine for the Public Works Department from Waterworks Inc. for $7,882.57.

n Designate $100 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 1 for pine straw on the median of Phase III on Pinedale Boulevard.

n Designate $2,000 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 8 for community watch signs.

n Designate $245 in community revitalization funds from Precinct 5 for a meal at Abigail’s Tea Room on Monday.

n Designate $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.