The Aberdeen Town Board addressed several town projects and public safety concerns during its Sept. 28 meeting, including plans to repair the damaged bridge at Aberdeen Lake Park and a proposed ordinance targeting public lewd acts and urination.
Aberdeen Lake Park Bridge Repairs Moving Forward
The board is moving forward with plans to repair the wooden bridge at Aberdeen Lake Park, which was damaged during Tropical Storm Chantal and has remained closed since the storm.
Town Manager Paul Sabiston told the board that the town plans to begin seeking bids for the project within the next week. The bridge is one of the larger remaining repairs from damage caused by the storm.
Sabiston said the town has received about $2.3 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for repairs related to Chantal, with some of the money already spent on projects including repairs to the Lake Park parking lot.
Before the bridge project can move forward, the town is waiting for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine whether the work requires a minor or major permit. Sabiston said the town expects the project to qualify for a minor permit because it involves repairing the existing bridge, although the repairs will be substantial.
The town plans to begin the bidding process while awaiting the permit determination.
Board and Police Address Public “Lewd Acts”
The board also discussed a proposed ordinance aimed at addressing public “lewd acts” and public urination that board members said are not adequately covered under North Carolina law.
Town staff said police have responded to 10 such incidents in Aberdeen over the past year, including one reported as recently as Sept. 24. The incidents have occurred at gyms, retail stores, and business parking lots.
Police Chief Chavis and town staff reviewed ordinances from nearby municipalities and worked with the town attorney and District Attorney’s Office to develop the proposed ordinance. Staff said both support the town establishing a local ordinance to address conduct that does not meet the specific elements required under existing state statutes.
Board members discussed that the current state law on indecent exposure can require victims to provide very specific details about what they saw before police can take enforcement action. The proposed ordinance would give Aberdeen police another enforcement option, including the ability to make arrests when the conduct falls outside the scope of existing state law.
During the public hearing, Mayor Robert Farrell questioned why the state does not have a broader law covering the conduct and raised concerns about differences among municipal ordinances. Other municipalities have reportedly adopted similar ordinances, and the District Attorney’s Office has supported local efforts because of the gap in state law.
Other Actions Taken
• The board reached consensus on planting a 12- to 15-foot Green Giant arborvitae near the new library as the town’s permanent holiday tree. The proposed area would also support a tree-lighting gathering and related downtown improvements.
• Renovation work at the old Aberdeen Elementary School continues, including roof-edge, soffit, HVAC, plumbing, and other building-system improvements. The town plans to retain and rehabilitate the gymnasium and auditorium for community use.
• Under other business, board members commended the strong turnout downtown for Fourth Friday, the farmers market, live music, and the dinner train, while also acknowledging growing parking pressure.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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