The Town of Robbins Board of Commissioners moved forward on the potential sale of a town-owned building and approved the formation of a new grant oversight committee during its regular meeting Thursday night.
Northern Moore Family Resource Center Purchase Request
In a significant step for the Northern Moore Family Resource Center (NMFRC), the commissioners directed staff to begin exploring the sale of the town-owned building currently leased by the NMFRC, rather than renewing its lease.
The NMFRC, a nonprofit serving Robbins and the broader northern Moore County area, seeks to purchase the building it currently occupies from the Town of Robbins for $1. For ten years, the town leased the facility to NMFRC for $1 per year, with the understanding that the structure required major renovations to meet the organization’s needs. That lease ended in September 2025.
NMFRC completed the initial renovation work in three phases and continues to maintain and improve the property. The organization has invested more than $500,000 in leasehold improvements, along with over $50,000 in additional maintenance and repairs.
“We’ve invested close to a million dollars in the building and the surrounding area,” said Clare Ruggles, executive director of NMFRC. “As I look to retirement in several years, I’m putting in place succession plans, and one of the things I do is to make sure that … the building is owned by the organization, and I have an idea that it will continue on long after I have retired.”
Ruggles said the center hopes to expand and enhance its outdoor learning space as it works toward earning a five-star rating, the highest designation available through the state’s Division of Child Development and Early Education. The current playground space does not fully meet licensing requirements because it is on public property, she said, and approval of several other grants has been hindered by the property being rented.
Robbins Town Manager Clint Mack outlined potential options for the board should it choose to sell the property. Commissioners voiced support for a streamlined process and directed Mack to move forward with preparing conveyance documents rather than initiating a bidding process.
Community Police Grant Committee
The board also approved a resolution to form a committee associated with a $55,000 community policing grant recently awarded to the Robbins Police Department.
“COPS Microgrant funding support overtime deployments focused on disrupting drug markets through high-visibility patrols, deterrent traffic enforcement, and intelligence gathering in high-risk areas,” explains Mack in the resolution proposal. “Concurrently, officers will engage in community walks and outreach to build trust and provide service referrals. The program also includes a robust schedule of civic events, youth engagement activities, and town hall forums in collaboration with local stakeholders, including faith-based organizations, businesses, schools, and the Moore County Sheriff’s Office.”
Mack also explained that the Department of Justice requires “community feedback relative to the grant’s established goals and recommends a citizen-involved committee be formed aligning with the Robbins Safe Street Initiative.”
Police Chief Ben Haddock said Robbins is the first municipality in North Carolina to receive this particular grant.
“One of the stipulations was to have a committee formed with the police chief, and just to be open and collaborative with communities,” Haddock said while explaining the need for the formation of an official committee. “We’re very excited.”
A motion to adopt the resolution passed unanimously. The committee will include community members and will provide updates to the board.
Feature photo by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Curtis Self.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Written by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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