Lee: Sanford assists Bread of Life Ministries with heat relief

The City of Sanford and Bread of Life Ministries in Sanford Inc agreed to provide emergency shelter services during extreme heat. The 219 Maple Ave. shelter will serve adult men and women when temperatures or heat index reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit and above.

Contact Bread of Life Ministries at (919) 777-7233.

Bread of Life will operate the shelter for up to 50 days through Sept. 15, 2025, at an estimated cost of $200 per day, not to exceed $10,000. It is responsible for staffing, services, documentation of expenses, and compliance with all applicable laws.

The City will reimburse approved costs and retain any unused funds.

Freedom Fest Update

Caroline Jeffries said Sandhills Trolley lightens transportation and parking concerns.

“We encourage everyone to use the trolley,” Jeffries said about the limited parking spaces and requesting citizens park at the city lot for a trolley ride.

There are 70 parking spaces at Kiwanis Park with 150 optional parking spaces.

The trolley runs from 3:30 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. on July 4.

Light towers will enhance foot traffic safety on the green parkway.

Police will offer security at key points throughout the event.

Freedom Fest will have nine food trucks and several misting fan stations.

“We tested the fireworks, and they clear the trees,” Jeffries said.

Land Development

The board approved a petition for the clerk to investigate the request for a non-contiguous annexation of 470 acres by Cherokee Land Company, LLC for the proposed Vermillion at Riddle Road project with 1,219 lots. The project includes detached single-family homes and attached townhouses about half a mile down Riddle Road from the Colon Road intersection.

View the Vicinity Map for Non-Contiguous Annexation for Vermillion Project in the Colon area on page 48 of the Sanford July 1, 2025, agenda packet. The map provided does not reveal the existing wetlands within the acreage.

Sanford approved long-range land use plans and rezoned 3.56 acres on Commerce Drive from high density conditional to office and institutional for AGA Corporation, a real estate developer.

The council approved Otter Creek Properties LLC’s long-range land use plans and rezoned 8.45 vacant acres on Cox Maddox Road from mixed residential with mobile home park to multi-family to allow a townhome subdivision.

The Cox Maddox Road property is west of the US Highway 421 bypass and is at the end of this section of Cox Maddox Road, between the Lee County School bus garage at 416 Cox Maddox Road and the bypass.

Administration

Former Mayor Chet Mann now serves on the Sanford Affordable Housing Development Corporation Board. He is an area sales manager with Guild Mortgage with 16 years of experience in the housing field.

Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon now serves virtually on the Sanford Affordable Housing Development Corporation Board.

The next Sanford City Council meeting is at 5 p.m. on July 15 in the Sanford Council Chambers on 225 E. Weatherspoon Street.

July 2, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers