Sanford City Council text messages raise questions about transparency, public records and budget process

Data received from public information requests raised concerns about transparency, communication and governance within the Sanford City Council.

The Sanford City Council’s June 23 and 25 meetings discussed eliminating the downtown police on foot patrol. During the meetings, council members texted, leaving colleagues and attendees out of the discussion. Some said they had letters of support for the police downtown, but no one produced them.

Members texted during meetings, preventing transparency for the public and preventing all council members from learning all perspectives on the discussion. In one identifiable instance, a measure saving taxpayers money by reducing police presence hours downtown was selectively withheld.

Because the city does not livestream for all its meetings, transparency is further inhibited and lessens public confidence in the council’s decision-making process.

Sandhills News requested copies of the texts, emails and letters of support.

On July 7, the city fulfilled the public information requests.

The letters below were emailed to Mayor Pro-Tempore Byron Buckels on June 24, following the work session when Sandhills News first reported on the DSI police possibly being eliminated. The letters may have been lobbied during the June 23 active meeting, according to text messages received from public information requests.

Dear Mayor and Council Members,

We, the undersigned downtown business owners, are writing to express our concern regarding the proposed elimination of the downtown police foot patrol program as part of the upcoming budget reductions.

We understand the difficult decisions involved in balancing the budget and appreciate the effort to reduce the proposed tax increase. However, we believe the downtown foot patrol program provides significant value to our community and should be preserved.

Now entering its eighth year, the foot patrol program has become an important part of downtown Sanford’s success. The visible presence of officers helps create a welcoming environment for visitors, shoppers, employees, and families attending events. It strengthens relationships between law enforcement, business owners, residents, and visitors while providing an added sense of safety throughout our downtown district.

Downtown Sanford has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Local businesses have invested heavily in our historic district, organizations such as the Temple Theatre continue to attract visitors from across the region, and community events bring thousands of people downtown each year. The foot patrol program helps support this economic activity by maintaining a safe, welcoming, and vibrant atmosphere.

If budget reductions are necessary, we encourage the Council to consider modifying the program rather than eliminating it entirely. Reducing coverage to Tuesday through Saturday, when the majority of downtown businesses are open and pedestrian activity is highest, could provide meaningful cost savings while preserving the benefits the program provides. The cost savings achieved by eliminating the program should be weighed against the potential impact on downtown business activity, visitor experience, and future investment in our historic district.

The success of downtown Sanford has been the result of collaboration between business owners, city leadership, community organizations, and law enforcement. We believe the foot patrol program has been an important part of that success and remains a worthwhile investment in the continued growth and vitality of our downtown.

We respectfully ask the Council to reconsider eliminating the downtown foot patrol program and explore alternatives that allow this valuable resource to continue serving our community.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and service to Sanford. Please refer to the next page for a list of business owners in support of preserving the downtown foot patrol program.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned Downtown Business Owners:

Neil Bullard, Neil’s Apparel & Accents Maggie Ligon Cranford, High Cotton Couture Amy Truckner, Sips & Sequels

Chloe Benhaim and Casey Fox, Wana Navu Kava Bar Matthew Jacob Sarmiento, Rogue Toys

Ashley Whitaker, Morgan’s Menswear, Added Accents, Benton Whitaker Taylor Spinelli, Vintage Vanity Salon

Jeff Towson, Smoke & Barrel

Jessica Nelson, Millie’s Mamas Bakes Tim Emmert, Hugger Mugger Brewery Rebecca Pedley, With Love Boutique Samantha Phillips, Color Coven Emma Murray, 2nd Glances

Craig Krause, Wild Dogs Brewing

Emalee and Pat McCracken, Bert’s Furniture Karen Stanley, Stanley’s Home Center

Jenks Youngblood, Sanford Antique Mall Ashlee Beal and Holly Beal, Beech & Boon Shay Benton, Benton Whitaker

David Heimbecker, Family Grounds Coffee Cheryl Crist, Gather NC

Jayne and Travis Hartman, Libations 139 Randy and Lina Brooks, Shops of Steele Street Becca Harrington, One on One Fitness

Lisa Womble, One on One Fitness

Buck Harris, Harris & Company Insurance Peggy Taphorn, Temple Theatre Company Gavan Pamer, Temple Theatre Company

Ryan and Shauna Morgan, Raven Forge Games

Darryl and Gina Wheeler, Wheelers Sports Collectibles Rick Plona and Dr. Jess Mertz, Mission Fit

Kaitlin Goodwin and Robin Goodwin, Aunt Kay’s Classics Dee Green, Mine and Yours Bridal

Jeremy Dossenbach, Dossenbachs Finer Furniture Ashley Davenport, Sweet Southern Home & Designs

Dear Mayor Salmonand Council Members,

I am writing to express my concern regarding the proposed elimination of the downtown police foot patrol program as part of the upcoming budget reductions. I believe the foot patrol program has been an important part of that success and remains a worthwhile investment in the continued growth and vitality of our downtown.

While I understand the difficult decisions involved in balancing the budget and appreciate the effort to reduce the proposed tax increase, I firmly believe the downtown foot patrol program provides significant value to our community and should be preserved.

Now entering its eighth year, the foot patrol program is an important and necessary part of downtown Sanford’s success and appeal. The visible presence of officers creates a welcoming and safe environment for Temple Theatre’s almost 40,000 visitors annually. It demonstrates the safety efforts of our community for both our elderly patrons who may need help crossing Carthage Street and our youth participants with their parents. It strengthens relationships between law enforcement, business owners, residents, and visitors while providing an added sense of safety throughout our downtown district.

Downtown Sanford has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Local businesses have invested heavily in our historic district, and Temple Theatre continues to attract visitors from across the region. Those visitors are greeted with a safe environment today because of the foot patrol. There have been instances before the foot patrol was established when unhoused locals harassed our elderly patrons as they left the theatre. Gladly those days are behind us, and I would hate to see our out-of-town guests faced with unsafe situations in the future. With the return of the Depot Park concert series, the Pilgrim’s Farmer’s market and other community events thousands of people are visiting downtown Sanford annually. The foot patrol program helps support this economic activity by maintaining a safe, welcoming, and vibrant atmosphere.

If budget reductions are necessary, I encourage the Council to consider modifying the program rather than eliminating it entirely. Reducing coverage to Tuesday through Saturday, when the majority of downtown businesses are open and pedestrian activity is highest, could provide meaningful cost savings while preserving the benefits the foot patrol program provides.

The success of downtown Sanford has been the result of collaboration between business owners, city leadership, community organizations, and law enforcement. I reiteratemybelief that the foot patrol program is an important part of that success and remains a worthwhile investment in the continued safety, growth and vitality of our downtown.

I respectfully ask the Council to reconsider eliminating the downtown foot patrol program and explore alternatives that allow this valuable resource to continue serving our growing community.

Thank you for your consideration and service to Sanford,

Director of Education Temple Theatre

120 Carthage Street Sanford, NC 27330

Council Member Walter Ferguson received one text message during the June 23 work session in support of the downtown police from the Downtown Sanford Incorporated Executive Director Kelly Laudate.

Council Member Linda Rhodes sent a text to Laudate during the June 23 work session, and they had a conversation showing Rhodes calling her council colleagues the “F” bomb that rhymes with truckers.

“I’ll get merchants on it,” Laudate texted, insinuating she will rally them to support the downtown police on foot patrol, when in fact, DSI has no vote.

Because Laudate texted Ferguson and Rhodes during an active meeting, a breach of public confidence erupts under her rallying, which is outside lobbying.

UPDATE: Laudate refused an interview about her new office, updates on downtown, or anything else.

The council has a formal public comment process for hearing its residents’ perspectives.

Laudate suggested cutting the hours to save about $15,000, but Rhodes did not share the taxpayer money-saving idea with the council.

Rhodes’ last text, in blue, reads, “They are going to move the money to street resurfacing.”

Council members shared passionate statements during the June 25 meeting. (Sandhills News records audio of meetings to preserve integrity because the Sanford City Council does not promote transparency by recording videos of work sessions, and its regular meetings are not live, and have an undetermined delay in publishing a version of the regular session meetings.)

Even though DSI makes $100,000 each year, and partially funds the downtown police under their contract, because the downtown police wear the Sanford City Police uniforms and use their forms, the city has helped fund them.

Member Jean Dabbs said they could save money for next year if they eliminated the downtown police service and then reenacted it if they saw it was needed. “That hundred thousand dollars alone will not reduce or increase the half percent,” Dabbs said about increasing the tax rate. She expressed concern about the council not being responsible for addressing funding for the downtown police because they had not discussed it during the March budget retreat. Dabbs supports keeping the downtown police, and also wants to save taxpayers money.

On June 25, the day of the budget approval, three council members: Walter Ferguson, Byron Buckels, and Linda Rhodes, stated they had numerous emails and letters from Sanford citizens about the DSI police. On that same day, Sandhills News requested copies of those emails and letters.

“I got a lot of calls last night. I kept a list at home,” Rhodes said June 25.

“We received letters. People stopped by my house,” Buckles said June 25.

Ferguson tossed a Spanberger, saying, “I talked to downtown business owners…some against…majority wanted.” But he contradicted his declaration of listening to the people by saying, “We did get letters, but I didn’t read them because I didn’t want to be influenced…I’m my own man.”

Read Socialists toss the Spanberger to understand political behavior.

Via the public information request, Buckles supplied three letters, Ferguson shared one text, and Rhodes did not share an email or letter of support for downtown police from the June 25 regular meeting to verify the public had contacted them after the June 23 work session when Sandhills News published they had considered eliminating downtown police.

On the morning of June 23, during the work session, Buckels introduced the measure to cut the two contracted downtown Sanford police on foot patrols, despite it not being on the “Potential Cuts FY 27 Budget” list.

Ferguson immediately grasped his forehead and hung his head. “Police presence is the first line of defense in public safety,” he said.

On June 25, Buckels said he did support downtown police but only if all crime-heavy areas have the “extra” police, not just the downtown merchants. He repeatedly said the police were “double dipping.” He did not explain how spending more in expanded police presence would erase his perspective of “double dipping.” He offered an expensive all or nothing option.

For the June 23 work session, the council had prepared a list of proposed cuts, and eliminating the downtown police was not on the list. The unannounced proposed budget reduction hindered public comment.

The downtown homeless shelter, only five blocks from businesses, is home to drug addicts, mental patients and people from neighboring counties. Officers are called to the G.T. Carwash about homeless people sleeping on the benches, for disturbances at businesses and for loitering.

Objective measures like crime data and cost-benefit analyses were absent, with the discussion centering on opinions and personal accounts highlighting wider issues in transparency, budget consistency, professional conduct and the use of objective data for policy.

The board plans to conduct a downtown police workshop within six months.

Citizens on social media have requested an audit of the council.

The Sanford City Council consists of seven Democrats and one Republican. The Lee County GOP is open to supporting active, civic-minded citizens to serve the citizens of Sanford.

The next meeting is July 14 at 1 p.m.

July 8, 2026

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