Ana Risano

Southern Pines

Writer at The Pilot

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Articles

Transportation Group to Gather Growth Data

3 weeks ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

Work is picking up in southern Moore County to create a new traffic demand model, with municipalities asked to update growth information for this year. A main role of the local regional transportation planning group is to recommend road project priorities to state officials. To do that, it relies on current road data and traffic projections for the next couple of decades. Those projections provide information on which roads may need changes to increase traffic efficiency and safety.
Regional Transportation Group Talks Prioritization

3 weeks ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

It’s that time of year again, when the state Department of Transportation asks regional planning organizations to prioritize road projects for funding. On Wednesday morning, an advising committee to the Sandhills Metropolitan Planning Organization reviewed the process for ranking and recommending transportation priorities to state officials.
Cameron Looks at Conservative Budget

3 weeks ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

Cameron has trimmed costs with its proposed 2025-2026 fiscal year budget, tightening its belt while maintaining key services like providing water. The proposed general fund budget totals $348,355, a decrease of more than $14,000 from the current budget. Cameron’s tax rate would remain the same with the draft at 57.5 cents for every $100 of property valuation. kAm~?
Southern Pines Council Talks Planning Fees

3 weeks ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

Rather than looking out the window to see Southern Pines’ growth, you can pop into the offices of the town’s Planning Department, where records of requested permits and approvals are held. Growth funnels through there because staff handle development compliance with various codes, whether a by-right development or something requiring a decision from the Town Council within the review process. kAm~?
Aberdeen Approves Budget, Park Updates

1 month ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

The Aberdeen Board of Commissioners has approved the town’s 2025-2026 fiscal year budget, which retains the current tax rate and funds several capital projects. On Tuesday night, Town Manager Paul Sabiston gave a rundown of the budget, which the town board has been closely monitoring since its first all-day retreat on the topic in March. The operating budget is estimated at $21.5 million, with $15.54 million in the general fund and $5.96 million for water and sewer.
Aberdeen Approves Budget

1 month ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

With little flourish, the Aberdeen Board of Commissioners approved the town’s 2025-2026 fiscal year budget, which retains the current tax rate and funds several capital projects. On Tuesday night, Town Manager Paul Sabiston gave a rundown of the budget, which the town board has been closely discussing since its first all-day retreat on the topic in March. The operating budget totals just more than $21.5 million, with $15.54 million in the general fund and $5.96 million for water and sewer.
Southern Pines Council Reviews Parking at Downtown Park

1 month ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

It’s been over a decade since the town made changes to the parking lot next to Downtown Park, which previously served the former police station. Now, it’s mostly used as park parking and by the weekly farmers market. On Tuesday, the Town Council looked at four options for updating the parking lot or transitioning it into another use. But the council members did not agree on one design and asked town staff to firm up some details before reviewing it again.
Mayor Cares for the Littlest Constituents

1 month ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

As a mother of three boys and mayor to more than 16,000 constituents, Taylor Clement knows a thing or two about loud excessive chirping. And though it’s not part of her maternal duty or Southern Pines mayoral responsibility, Clement lent her hand recently to the raising of five more new arrivals to town. Into her care was bestowed a bird’s nest full of five finely feathered finches, found nestled in a plant shipment to Gulley’s Garden Center.
Southern Pines Board Reviews Land Use Plan Implementation

1 month ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

Southern Pines planning staff continue to work on projects designed to implement the town’s guiding document for future growth. On Thursday night, the Planning Board reviewed updates on the second phase of implementation, which includes a handful of projects the Town Council directed staff to pursue at the end of last year. kAm%96 8F:5:?8 5@4F>6?E :D E96 E@H?’D a_c_ r@>AC696?D:G6 !=2?[ H9:49 H2D 5C27E65 27E6C 2 J62C @7 4@>>F?:EJ 7665324<] xE :?4=F56D 2 G2C:6EJ @7 A@=:4:6D E@ 4@?D:56C H96?
Literacy Nonprofit at Risk of Losing Funding

1 month ago | thepilot.com | Ana Risano

A local nonprofit that serves at-risk youth and low-literacy adults has found itself hamstrung with the potential loss of federal funding for its already hard-to-fund adult tutoring program. Recent executive orders from the nation’s administration propose to end or limit funding for a slew of programs, including educational programs that serve English as a second language learners or adult learners. kAm%96 rp#t vC@FA[ :?4[ 6DE23=:D965 :?