City Council approves next city attorney

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro City Council formally welcomed its new council member and incoming city attorney in its March 5 meeting. Cam Mills was sworn in to fill the vacated seat of Mayor Joseph Trogdon, Jr., and the council approved a contract with attorney Thomas D. Carruthers.

New appointments, hirings

The council chose Mills to serve the remainder of Trogdon’s term at its Feb. 5 meeting. Mills has served in various capacities in local, state and federal politics, including in the offices of Congressmen Richard Hudson and Dan Bishop. He was sworn in before family and friends at the beginning of the meeting.

The hiring of Carruthers concludes the search to replace Jeff Sugg, who retired as city attorney in February. Carruthers was city attorney for Greensboro and is currently deputy general counsel for the NC League of Municipalities. 

The city of Asheboro noted he helped with projects like the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite and the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. He earned his Juris Doctor from Campbell University and a bachelor of arts in political science from Duke University.

Carruthers will begin work on April 6. The city council chose Patrick Archibald with Teague Campbell to serve as interim city attorney.

Other council business

At the meeting, staff presented the annual reports on inspections and code enforcement. Chief Building Inspector Eddie Garner said they issued 1,772 building permits in 2025. He said overall permits were down from 2024, but they saw the number of single-family dwelling permits go up from 85 to 129. The valuations for commercial and residential properties totaled $105,047,823.

Garner listed this year’s major ongoing building projects: 

— South Asheboro Middle School.

— Additions and alterations to Randolph Packing.

— The Memorial Apartments.— The Bank Hotel.

— Golda Avenue townhomes.

— The YMCA indoor soccer training facility.

■ Code Enforcement Inspector Chuck Garner said his department issued 281 violation notices and removed more than 75 homeless encampments. They removed one dilapidated structure on Cherry Street and scheduled another demolition for March.

He said his staff try to offer education and reminders before dealing a notice. They had seven volunteer responses, in which they send someone to help people who are elderly or disabled bring their property up to code.

■ Jaeco General Contracting got approval to change the billboard it will place outside its property along NC 49 South. Community Development Director John Evans explained that after the city council approved a 10-foot x 30-foot digital LED billboard on Feb. 6, 2025, Jaeco decided it would prefer to measure from the crown of the closest roadway instead of grade level. 

It asked to amend the height from 30 feet above road grade to 35 feet. Real estate attorney Nick Blackwood said Jaeco will keep all the other design conditions the same.

■ The city will hear two new annexation petitions at their upcoming meeting. City Engineer Michael Leonard said the public hearing for Candi Land Campground, LLC’s 83.5 acres along Crestview Church Road at Oakhurst Road will be on April 9. Phillip and Brittany Leonard are asking for a satellite annexation of their 37,991-square-foot property on 3505 US 220 Business South. Their request will also be heard on April 9.

■ Finance Director Debbie Reaves introduced a motion to adjust budgetary line items to account for unexpected expenses before the end of the fiscal year.

■ The Daughters of the American Revolution presented the city council with an award recognizing Asheboro’s help on America 250, a nationwide initiative to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.