The crape myrtles that currently adorn the entrance to Southern Pines along US 1 will be relocated throughout Moore County, as a result of action taken during the Tuesday, August 2 meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
Property Manager Richard Smith made the request to relocate approximately 140 crape myrtle trees slated to be removed in an NC Department of Transportation [NCDOT] project to install guard rails along US Highway 1 from Morganton Road to McDonald’s Brothers Building Supply Company.
Moving the mature, twelve to sixteen foot trees is expected to cost nearly $20,000. Among the locations that will benefit from the relocation are Hillcrest Park and Moore County Schools’ Bus Garage.
The trees will help beautify the parking lot at Hillcrest, which will host the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series, an event anticipated to attract thousands of visitors to Moore County. With the Series set to begin next week, Commissioner Larry Caddell expressed concern that the work may not be completed in time. He was assured by Smith that work transporting the trees to Hillcrest Park will begin immediately.
Trees will also be relocated to other sites throughout Hillcrest Park, to the Agricultural Center, and to various County properties. Fifty trees will be replanted at the new Public Safety-Detention Center site.
McCrimmon Landscaping and Grading will be relocating the trees; work was expected to begin on Wednesday, August 3.
Tax Office Software
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved Tax Administrator J. Wayne Vest’s request to purchase additional tax assessment software, called “iasWorld,” from Tyler Technologies. The iasWorld component will allow for more efficient and effective listing, assessing, billing, and maintenance of personal property tax records, Vest told the Board. Currently, the tax office uses a different type of software from called “Munis.”
The new iasWorld software licensing, conversion, implementation, and training will cost $40,000, with an initial maintenance cost of $6,500.
Vest anticipates the added cost will be offset by increased effectiveness in tax collection. Last year, Moore County’s tax collection rate was 99.4 percent. Vest told Commissioner Tim Lea that the tax department is working on making that 100 percent.
The cost for the software and maintenance is being deferred to next year’s budget, since it was not included in the current 2011-2012 budget.
Pinehurst Sewer Project
The Board awarded a contract to Atlantic Coast Contractors Construction for the Old Town Pinehurst and Lake Pinehurst Sewer project at a cost of $5 million.
The first phase of the project will deal with rehabilitation and repair of priority areas within the Old Town area of the Village of Pinehurst. The second part will rehabilitate and repair 18,500 linear feet of gravity sewer mains around Lake Pinehurst.
Public Works Director Randy Gould, who made the request, said that two public meetings on the project would be held in the Village Town Hall on Wednesday and Thursday, August 3 and 4. Residents of the Village who will be affected by the construction will be given fourteen-day and twenty-four-hour notices.
Pinehurst resident Doug Middaugh spoke during the public comment portion of the Commissioner’s meeting, raising two concerns about the Pinehurst project, including a 20-foot sewer line right-of-way and easement clearing required to access a manhole. County Attorney Misty Leland said she and Gould would meet to discuss Middaugh’s concerns and provide a written response.
Because the Commissioners were unable to review the final contract before approving it — something that is not unusual — Commissioner Lea requested that all subsequent contracts be sent to the Commissioners for prior review, if time is not of the essence.
Ultimately, Leland will need to review and sign off on the contract before it can be approved. By bidding the project out, the County was able to save over one million dollars from the initial projected budget of $6.6 million.
Public Works
Convening as the East Moore Water District Board, the Commissioners approved an Engagement Letter for Sanford Holshouser to serve as bond counsel for the East Moore Water District [EMWD].
The request was made by Public Works Director Randy Gould, who said the bond counsel would cost $11,000. Holshouser served as bond counsel for the first and all subsequent phases of the EMWD.
Vehicle Purchase for the Sheriff’s Office
The Board unanimously approved a request by Sheriff Lane Carter to purchase four half-ton 4-wheel drive pickup trucks from Phillips Ford of Carthage. The cost, including title, tags, and taxes is $94,000, and funding is available in the 2011-2012 Vehicle Purchase Budget.
Public Hearing
The Commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting called a public hearing for Tuesday, August 16 at 6 pm on proposed amendments to the Moore County Zoning Map. County Planner Robert Farrell requested the public hearing, which pertains to an un-zoned 44 acre parcel of land located 950 feet south of the intersection of Dalrymple Road and Highway 24-27. The currently vacant property was de-annexed from the Town of Cameron in 2008 and is currently un-zoned. The zoning requested is for Rural Agricultural [RA].
Other Business
In other business during the Moore County Board of Commissioners’ Tuesday, August 2 meeting:
• Commissioner Caddell said he is, “a little nervous,” about hosting the 2011 Dixie Youth Baseball World Series but added that Hillcrest Park is an “unbelievable facility for the kids or Moore County.” Caddell is expecting over 100 volunteers for the week and some 5,000 people to attend the Series. The event will run from August 12 thru August 18, with twenty-four teams competing from eleven states for the championship.
• The Moore County Human Resources Department distributed Employee Service Awards for June, July and August.
• County Attorney Summer Intern Katherine “Kate” King presented the Board with changes to the Public Records Law affecting government employees. In October 2010 a new law became effective that requires public employers, including state employers who have employees subject to the State Personnel Act, to maintain and provide public access to certain information regarding their employees.
• The Board approved the reappointment of four members to the Aging Advisory Council including: Lois Holt, Carolyn Mealing, Mary Price, and Pauline Taylor for a three year term expiring in August 2014. Mealing, Price, and Taylor are all residents of Seven Lakes West.
• Moore County Planning Director, Joey Raczkowski has given his resignation, reported County Manager Cary McSwain, who added that the County is in the process of looking for his replacement.
• Chairman Nick Picerno was absent from the August, 2 meeting.
