Though Chairman Nick Picerno said the state-mandated requirement was a hardship for businesses during difficult economic times, the Moore County Board of Commissioners upped the target for utilizing minority owned and historically-underutilized businesses in County projects during the Board’s Tuesday, September 20 meeting.
Moore County’s goal was set at zero percent in 2001; the Commissioners upped that to ten percent in Tuesday’s meeting, after holding a public hearing on the change.
The participation of minority/underutilized business applies to publicly-bid, State-funded building projects that cost $100,000 or more, and to projects costing $300,000 whether or not they rely on state aid.
County Attorney Misty Leland presented the Board with the resolution, noting that she was not trying to make policy, but rather coming to the Board with the recommendation from a legal perspective. The County is required by law to have a verifiable percentage goal for the participation of minority businesses.
Leland said many counties use the ten percent goal; the other option is to hire a consultant to study the County’s business demographics, using that research to set a percentage goal.
In addition to resetting the minority participation goal, the Board unanimously approved a Minority Business Participation Outreach Plan and Guideline, also presented by Leland. The Outreach Plan, which will be posted on the County website, documents the guidelines the County will use to encourage greater participation in county projects by minority businesses and historically underutilized businesses.
The Commissioners also approved a sole source exception to the Moore County Purchasing Policy and Procedures Manual that would help standardize bidding procedures. This would authorize the County Manager, Assistant Manager, or the designee of either to approve purchases and or service contracts where the estimated cost is less than $30,000.
In passing both the Minority Business Participation Outreach Plan and sole source exception Chairman Picerno asked that the meeting minutes reflect the fact that the state is requiring these regulations, which were not requested by the Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Lea agreed with Picerno, adding that the decision was “made under duress.”
The Board approved an update to Moore County’s Purchasing Policy and Procedures Manual for contractor licensure as presented by Leland. This revision will require anyone bidding on a Moore County project to furnish appropriate documentation that indicates the contractor is duly licensed to participate in construction of a project of the same value.
Transportation
After a public hearing, the Board approved, in a four-to-one vote with Picerno opposed a grant application for the Rural Operating Assistance Program [ROAP].
Transportation Services Manager Tawanna Williams told the Board that the $197,000 grant will be used to fund transportation services in Moore County.
Planning Department
The Board approved the adoption of a grant project ordinance for the 2011 Single Family Rehab Grant, requested by Planner Tim Emmert, which will allow $160,000 to be used to fix four homes in the County where lead paint is evident. If the County serves four homes with the money then more funding will be available. The grant does not require a local match from the county.
The Board approved a renewal to the 2009 Housing Preservation Grant from US Department of Agriculture Rural Development and adopted an amended grant project ordinance.
Public Works
At the request of Public Utilities Director Randy Gould, The Board approved a performance agreement for a waterline upgrade on Midland Road intended, in part, to support an expansion of Carolina Eye Associates. Moore County and Carolina Eye Associates will each receive half of a grant totaling $150,000 from the NC Rural Economic Development Center.
The total cost of the waterline project is $725,000, of which the County is paying for $408,000. Carolina Eye will invest $166,600; the Rural Center, $150,000.
The Board approved an amendment to the engineering contract for the ATEX Technologies project — which will extend county sewer lines to the ATEX manufacturing plant in Pinebluff — with the engineering firm Hobbs Upchurch and Associates that will extend the term from October 20 to May 31, 2012.
Other Business
In other business During its Tuesday, September 20 meeting, the Moore County Board of Commissioners:
• Approved three change orders to the DH Griffin Construction contract for the Detention Center, resulting in a overall $92,000 decrease from the original budget.
• Appointed Cynthia Ransom and Mamie Bennet to three year terms on the RSVP Advisory Council.
• The consent agenda was unanimously approved by the Board, with the exception of Item “A” — approval of the September 6 meeting minutes. Item “A” was tabled during Tuesday’s meeting so that Chairman Picerno can review the minutes before they are sealed.
