The Vision Statement for Moore County's 2012 Land Use Planning Steering Committee will be: "Establish a consensus which uses the Community input process to develop a Land Use Plan which meets the needs of today’s citizens and future generations, and acknowledges the diverse areas within the County. The Land Use Plan shall be User Friendly, Business Friendly, Concise and Reduce Regulations.”
The Board of Commissioners approved the statement, prepared by Planning Director Debra Ensminger, during their Tuesday, March 7 regular meeting.
Planning Board Chairman Robert Hayter, who will also chair the Steering Committee, told the Commissioners he is ready to get the process moving: “[I’m] appreciative of this moment to kick this off," he said. "I am ready to go to work.”
VIPER Recommendation Tabled
After hearing a presentation from Assistant County Manager Ken Larking pertaining to VIPER funding, the Commissioners tabled the proposal until it can be reviewed by the Emergency System Advisory Committee [ESAC] at their Thursday, March 29 meeting.
The Board has held two special meetings aimed at finding a way that the County can defray the estimated $5 million that new radios and other equipment will cost. The county has selected the VIPER system, developed and maintained by the State Highway Patrol, in order to meet a Federal Communication Commission requirement that emergency communications be migrated to a narrowband radio system.
Chief Sheriff's Deputy Neil Godfrey told the Board that waiting for the ESAC review should not affect municipal budget planning.
Chairman Caddell said he wants to make sure each municipality is getting what is needed. “Make sure it’s fair to every everybody,” said Caddell, “looking at necessities, and not the wants.”
County Manager Cary McSwain told the Board that additional grant funding may be found to help pay for the transition. As additional grant money comes in, Larking said, it will be deducted from the overall cost of the project.
Road Work
The Commissioners approved a request by Planner Robert Farrell to close a 0.82 mile portion of Airport Road -- the remainder of the right-of-way left over when Airport Road and NC Highway 22 were realigned, creating the traffic circle near the Moore County Airport. This portion of the road is no longer paved, and all adjacent landowners have signed a petition in favor of the closure.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation [NCDOT] notified Moore County in November 2011 that the road has been deleted from the state maintenance system. Once the road has been closed, the property will be deeded to the property owners adjacent to the road.
The Commissioners approved a petition to ask NCDOT to add a 0.205 mile section of Riverbend and Autumn Drives to the state maintenance system. The petition will now move forward to the NCDOT.
In other planning business, the Board voted to allow the County Manager and Community Development Planner, instead of the Commissioners Chairman, to sign documents related to Community Development Block Grants [CDBG]. In some instances it is more efficient and expedient to have multiple persons authorized to sign off on the documents.
Public Works
The Board approved Solid Waste Division Manager Chad Beane's application for a $100,000 NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources [NCDENR] Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant. The grant would pay for the construction of a recyclable materials transfer station.
The grant application requires a match of $17,800 in local funds. Beane told the Board that he is asking the Village of Pinehurst to help meet the local match. If an agreement can’t be reached between the Village and County -- the two largest contributors of recyclable material -- then the application will be withdrawn.
Currently, recyclables are shipped out of the County to be processed. Beane said a local facility would “consolidate loads and save on freight.”
Other Business
Other Business during the Commissioners’ Tuesday, March 6 meeting included:
• Employee Service Awards were presented by Human Resources Director Denise Brook.
• The Board approved the month of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, as requested by Wendy Russell and Susan Holmes.
• The Commissioners accepted the Sandhills Center Quarterly Fiscal Report as presented by Carrie Neal.
• At the request of Planning Director Ensminger, the Commissioners directed planning to offer to increase the watershed area allocated to each of the County's municipalities, based on their growth since the initial watershed allocations in 1993.
• The Board approved a request by GIS Director Chris Koltyk to add Whitetail Path off of Lineberry Road to the Moore County road system.
• The Board approved a request by Tommy Kennedy of Sheffield Township, which includes the Town of Robbins, to place on the May 8 Primary ballot a Township ABC Referendum to permit the “off-premises” sale of malt beverages. Holding a separate election on the matter was estimated to cost $6,000, making adding it to the primary ballot a more economical choice. “If the people don’t want, it they won’t vote for it,” said Chairman Caddell.
• Commissioners have agreed to entertain an offer from Taylortown to purchase the former Academy Heights Elementary School. Commissioner Lea asked that the town be allowed to obtain the building “at no cost” due to the historical value it has for the town and the fact that it might possibly be used for their government offices. Demolishing the building would cost the County an estimated to cost $150,000.
• At the request of the State Highway Patrol, The Board approved the dedication of Craines Creek Bridge on US Highway 1 in memory of Patrolman H.A. Hight, who died in the line of duty on May 31, 1962.
• Chairman Caddell and Vice Chairman Jimmy Melton are scheduled to meet with the Moore County Airport Authority to discuss the transfer of twenty acres near the airport to the Authority, to determine whether the property should be deeded to the County.
Appointments
• The Board approved the removal of Kay Thomas from the Regional Partnership Workforce Development Board due to lack of attendance and replaced her with Teri Williams to fulfill the remainder of the term which expires in June 2013.
• The Board approved the reappointment of Hampton Williams to the Emergency Services Advisory Committee [ESAC] for a three year term expiring February 2015.
