Water is much on the minds of Moore County's Board of Commissioners these days, who have a proposal to tap the Town of Robbins' reservoir on the table and plenty of other options in the wings.
Public Works Director Randy Gould briefed the Commissioners during their Tuesday, April 17 meeting on three water-related efforts underway at Moore County Public Utilities [MCPU] :
• Progress on drilling three new wells to increase water supply in the county system.
• The prospects for using an old quarry and some talc mines in the Glendon area as a county reservoir.
• The possibility of commissioning a formal study of the aquifer that feeds Moore County wells, to better understand its capacity and value as a long-term water source.
The County recently received the deed to three new well sites, Gould reported, and test wells have been drilled in two of the sites. The results show that the wells have “very positive results,” with a yield of 90 to 150 gallons per minute.
A test on the third well is pending. Once it is complete, the next step will be developing a design for the production wells and wellsite treatment facilities. Gould estimated it would cost $1.7 million to bring the three wells into production.
“We don’t have it budgeted for this year,” said Gould. “But it is certainly something we want to proceed with . . . with the proper funding at the proper time.”
Public Utilities is also investigating the rock quarry and talc mine sites, which lie north of Deep River.
The NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources [NCDENR] has provided information about the quality of water in the area, but that data did not reveal pH levels. “We are still in the process of gathering that information,” Gould said.
Gould told the Commissioners that the County could commission a formal study of the aquifer that feeds Moore County wells in order to determine how much groundwater is available. But he questioned whether that effort would be worth the cost.
“The balance is going to be: do you want to spend your money on studies?” said Gould. “Or would you rather find well sites and drill wells and get the direct information?”
MCPU staff is gathering data from existing wells and from the US Geological Survey [USGS] to evaluate water quality in existing wells -- paying particular attention to radium, which has been found in some MCPU wells. If the Board decides to fund a comprehensive study of the aquifer, results would be available by next July.
In other Public Works business during Tuesday's meeting, the Board approved the Pinehurst lift station 3-4 replacement project. The nearly $1 million project is being financed with a low interest loan from the state.
The Board also approved a request by Assistant County Manager Ken Larking for an agreement between Carthage and the County for wastewater treatment and disposal services at the Water Pollution Control Plant.
No Increase in County Dollars Requested for Schools
Moore County Schools [MCS] is seeking no increase in county funding for FY 2012-13. Though the Board of Commissioners did not vote on the $26.2 million budget request during their Tuesday, April 17, meeting, they appeared to be impressed with how new MCS Superintendent Aaron Spence plans to allocate resources.
Tuesday night's presentation was Spence's first before the Board of Commissioners.
“I think you are going to be a breath of fresh air,” said Chairman Larry Caddell, “and we look forward to working with you.”
One of the key goals for MCS is to focus on literacy this year, Spence told the Commissioners, explaining that twenty-five percent of Moore County students are not proficient in reading.
“We have got to focus more on preparing our students to read and write well -- and read and write at high levels,” he said.
One ingredient in that effort that did not find a place in this year's MCS budget is increasing the availability of technology in the schools. “There is no way we can do that in the current budget,” explained Spence. “It’s going to take an investment.”
“How do we as a school system, how do we as a County, support each other in making sure our students are prepared for the world in which they are going to live and work?” Spence asked.
In another step aimed at improving literacy levels, Spence is proposing to have a teaching assistant in every first grade classroom.
“We feel like the primary years are where we need to lay the foundation for success,” he explained.
State funding for Moore County Schools will drop again this year, from $63.2 million to $62.3 million, Spence said, but he does not anticipate any staff or faculty lay offs. Instead, ten or more teaching assistants may be hired for the upcoming year.
Sandhills Community College
Sandhills Community College [SCC] requested a three percent increase in local funding -- bringing the total to $4.1 million -- for the FY 2012-13 budget. SCC President Dr. John Dempsey explained that part of the increased funding will be allocated to the operation and maintenance of three new campus buildings totaling 80,000 square feet.
The Commissioners passed a resolution recognizing the SCC basketball team, The Flyers, for winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Mens National Championship.
Volunteers Honored
The Board approved the week of April 15-21 as National Volunteer Week, as requested by RSVP Advisory Council Chairman Bryan Rainbow.
Also presented during the meeting were the five Moore County residents who received the 2012 Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service: Brenda Burt, Kay Davis, Judi Giles, Joyce Hunt, and the Moore County Citizens' Pet Responsibility Committee.
Burt, a West End resident, also received the Moore County Medallion Award for Volunteerism for her work with the homeless.
Moore County has over six hundred volunteers who contribute an estimated $1.3 million through 64,000 volunteer hours.
Planning Department
The Board approved a request by County Planner Robert Farrell to transfer .02 miles of roadway at Lakeway Drive and NC Highway 211 at the entrance to Seven Lakes West to the NC Department of Transportation for a public railroad crossing.
In February, the Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA] and the Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway Company [ACWR] completed an agreement that resulted in the Association paying $169,400 to defray ACWR's on-going maintenance and insurance costs associated with the crossing.
To date, BB&T has contributed $75,000 toward those expenses, and the Property Center has contributed $500.
The Board approved a special warranty deed between the County and Village of Pinehurst for an equal exchange of 5,000 square foot parcels. Pinehurst made the request due to the need for additional roadway as part of an economic development package for the expansion of businesses in the Village.
The Board tabled a public hearing to close out the 2009 Scattered Site Housing Community Development block Grant, as requested by Planning Director Debra Ensminger.
Ensminger presented the Board with the Unified Development Ordinance [UDO], recently approved by the Planning Board, which the Commissioners will begin reviewing in June.
Animal Control Officer Fined
After meeting in closed session prior to Tuesday's regular meeting, the Commissioners authorized the County Health Director to pay a civil penalty of $400 assessed against Animal Control Officer Frank Ringelberg by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture [NCDA], Animal Welfare Division.
Though the fine was not discussed in open session, documents available on the website of the NCDA indicate that Ringelberg was assessed a fine of $500 fined, and had his euthanasia technician privileges suspended for six months, because he euthanized two stray dogs with a .22-caliber rifle on the Mid South tennis court in August 2011.
In assessing the penalty, Animal Welfare Section Director Dr. Lee Hunter found that the dogs were in a fenced tennis court when Ringelberg encountered them, and that the officer could therefore have safely left them so confined while he retrieved a tranquilizer from the Animal Shelter. Hunter also notes that Ringelberg "made no effort to secure assistance from anyone to catch the dogs before he euthanized them."
On Friday, Dr. Hunter told The Times that the Animal Welfare Division had reached a negotiated settlement with Moore County that reduced the amount of the civil penalty to $400. Assistant County Attorney Brenda White told The Times that the settlement also provides that only Ringelberg's field euthanasia privileges are suspended for six months. He may continue to assist in on-site euthanasia at the County Animal Shelter.
Public Safety Facility
After much debate, the Board approved -- in a four to one vote with Commissioner Lea opposed -- a $50,000 amendment to the Kleinfelder Southeast, Inc. contract for special inspections for the new public safety facility.
“To the taxpayer on the street, that is a lot of money,” said Lea, who argued that the the contract for the project was already approved and said he could not justify the extra cost.
Project Manager Rich Smith presented the request, which brings the total cost of inspections to $319,000. The special inspections are mandated by the state.
Other Business
Other business conducted during the Board’s Tuesday, April 18 meeting included:
• The Board received a letter from the Greater Seven Lakes Community Council inviting the Commissioners to a joint meeting in Seven Lakes, scheduled for July 19.
• Ann Robeson from the Aging Advisory Council announced that the Senior Center will hold a “Stepping Out” dance and fundraiser to celebrate their fifth anniversary. The dance is on Sunday, April 22 from 5 to 8 pm.
• During member comments, Ellen Marcus asked the Board to approve the Moore County Schools FY 2012-13 Budget.
• Victoria Whitt of Sandhills Center for Mental Health requested $274,000 -- the same amount as last year -- for the organization’s FY2012-13 budget.
• The Board approved a request by Information Technology Director Darlene Yudell for $500,000 to upgrade the County’s information technology system.
• The Board tabled a decision on paying off school bonds until the county's financial consultant Davenport & Company can present some options during the May 15 Commissioners' meeting.
• A request by Scot Brooks for a Sole Source agreement with Radio Communications Company of Cary to upgrade the Robbins tower site for FCC compliance was approved by the Board. The cost of the upgrade is $67,000 and is being paid for with 911 funds.
• The Board approved a Fire Code Enforcement Agreement with the Village of Whispering Pines presented by Fire Marshal Skipper.
• County Manager Cary McSwain will present the County’s FY 2012-13 budget to the Commissioners on Tuesday, May 1, with a public hearing to be held on Tuesday, May 15. The Commissioners will then hold a budget work session on Thursday, May 17, in hopes of adopting it on June 5.
Appointments
The Board appointed Judith Trevarrow to the Nursing and Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee and Thomas Kees to the ABC Board.
