For the second time, Moore County's Board of Commissioners failed to authorize the County Attorney to draft working documents aimed at protecting the Veteran's Memorial in Carthage from encroachment be commercial development.
In a 3-to-2 vote during their Tuesday, September 4 meeting, Commissioners Jimmy Melton, Larry Caddell, and Craig Kennedy voted down a motion by Commissioner Tim Lea that would have instructed County Attorney Misty Leland to draft preliminary documents outlining the joint ownership and maintenance responsibility proposed for the Veterans Memorial site in Carthage. Those documents would have formed the basis for meetings of the new ad hoc committee on the preservation of the Memorial, formed by the Board of Commissioners and the original Veterans Memorial Committee.
The Board had split 2-2 on the motion during its Tuesday, August 22 meeting, when Kennedy was absent.
Commissioner Nick Picerno seconded Lea's motion, with the proviso that the draft documents would not be legally binding, noting that they could serve as a working document and starting point for the Committee, which is aimed at protecting the Memorial and the land surrounding it.
Chairman Caddell said the documents would “handcuff” the Committee’s chairman, Commissioner Melton.
Explaining that the matter has been discussed now for five months, Lea said having draft documents available to the Committee would facilitate its work.
“The Board has already agreed in principle that the Memorial site be protected,” said Lea. “I have found, when working on this Board, when we want to delay something we appoint a committee . . . This is not a big decision. This is just whether or not this Board wants to do this or not.”
According to Lea, the critical issue facing the Committee is how much land around the Memorial needs to be included in the joint-ownership arrangement.
The Board has yet to set a date for the first meeting of the Committee.
Board Approves Working Lands Plan
In a four-to-one vote, with Commissioner Craig Kennedy dissenting, the Board approved the Moore County Working Lands Protection Plan, a document that both describes Moore County's farm and forest lands and recommends strategies for protecting them.
Presenting the document, Planning Director Debra Ensminger said all of the other ten counties in the Fort Bragg area have adopted similar plans.
The development of these plans is a project supported by the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, created by the General Assembly in 2005 to focus on preserving and developing farm and forest lands in the state. Moore County's adoption of a Working Lands Protection Plan means that its farmers and foresters will be able to tap state funds available to those who place conservation easements on their property -- and that possibility appeared to raise concerns for two Commissioners.
Commissioner Nick Picerno suggested, and the Board approved, adding language to the Working Lands Plan that will make clear to landowners that adopting a conservation easement will restrict what they can do with their land in the future.
“I worry . . . for the property right and a person not understanding,” said Picerno.
Picerno also questioned the future impact of the Plan, asking, "What if Walmart comes in down the road and wants to buy that land -- but because an heir’s parents signed this document, it can’t be done?"
Commissioner Lea, who is a timber and cattle farmer, said the plan allows farmers to tap into more funding opportunities. “What about future generations?” asked Lea. “Well, it’s my property today.”
Commissioner Kennedy, who voted against approval, said he didn't object to the Working Lands Plan, but to the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, which he said is run by unelected officials.
“This program here causes me to say 'What are we doing? We want to restrict development of these people’s properties?'” said Kennedy. “I don’t think we should be looking for handouts . . . I cannot support this plan.”
In 2008, agriculture was a $74 billion industry in North Carolina -- $373 million in Moore County. The County's 6,000 agricultural jobs make up 13 percent of all jobs.
In the past twenty years, Moore County's population has grown fifty percent, putting pressure on the County’s farm and forest lands for non-agricultural uses. And with the expansion of Fort Bragg under BRAC, the Base Realignment and Closure program, there will be an even greater pressure on the area’s farm lands, Ensminger said.
The Planning Board voted 7-0 to endorse the Working Lands Protection Plan. Now that it has been approved by the Commissioners, it will be forwarded to the NC Commissioner of Agriculture for final approval.
The implementation of the plan will not require additional expenditures of staff time, Ensminger said.
Public Hearings
Also during their Tuesday, September 4 meeting, the Commissioners called the following public hearings, each to be held on Tuesday, September 18:
• A public hearing to discuss the McLean Road Water Tank Lease Agreements, as requested by County Attorney Misty Leland. These Pinehurst water tanks were scheduled to be torn down, but, they are home to communications antennas serving Alltel Communications, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, New Cingular, Sprint, and USCOC -- who are willing to pay to keep the tanks, and their towers, up. The companies are willing to pay for the rehabilitation of the tanks in addition to their annual lease fees. Commissioner Caddell said the tanks will be brought up to standard: “It’s kind of a win-win situation.”
• A public hearing to amend the road naming and addressing ordinance which will add three new roads and change four roads as requested by GIS Director Chris Koltyk.
• A public hearing to discuss the County's application for the FY2012 Scattered Site Housing Community Development Block Grant, as requested by Planning Director Debra Ensminger.
Other Business
Other business conducted during the Board’s Tuesday, September 4 meeting included:
• The Board accepted a space needs study that was presented to them by Chinn Planning Inc. and Ware Bonsall Architects. Meeting the County's long term space needs up to thirty years could cost up to $33.3 million. “It lays out a vision for this County and a map,” said County Manager Cary McSwain.
• The Commissioners approved the $90,600 purchase of a new backhoe requested by Ben Vaughn of Public Utilities.
• The Board approved a lease agreement of $400 per month between Westmoore Volunteer Fire Protection Association, Inc. and Moore County for housing staff and a Paramedic Quick Response Vehicle, as requested by Scot Brooks. Brooks explained that the staffing process has begun for the 24/7 coverage facility, which should be in place by mid September.
• The Board approved a request by Information Technology Director Darlene Yudell to purchase switch infrastructure needed at the new Public Safety Center for $276,000.
• Employee service awards were presented by Human Resources Director Denise Brook.
• The Board approved the month of September as Citizens’ Voter Awareness Month, requested by Glenda Clendenin.
Appointments
• The Board appointed Pat Corso to the Workforce Development Board.
• The Board appointed Harvey Bryson to the Veteran’s Memorial Committee, requested by Commissioner Melton.
