"It's Tim Lea Night tonight!" That's how one speaker summed up the scene at the Tuesday, November 20 meeting of the Moore County Board of Commissioners. The historic courthouse was packed with family, friends, and well-wishers, on hand to celebrate retiring Commissioner Tim Lea's eight years of service.
State Senator Harris Blake -- himself retiring this year -- and NC Representative Jamie Boles presented Lea with resolutions acknowledging his service from their respective houses of the NC General Assembly.
Michael Gast and Chuck Spelman, representing veterans groups, praised Lea for continued support, including his advocacy of protection for the Veteran's Memorial in Carthage. Carolyn Mealing, representing the League of Women Voters, thanked Lea for his service, noting in particular his work to have Board of Commissioners meetings videotaped and streamed live over the internet.
Others who had served with Lea on various county committees testified to his diligence and hard work on those boards.
Commissioner Chairman Larry Caddell, presenting Lea with a plaque honoring his service, said "We've not always agreed -- but that's okay," adding that "ninety percent of the votes" taken during the time the two men served together were unanimous.
Echoing Caddell's point, Lea said that he had a wooden plaque on his bedroom vanity inscribed with a sentence that had inspired him throughout his life: "Where all think alike, no one thinks very much."
Thanking the Board and the citizens in attendance, Lea said, "What I have enjoyed most during my term in office is being able to work with and for the citizens of Moore County."
He pointed to a number of Board accomplishments during his tenure, including:
• enhancing transparency in county government through recording and videotaping of meetings;
• improving communication with Moore County Schools;
• improving communication with the County's municipalities;
• expanding water and sewer infrastructure;
• establishing the new Senior Enrichment Center;
• reorganizing the contract negotiation process to make it more fair, open, competitive and cost effective; and
• chairing the Heart of North Carolina MegaPark project.
Lea praised the County staff and County Manager Cary McSwain, who he called "one of the finest county managers I have ever worked with."
Interim County Manager Appointed
The November 20 Commissioner meeting also marked the last meeting for McSwain, who will retire effective November 30.
The Board appointed James L. Westbrook, Jr. to serve as interim County Manager while they seek a replacement for McSwain. Westbrook, whose career in local government included serving as Town Manager of Cary and City Manager of Asheville, has served Moore County in the past as interim Public Works Director, Human Resources Director, Public Safety Director, and Assistant County Manager.
Westbrook, who lives in Vass, will begin work on Monday, November 26, at the same salary as McSwain, but without benefits.
Explaining why the Board did not simply appoint Assistant County Manager Ken Larking to serve in the interim post, Commissioner Nick Picerno noted that Larking is planning to apply for the County Manager's position. Picerno said the Board preferred to maintain Larking in his current position, so that he could focus on his application and to avoid creating "a situation in which something might come up and taint that application."
McSwain's tenure praised
Both Commissioners and staff praised McSwain's service as County Manager.
"I can't say enough good things about you and the service that you have given to this county," Commissioner Lea said. "I don't know anyone who as put more time into this county."
Larking thanked McSwain on behalf of the staff, who had toasted, roasted, and presented him with a rocking chair during a retirement dinner.
"It has been quite a privilege and opportunity to work with this Board and the fantastic employees of this county," McSwain said.
Other Business
In other business during its Tuesday, November 20 meeting, the Board of Commissioners:
• Received the Sandhills Center for Mental Health's quarterly financial report from County Chief Financial Officer Carrie Neal. The Center had third quarter revenues of $9.4 million, against expenses of $10.2 million. The Center provides mental health services in eight counties. Moore County is budgeted to contribute $529,000 to the Center's work during this fiscal year.
• Approved a $55,000 grant application to help fund the North Moore Family Resource Center, which helps low income families in that area of the county acquire the knowledge, skills, and resources to purchase their own home.
• Authorized the sale of a county-owned pasture aerator that, Cooperative Extension Director Stephen Greer explained, is too large to be pulled by the tractors owned by most of the County's farmers. Proceeds from the sale will be used to acquire more suitably-sized equipment.
• Approved a contract with Integrity Public Finance Consulting who will provide arbitrage tracking and reporting services on the County's $38,420,000 limited obligation bond sale that was used to fund the construction of the new public safety and detention center, as well as several public utilities projects.
• Authorized the live-streaming of video of Board of Commissioners meetings over the internet. Information Technology Director Darlene Yudell explained that the same equipment and service currently in use to record video of Commissioners meetings could be used for streaming, at no additional cost to the County. Commissioner Craig Kennedy voted against the move to live-streaming of meetings.
• Approved $22,000 in change orders to the new Public Safety Building to install additional security cameras and upgrade some walls for fire safety reasons. The cost of the changes will be absorbed in the $900,000 contingency fund established as part of the $27,224,000 construction contract.
• Authorized $151,000 in change orders to the Addor wastewater treatment plant expansion, paying for the changes from the contingency built into the $22,00,000 contract.
• Amended the Moore County Sewer Use Ordinance to bring it into line with new state requirements.
• Gave the County's blessing to an extension of the Town of Pinebluff's Extraterritorial Jurisdiction, based on an agreement between the Town and the neighboring Town of Aberdeen.
• Made the following appointments: Helen Shillaci and Virginia Whiting the the Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Community advisory Committee; John Ganley to the Local Emergency Planning Committee; and Mike Andrews to the Moore County Transportation Advisory Board.
