After years of working under the supervision of the Health Department, the Animal Center of Moore County will become a stand-alone department, setting them on the path to becoming a “no kill” shelter.
During their Tuesday, January 15 meeting the Moore County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a request by the Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee, with the support of Commissioner Jimmy Melton, to remove the Animal Center from the Department of Health.
The Center will now operate independently, reporting directly to the County Manager. A twelve-member committee will serve in an advisory capacity.
The twelve members of the newly-approved advisory committee attended Tuesday’s meeting. They include veterinarians, a liaison from the military, representatives of various County departments, and other County residents.
Commissioner Melton will also serve on the twelve member advisory board.
Angela Zumwalt, of the Pet Responsibility Committee, who presented the request to the Commissioners, said she wanted the County’s Animal Center to mirror the success achieved in Orange County.
Currently, Orange County adopts out seventy percent of its animals, while Moore County only adopts out twenty-nine percent.
Commissioner Melton told The Times: “Our goal is to become a no kill facility.” Currently the Animal Center has to euthanize seventy-five percent of the animals it takes in.
Moving the Animal Center from the Health Department and creating the new advisory board will not result in an increase to the County’s budget, explained Chairman Nick Picerno. Funding for the Animal Center that is currently part of the Health Department budget will be moved into a new Animal Operations department.
More than thirty people attended Tuesday night’s meeting in support of funding the Animal Center separately from the Health Department.
“I’ve never seen such dedicated people,” said Melton. “It’s a great thing that the Pet Responsibility Committee put the lives of our animals first thing on their agenda in 2013.”
The Pet Responsibility Committee has been recognized nationally and internationally. To date fifteen states have contacted Moore County about their program.
Zumwalt said the number one goal of the program is to deal with pet overpopulation in the County.
Public Hearings on Zoning Amendments
After a public hearing, the Commissioners approved text amendments to Articles 13 and 24 of the Moore County Zoning Ordinance. The amendments aim to increase the specificity of the ordinance, in the wake of a court decision in the Village of Wesley Chapel that hinged on overly broad definitions.
During the public hearing, West End landowner Elizabeth Blackwell, who has sued to prevent the Seven Lakes Aeromodelers Club from using a tract of land adjacent to her property, asked the Board to better define the recreational uses allowed in the ordinance. She said one new use -- "private recreation clubs" -- was almost identical to the definition that "got Wesley Chapel into trouble."
But the Board declined to change the definitions presented by Ensminger.
The Board also approved text amendments to Article 11 of the Moore County Zoning ordinance, which deals with Watershed Overlay Districts. The new standard will allow developers to combine two non-adjacent pieces of property in a development scheme for the purposes of meeting watershed density requirements.
Commissioner Randy Saunders said the amendment “really gives people some flexibility in areas where land cannot be developed.”
The Board called a public hearing for Tuesday, February 5 on a funding application to be submitted to the NC Community Transportation Program by Moore County Transportation Services, as requested by Transportation Director Tawanna Williams.
Housing Rehab Application Approved
The Board approved a request by County Planner Tim Emmert to submit the FY 2013 Urgent Repair Program Application for $75,000 to the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. The program pays for the rehabilitation of substandard housing for owners who meet certain income requirements.
A $5,000 match from the County is needed to apply for the grant. Last year, the grant money helped fifteen Moore County residents. “We try to stretch our funds as much as we can,” said Emmert.
Public Safety
The Board approved a request by Deputy Public Safety Director Scot Brooks to award a contract for an Emergency Generator and Manual Transfer Switches to Atlantic Power Solutions of Siler City for $200,0000.
In 2010, Moore County was awarded a Homeland Security Grant that will be utilized for this project explained Brooks.
The Board approved the purchase of a Moore County Emergency Medical Services ambulance from Northwestern Emergency Vehicles for $177,000 as requested by Public Safety Director Bryan Phillips.
The ambulance was purchased in cooperation with the purchase of a fleet of ambulances by Guilford County, which ultimately saved the County ten percent off the regular asking price, Phillips explained.
The Commissioners also approved a request to amend the Emergency 911 Radio and Telephone System contract. The amendment includes a $35,000 increase to run additional CAT 6 and electrical circuits to the 911 center. The new contract for the Emergency 911 Radio and Telephone System contract will increase to $970,700. The project will take four weeks to complete.
The Board approved a contract with Patterson Pope, Inc. for the design and installation of storage equipment at the Rick Rhyne Public Safety Center, as requested by Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey. The $179,500 installation will begin in February and is scheduled for completion by March 31, 2013.
Public Works
The Board approved a request by Public Works Director Randy Gould to revise the County's tap fees depending on the size of the tap. Currently, the County charges a sewer tap fee of $2,300 regardless of tap size.
The fees will increase in part because of the need to utilize brass components, in order to comply with the federal Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act.
Gould said brass prices have gone up fifteen percent.
The new fee schedule will take effect immediately. Prices will vary from $2,300 to $14,500 for sewer tap fees. Domestic water and irrigation tap fees with range from $1,950 to $12,300.
Gould said the typical homeowner will still pay the $2,300 fee.
At Gould's recommendation, the Board allowed a property in the extraterritorial jurisdiction [ETJ] of Whispering Pines to have water supplied by Utilities Inc. rather then the County.
The Village of Whispering Pines is supplied with water by Utilities Inc. rather than the County. The land in question is currently controlled by the Whispering Pines Land Development Ordinance and may be annexed by the Village, if it is developed.
Task Forces Formed
The Board created several task forces during their Tuesday, January 15 meeting, each led by two Commissioners, charged with making progress on outstanding issues in a number of operational areas. Those committees included:
• A Utilities Task Force to help determine the water needs of Moore County. Commissioners Larry Caddell and Jimmy Melton will serve on this committee.
• An Economic Development Task Force that Chairman Nick Picerno and Commissioner Craig Kennedy will lead.
• A Transportation Task Force that will include Kennedy and Melton.
• A Budgetary Task Force that Commissioner Randy Saunders and Picerno will lead.
• A Facilities Task Force that will include Commissioner Larry Caddell and Picerno.
• A Legislative Issues Task Force that Kennedy and Saunders will lead.
• An Education Task Force that will include Saunders and Caddell.
Chairman Picerno indicated that the Commissioners responsible for each task force will assemble additional members and resources as needed.
The Board dissolved two ad hoc committees whose work had been completed:
• The Major Capital Projects Task Force which was formed in 2008 to determine the County's need for a new detention center.
• The Government Center Committee, which was formed in 2008 to determine the County needs for a government center.
Other Business
Other business conducted during the Moore County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, January 15 meeting included:
• Clerk to the Board Laura Williams will submit several examples of governmental newsletters for the Board to consider. During the Board’s retreat in January they suggested publishing a monthly newsletter that could be distributed on the County’s website or emailed to residents at their request. The Board will consider the newsletter format during their Tuesday, February 5 meeting.
• Nina Walker gave a presentation on how the Sandhills Community Action Program Service Block Grant will be utilized.
• Interim Manager Wayne Vest outlined the proposed FY 2013-2014 budget schedule, which was unanimously approved by the Board. The Board plans to adopt the budget by Tuesday, June 4 during their regular meeting.
• The Board recognized Property Management Director Rich Smith for his work on the Rick Rhyne Public Safety Center. Smith submitted his letter of resignation at the beginning of January.
• The Commissioners will submit five names of County residents and the names of four County department supervisors to form a County Manager Application Review Committee. The Board will vote on the names during their next meeting on February 5.
Appointments
The Board appointed Dr. Kamron Monroe to the Board of Health for a three year term.
