There's a new restaurant in Seven Lakes, but you wouldn't know it from the signage. And that created considerable frustration for the Moore County Board of Commissioners during their Tuesday, November 20 meeting.

Adding an agenda item at the end of the meeting, Commissioner Picerno said he had spoken with a Seven Lakes business owner who was unable to obtain County authorization to replace the vinyl panels on two signs.

The signs in question, it emerged later in the conversation, are the two signs erected by property owner John Garner for the now-closed Mac's Breakfast Anytime restaurant adjacent to Seven Lakes Hardware. Greenbow's Restaurant has now opened in that space, and Garner wants to change the vinyl on the existing signs to reflect that fact.

Planning Director Debra Ensminger explained that both signs are illegal under the County's sign ordinance -- and were, in fact, illegal under that ordinance when they were erected in 2002.

One of the signs sits on the roof of the building; the County's sign ordinance prohibits all roof signs. Ensminger told The Times that the roof sign was permitted by the County in 2002, but it was supposed to be mounted on the wall of the building, not on the roof. She told the Commissioners that there are only nine roof-mounted signs within the County's jurisdiction.

Acting County Attorney Robert Maxwell told the Board that most local jurisdictions ban roof-mounted signs because "they can become like a missile in a windstorm."

The second sign is a pole-mounted sign near NC Highway 211. The County permitted that sign in error in 2002, Ensminger told the Commissioners. It sits on a different tract of land than the restaurant and hardware store, and thus is technically an "off-premise advertising sign," which are not allowed in the VB-Village Business zoning district that includes the Seven Lakes Business Village.

Commissioner Picerno asked whether "there is anything we can do to assist this businessman," noting that the new business needs to let the community know it is open for business.

"Could we grant this business owner an opportunity to replace those panels?" Picerno asked. "Is there a way that we could do that legally?"

"Mr. Picerno, I'm sorry, there's not," came the reply from Attorney Maxwell.

"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."

From chalk boards to smart boards, Dr. Lorna Clack has grown and adapted as an educator with each new generation of Moore County students. Throughout her career, she has taken a progressive view toward the continual evolution of educational strategies and techniques.

“Every day in education is a new day, a new experience,” Clack told fellow members of the Moore County Board of Education on Monday night, November 19.

Clack has served as a member of that Board for the past six years but lost her seat in on Election Day to challenger Ben Cameron. “The day after the election," Clack said drily, "I knew just how Mitt [Romney] felt. As you can see, I have rallied.”

It was bittersweet farewell given by her peers, many of whom are life-long friends. Clack, tempering her tears with good humor and in need of refreshment, at one point called out: “Somebody get me a diet Pepsi.”

Fellow board member Charles Lambert reminisced about being one of Clack’s Sunday school students. “I can’t tell you everything I think about you, because I might get emotional," Lambert said. "I appreciate all the help you have given me and the children of Moore County.”

Clack began her career as a teacher in Moore County at the tender age of twenty.

“Back then when the earth was still cooling, it was hard to get a job," she joked. "My first day as a teacher, an old farm truck pulled up and a brother and two sisters got out. They were all in my sixth grade class. I was twenty, and he was fifteen. I thought, 'Paul has slipped through the cracks.' That began my understanding of malpractice in education.”

For fifty-four years, Clack has learned as she taught, earning her Ph.D. in education in 1990.

The old saying that “nothing good happens after midnight” holds true for the Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA], as petty vandalism remains an ongoing problem, particularly in the wee hours of the morning at the community’s parks.

On Wednesday, November 14, the SLLA Board of Directors took what the majority viewed as a baby step in the right direction by shifting the curfew back one hour. Effectively immediately, all parks and common area parking lots are now closed between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, except for Association-sanctioned or approved events.

“We think it would be draconian to completely close the parks after dusk, but we have seen vandalism and graffiti that seems to be happening when it is dark,” said Security Director Steve Ritter, in presenting the proposed restricted hours.

He also reminded the Board of their recent action that gives on-duty security officers the authority to order non-residents off community premises.

Based on the new curfew, any vehicles or persons observed at common areas after 10:00 pm may be approached by Roving Security. If the vehicle is unattended, the patrol will attempt to contact the owner, and an incident report will be filed with the office.

Director Chuck Leach opposed the decision, arguing that a stricter curfew is needed.

“To my way to thinking, if we are going to change the policy it should have a significant difference," Leach said. "At night, the only thing we see around here is VDS -- vandalism, drugs, and sex.”

Ritter replied that the Security Committee considered closing the parks earlier in the evening, but was concerned such a decision could have a negative impact on evening walkers, particularly those residents who live near community parks.

“We are hoping the new hours will have some impact on the issues you are talking about, that is being done by some fringe element out there,” Ritter said. “Our hope is to give our [Roving] Security enough items in their tool bag to deal with these people.”

President Bob Darr expressed support for the less restrictive hours, noting that the newly-hired Roving Security officer has made significant progress in eliminating after-hours vandalism.

“That activity has really, really decreased because, frankly, they are not hanging out anymore behind the Clubhouse,” said Darr. “Chuck and I were in agreement to close the parks at sundown, but now that I am seeing what is going on now, I am in favor of trying 10:00 pm. And if this doesn’t solve our problem, then we can revisit the issue; but, for now, this is a step in the right direction.”

Good business for Foxfire Resort & Golf means good business for Foxfire Village and -- in the spirit of that mutual interest -- the Mayor and Council approved an open letter of welcome and support to Brown Golf Management during their Tuesday, November 13 monthly meeting.

“We wish them great success and pledge the Council’s cooperation with them in our goal to make Foxfire a better place for all of our citizens,” said Mayor George Erickson.

He noted that he had visited the clubhouse and introduced himself to the new Food and Beverage Manager and also the new Golf Pro.

“Whatever we can do make them successful, makes everybody successful,” Erickson said.

Debt service still tops list of concerns

The recent sale of two former municipal well site lots drew attention from MaryAnne Lauer during public comment.

In particular, she questioned whether the proceeds from that sale would be used for debt reduction, noting that the purchase of a new police vehicle had been paid for – at least in part – by the recent three cent tax increase.

Speaking for Finance Director Leslie Frusco, who was unable to attend the meeting, Erickson said each of the Village-owned lots had been sold for $18,000 and he anticipated that revenue would be moved from the Water Fund to the General Fund.

Erickson also asked Lauer to put her specific concerns in writing for the Council to discuss at an upcoming work session.

In a related discussion on debt service and real estate, Erickson distributed an email from Village Attorney Michael Brough that addressed several questions that have come up regarding the much larger 160-acre Village-owned property currently for sale.

Erickson explained that he met with the listing agent, Robert Edwards, to discuss questions that have been raised by prospective buyers.

“I hope this information [from Brough] will be helpful to Edwards, so that these properties can be sold and built on,” he said.