Moore County and the Town of Robbins find themselves on the verge of a long-awaited conversation about how Robbin's water resources can be used to meet the County's long-term water needs. But it's not clear that the County's Board of Commissioners have agreed among themselves what a water deal would look like.

The County and Town Board's of Commissioners will meet in a special meeting set for Monday, April 16 to discuss water options.

During the Moore County Board's Tuesday, April 3, meeting, Commissioner Craig Kennedy presented the rough outlines of a deal that would include the follow parameters:

• Robbins would keep all their current customers and infrastructure.

• Robbins would grant the County access to the town's reservoir, and the County would "commit to the town of Robbins that we would update the intakes on Bear Creek and Cabin Creek and we would commit to keeping that reservoir full."

• The County would acquire a site for a new water treatment plant to treat water pulled from the Robbins reservoir and install a line to bring that water to Southern Moore County.

• The County would sell the Town water at a bulk rate for distribution to Robbins customers.

"There would be no money changing hands," Kennedy said. "What we are offering would be very minimal," Kennedy said. "We are more or less looking for a partnership up there. I think that is what they are expecting from us."

Moore County's Board of Commissioners have unanimously approved a resolution encouraging citizens "to voice their opinion by exercising their right to vote" on Amendment One, commonly known as "The Marriage Amendment" in the Tuesday, May 8 primary election.

The action was taken during the Board's regular Tuesday, April 3 meeting, after the Commissioners heard nearly thirty minutes of public comment from supporters and opponents of the proposed amendment to the NC Constitution. Amendment One states in part that "Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State."

The NC General Statutes already ban the recognition of same-sex marriages, no matter where they are performed. The controversial amendment writes that ban into the NC Constitution, in order to make it more difficult for a court to overturn the statute.

The language of Amendment One is broader than that of the existing statute; opponents have argued that it will also cause problems for mixed-gender domestic partnerships — for example, unmarried widows and widowers living together, or younger couples who share a household and children but are unmarried. Proponents argue that the language of the Amendment covers these living variations by explicitly allowing contracts among private parties.

Mick Herdrich will retain the Presidency of the Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA] for another year, re-elected to the post in an organizational meeting of the new Board of Directors on Wednesday, March 21. Both Secretary Jane Sessler and Treasurer Don Freiert were also re-elected to their respective offices.

Legal Director Jack Stevens was elected SLWLA Vice President, a position filled last year by John Hoffmann, who has retired from the Board.

Incumbent Directors will all hold the same committee responsibilities they held prior to this past weekend's Annual Meeting. Rosemary Weber will continue as Events Director; Jim McCarthy, as Safety and Security Director; and Stevens, as Legal Director. Freiert will continue to chair the Long Range Planning Committee and Sessler will continue to head up the Communications Committee.

The responsibilities of the three newly-elected Board members were assigned as follows: Jim Pierman as Infrastructure Director, Bruce Keyser as Lake and Dam Director, and Dan Blue as Architectural Review Director.

A Vision for Seven Lakes West

Among the objectives of the Long Range Planning Committee is the creation of a long term “vision” for Seven Lakes West.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Director Freiert asked the Board to review a Request For Proposal [RFP] that the Committee has drafted in hopes of securing a bid from a company that can help create that vision.

“This is an effort,” said Freiert, “and I think the community will see and appreciate the fact that we are going after this to try and find a true future direction that everybody has had good solid input in.”

Freiert told the Board that now is the time to initiate such a process, especially with the changing demographics of the community. Seven Lakes West is no longer just for retirees, but also for working families, he said.

Given the number of visitors that will be brought to Moore County by the 2014 Twin US Opens -- as well as the potential competition for home buyers represented by the recently-approved Pine Forest development, Freiert said this may be a perfect time to market the community.

One drawback to the proposal may be the projected price tag of $50,000 -- an amount that Freiert said is just an estimate that could be fine-tuned once companies submit their proposals.

Over the past year, 128 volunteers have chipped in on over twenty-four different committees in Seven Lakes West. Those volunteers were recognized at the Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA] Annual Meeting on Sunday, March 18.

“The accomplishments of this community are obtained with the help and support of these volunteers, who serve our Board as committee volunteers," said Secretary Jane Sessler.

Former President Ron Shepard said the volunteers in Seven Lakes West save the community more than a million dollars a year.

“I think it’s a lot more,” said Sessler. “I think the Board thinks it's a lot more, too.”

This year, the Association added two new committees: the Dam Committee, which is overseeing the ongoing work to resurface the Lake Auman Dam roadway; and the Amenities Committee, established to evaluate the rules and regulations associated with the common areas throughout the community.

Sessler also reported that the “Area Reps” have redefined themselves as “Community Reps” and will welcome new members into the community. A “Newcomers Reception” for new Westsiders is being planned for next month.

Fellingham Award Goes to MacKay

Longtime volunteer Ray MacKay was presented with the Joe Fellingham Community Service Award for volunteerism during Sunday’s meeting.

“My name mixed with Fellingham's,” said MacKay, “is the greatest honor that I can have as a Seven Lakes West citizen.”

A Director of both the SLWLA and the former Beacon Ridge Landowners Association, MacKay has volunteered not only in Seven Lakes West but in the Greater Seven Lakes Area and throughout the County. He has been appointed to three different committees by the Moore County Board of Commissioners.

“There is a volunteer that goes above and beyond,” said John Hoffmann, who joined Fran Fellingham in presenting the award.

“Joe is so happy that Ray did it,” said Fran Fellingham, “and for all you’ve done, he thanks you again and again.”

MacKay recognized Bud Sales as his “mentor and sponsor” during his acceptance speech.

The Vision Statement for Moore County's 2012 Land Use Planning Steering Committee will be: "Establish a consensus which uses the Community input process to develop a Land Use Plan which meets the needs of today’s citizens and future generations, and acknowledges the diverse areas within the County. The Land Use Plan shall be User Friendly, Business Friendly, Concise and Reduce Regulations.”

The Board of Commissioners approved the statement, prepared by Planning Director Debra Ensminger, during their Tuesday, March 7 regular meeting.

Planning Board Chairman Robert Hayter, who will also chair the Steering Committee, told the Commissioners he is ready to get the process moving: “[I’m] appreciative of this moment to kick this off," he said. "I am ready to go to work.”