If the money can be found, it appears Moore County will fund the purchase of new VIPER communications equipment needed to integrate municipal police, fire, and emergency medical services into the County's new narrowband emergency communications system.

The Moore County Board of Commissioners held a second Special Meeting on the transition to the State Highway Patrol's VIPER Communications system on Tuesday, February 21.

After an hour-long review of the VIPER system, the Board addressed the sole reason so many of Moore County first responders had gathered for the meeting: will the County fund the municipality portion to implement the VIPER system?

Sheriff's Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey presented the VIPER review, detailing the results of system testing throughout the county, as well as responding to criticisms of the Commissioners' selection of the VIPER system over other narrowband options.

But Southern Pines Fire Chief Hampton Williams was more interested in the bottom line.

“I have to say I am amazed and surprised that a simple request for funding turned into beating a dead horse again,” Williams told the Commissioners. “This whole thing started about asking you to fund the municipalities. I hope we don’t lose too much focus here.”

Big questions related to planning and how the newly-formed Long Range Planning Committee will balance recommendations from the Reserve Study with competing priorities from various committees, dominated discussion during the Monday, February 13 Work Session of the Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] Board of Directors.

The proposed Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Budget includes funding set-asides for every capital project as recommended by the Reserve Study for the next year — as well as carryover projects still in progress from this year — but many of these projects are not yet approved.

“They [capital projects] are in the budget, but that does not mean we have to do all of them," explained Community Manager Alina Cochran. "What we need is to have discussion of what we want to do.”

For example, the recommended Sequoia Dam toe drain project is a high priority project, and has been approved by the Lakes & Dams Committee. However, cost estimates have come in higher than anticipated by the Reserve Study, Cochran said.

“My concern is process,” said SLLA President Bob Darr, suggesting some form of guidelines should be in place to determine how the new Long Range Planning Committee [LRP] interacts with other committees and how projects are reviewed.

“A committee comes in with recommended work, so where does that go?" asked Darr. "It goes to Long Range Planning [LRP] for discussion, but what happens if they determine we can’t afford it? Does LRP make the decision?”

SLLA Treasurer Conrad Meyer said he sees the LRP as the central clearinghouse for capital projects.

Newly-installed Moore County Schools [MCS] Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence reported, during his first meeting with the School Board on Monday, February 13, that he has been busy during his first week attending meetings with various school and county organizations.

“I think this is a wonderful place to live,” said Dr. Spence, “and an even better place to work.”

Spence gave a rundown of current events taking place in the schools including:

• The celebration of Black History Month, which many schools are incorporating this theme into their curriculum.

• The week of February 13-17 is School Bus Driver Appreciation Week; Spence “encouraged” parents, teachers, and students to thank their bus drivers.

• Spence also reported that he will be assessing class sizes in MCS schools, to determine whether it will be necessary to hire additional teachers to avoid having to seek a class size waiver from the state.

Offering a summary of the proposed Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Budget, Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] Treasurer Conrad Meyer addressed a handful of residents during a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, January 31.

The proposed budget was prepared by Community Manager Alina Cochran, and carefully reviewed by Finance Committee members Ed Sanchez, Jim Allen, and George Temple. The SLLA Board of Directors will also review the proposed budget before a motion for approval is called during the February 29 Open Meeting.

Looking for public input and comment, Meyer said the Finance Committee is open to good ideas and welcomed any feedback.

Anticipated Income

At $1,343,316 the total anticipated income for FY 2013 is slighter lower than last year’s income of $1,374,593.

Assessments — including annual dues, assessment penalties, and renter’s fees — make up the bulk of income at $1,282,716, which is also slightly lower than last year’s assessment income of $1,291.893.

The Board is moving to replace renter's dues with a lower administrative fee charged to renter. As a result, anticipated renter’s administrative fees for FY 2013 are $9,600, versus this year’s take of $34,440 in renter’s dues.

Another notable decrease in the budget is anticipated interest from the operating and reserve accounts, with an overall reduction from $15,500 in FY2012 to $6,900 in FY2013.

“In last year’s budget, we were overly optimistic of how much interest would accumulate,” explained Meyer.

The proposed budget also anticipates decreases guest fees, facility rental fees, and plan review fees, lowering anticipated income from $67,200 in FY2012 to $53,700 for FY2013.

For a second consecutive year, the SLLA Summer Day Camp was not profitable, due to decreased attendance, with total expenses running $4,300, versus anticipated income of $2,000. As recommended by the Recreation Committee, the program will not be continued.

County Commissioner Tim Lea has announced that he won’t run for a third term, and the availability of his District IV seat has already attracted one Republican Candidate: Whispering Pines Village Councilman Randy Saunders.

The filing period for candidates seeking office in the 2012 primary and general elections opened on Monday, February 13 and will close at Noon on Wednesday, February 29.

Commissioner Nick Picerno, of McLendon Hills, has filed to seek a second term in his District II seat.

Incumbent Board of Education members Lorna Clack, Bruce Cunningham, Kathy Farren and Laura Lang have also filed for re-election.

Contested races will be decided in a primary election on Tuesday, May 8; the general election will be held on Tuesday, November 6.