The grant application is a routine request to the N.C. Department of Transportation, but state law requires a public hearing. The Moore County Board of Commissioners held the hearing during the Dec. 5 meeting, then voted unanimously to authorize the application.
No one spoke against the measure.
MCTS provides contract service to several agencies whose clients need transportation for such needs as medical appointments. Contract agencies include the departments of Social Services, Aging and Health, Sandhills Mental Health Center and Pinetree Community Services.
The grant requires a $43,254 local match, which will come from user fees and the sale of capital assets, according to MCTS Director J.R. Hill.
HEARING CALLED — At the same meeting, the commissioners called a public hearing for the Jan. 17 meeting to consider a rezoning request.
The subject is a request by Virginia Sands to rezone a 45.5-acre parcel from Rural Agricultural and Business-2 Highway Commercial to all RA. The tract is adjacent to Pinebluff Lake Road about 1,080 feet west of U.S. 15-501.
The Moore County Planning Board studied the matter at a November meeting and recommended approval.
APPOINTEES — Clerk of Superior Court Catherine Graham will complete the unexpired term of Michael Lucas on the Criminal Justice Partnership Advisory Committee. Lucas recently resigned. His term ends in June.
The appointment was made at the December meeting of the Moore County Board of Commissioners.
At the same meeting, the board reappointed John Barringer to a three-year term on the Domiciliary Home Community Advisory Committee.
The board also reappointed Steve Ingold and Murdock Prevost to the Carthage Fire Service District Board of Directors. Junior Vest was appointed to succeed Roy T. Harbin on the board.
EASLEY — Gov. Mike Easley told reporters this week that he is not interested in seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate when his term ends in 2008.
That’s the same year that Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s term ends. Easley is a Democrat, Dole a Republican.
Easley sounded more positive when asked about the opening in the White House in 2008.
He did not rule it out but went on to comment that it’s not a good idea to ask office holders “if they want to do another race right after they finished one.”
Easley was more succinct on his opinion of what he called congressional incompetence.
“I think it’s important to have somebody serve in that capacity who understands the burden that real people are feeling as a result of the incompetence in Washington,” he said. “I don’t think there’s another word you can use. That you can pile up that much debt and cut that many programs that really are the lifeline for some people … I think we need more competence.”
Easley was quoted in the Under the Dome column in The News & Observer of Raleigh.
Florence Gilkeson can be reached at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.
