“We’re going to take our time and make sure we have a person we can work with and who will be good for Moore County,” Holden told Pilot Light Friday.
Holden said that the county has just started advertising the position, and applications are being mailed to a post office box in Charlotte. Holden said he has no idea how many applications have been sent to the Charlotte address; but additional responses are expected, because ads are yet to appear in other publications, including CountyLines, publication of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
Contrary to rumor, Holden said that the county has not contracted with a consultant to help screen applicants. Instead, he said that a friend in Charlotte has agreed to help the county by accepting the applications, to be held until the commissioners are ready to take action.
The county has been without a manager since Dec. 1, when David McNeill left to accept the position of Guilford County deputy manager. Until a new manager is hired, Deputy County Manager Mike Griffin is acting as interim manager.
SMALLPOX — The subject of smallpox is again on the agenda for the county commissioners.
At their meeting this afternoon, the board will be asked to modify employee benefits as related to the smallpox vaccine, which public health nurses and other personnel will be required to handle in coming weeks. The amendment will affect public health personnel, not all county employees.
The board convenes at 2 p.m. today.
Also on the agenda is a request for authorization to advertise tax liens on real property for nonpayment of taxes. The board will consider a contract for orthophotography service for the tax department. This digital photography item was postponed last year because of budget problems.
The board will hold two closed sessions, one to consider a personnel matter. The other closed session will be held when the commissioners reconvene as the East Moore Water District board, and the purpose will be to discuss a legal issue.
BUDGET — The county commissioners recently voted to amend the 2002-03 budget to accommodate an expected $3 million shortfall in state funding.
Now it’s time to turn their attention to the 2003-04 budget.
At the Jan. 21 meeting, the board adopted a budget preparation schedule recommended by Interim County Manager Michael C. Griffin.
The schedule calls for the commissioners to provide budget guidance at a March meeting and for the budget officer to submit a budget proposal in May. Officials from the Moore County Schools, Sandhills Community College and Sandhills Center for Mental Health are to submit their requests at the first board meeting in May.
DIXON — Jim Dixon, whose term on the Moore County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recently expired, is continuing to serve as chairman of the Moore Parks Foundation Inc., the nonprofit group that raises funds for Hillcrest Park.
Dixon said he did not resign from the recreation board but did not ask to be reappointed. He told Pilot Light that he had served a number of years in that capacity and thought it was time to look for new leadership.
The foundation has already begun work on the second phase of the Hillcrest Park plan, which centers on the construction of a fieldhouse.
COBLE — Congressman Howard Coble is continuing to serve on the Commercial and Administrative Law subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee.
Coble, who represents Moore County in the 6th District, has been tapped as chairman of the Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security subcommittee, a new appointment that requires him to relinquish his chairmanship of the Courts, Internet and Intellectual Property subcommittee.
As a member of the Commercial and Administrative Law subcommittee, he will deal with legislation affecting the nation’s bankruptcy system, Internet taxation and interstate compacts.
