Building permit reports prepared by the Code Enforcement Division of the Moore County Planning Department show steady increases for the months of August and September.
The August increase was greater than the September increase. In August the county issued 75 permits, an increase of 14.3 percent for the year to date. The number of residential permits increased by almost 18 percent.
Estimated values of these new buildings were even higher, an increase of 33 percent. Total value of the 75 buildings, including alterations and additions, was estimated at $11.2 million, bringing the total for the year to $64.3 million compared to $48.3 million through August 2004.
SEPTEMBER — September figures were almost as high.
In September the county issued 65 building permits, of which 46 were for residences, 18 for alterations and additions and one for a commercial structure. That’s a total increase of 11.6 percent over the number issued for the same period in 2004.
Estimated value of the 65 building projects was $9 million, of which $8.2 million was attributed to the 46 new residences. That brings the total for the year to almost $73.4 million. The increase for the year to date was 30.3 percent.
Moore County handles code enforcement for all unincorporated areas of the county plus seven of the 11 municipalities. Aberdeen, Pinebluff, Pinehurst and Southern Pines provide their own building inspection services.
COBLE — Congressman Howard Coble had a busy day in Moore County Wednesday.
In addition to announcing an NCTA computer project at Aberdeen Elementary School, the 6th District congressman took a tour of FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst at midday.
LEGISLATURE — The North Carolina General Assembly took no action Wednesday to override Gov. Mike Easley’s veto of legislation designed to ease licensing requirements for out of state teachers.
The bill, passed by overwhelming majorities in both houses, would have allowed teachers licensed in other states to teach in North Carolina schools without first undergoing a rigorous round of testing and licensure. The idea was to ease North Carolina’s teacher shortage issue.
However, Easley said the bill would lower North Carolina standards. The legislature was initially called into special session Wednesday to determine if lawmakers wanted to override the veto.
Instead, a compromise was reached that apparently eased the controversy by reducing some of the bureaucratic red tape without lowering standards.
FIRE PREVENTION — This is fire prevention week.
The Moore County Board of Commissioners has adopted a resolution designating Oct. 9-15 as Fire Prevention Week. At the Oct. 3 meeting Commissioner Virginia Saunders read the resolution, which was accepted by Fire Marshal Carlton Cole.
The resolution says, in part, that “fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and homes are the locations where people are at greatest risk from fire” and that “Moore County’s first responders are dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire injuries through prevention and protection education.”
The 2005 theme is “Use Candles with Care: When You Go Out, Blow Out.” The resolution further notes that “the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association has documented through its research a significant increase in home candle fires, even as most other causes of home fires have steadily declined.”
Florence Gilkeson can be reached at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.
