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Commissioners ask ABC board chair to explain plan to end sheriff enforcement and put implementation on hold
Summary
Following questions about a letter from the ABC board proposing to discontinue use of county sheriff enforcement services for ABC enforcement, the Board of Commissioners voted to invite the ABC board chairman to explain the decision and asked that implementation be paused until commissioners can review the rationale and financial implications.
The Moore County Board of Commissioners agreed March 18 to request a presentation from the county ABC board chairman after commissioners expressed concern about the ABC board's plan to discontinue use of sheriff's office enforcement services.
Background The issue arose after the ABC board informed the sheriff that it proposed to handle enforcement activities without contracting sheriff patrols. Commissioners and county staff reported follow-up discussions with the sheriff's command staff, who described longstanding coordination and resource sharing that supports ABC enforcement throughout the county.
Board action and rationale Commissioner discussion focused on costs, public safety and continuity of enforcement. Several commissioners said the sheriff's office provides an established enforcement presence serving ABC stores and off-premises licensees, and that an in-house ABC enforcement force would require equipment, radios and training and would likely cost more.
By motion, the commissioners asked the chairman of the ABC board to appear before the Board of Commissioners to explain the decision and to provide financial and operational justifications. The board also requested that any steps to implement the change be placed on hold until commissioners review the documentation and can respond.
Officials present Chief Deputy Andy Conway of the Moore County Sheriff's Office was in the meeting and answered procedural questions; county legal staff noted the ABC board operates under state law (Chapter 18 of the North Carolina General Statutes) and that the Board of Commissioners appoints ABC board members but does not directly supervise day-to-day ABC board decisions.
Next steps County staff will send a follow-up letter inviting the ABC board chairman to present and will ask the ABC board to pause any implementation steps pending the presentation and commissioners' review. Commissioners discussed removal or non-reappointment of ABC board members as an option if warranted by the ABC board's response.
