Moore County commissioners OK property purchase, staff change, schedule hearings and make appointments

The Moore County Board of Commissioners took a slate of administrative and land‑use actions at its April 2025 meeting, approving a property purchase and project‑ordinance revision, reclassifying an animal shelter position, scheduling several public hearings and making two board appointments.

The most significant financial action approved was the county’s planned purchase of 406 Monroe Street (the former Art Blue law office) for a proposed price of $725,000, including furnishings. County staff told commissioners the acquisition would provide workspace flexibility while the courthouse renovation continues; the board authorized the county manager to execute closing documents and also approved Project Ordinance Revision No. 16 for Fund 432 related to the courthouse project.

On staffing, Major Eric Galloway presented a request to reclassify a part‑time animal shelter attendant to full time to balance schedules and support operations after recent changes in intake and cleaning requirements. The board approved the reclassification effective March 8, 2025, with staff noting the change is funded for the remainder of fiscal year 2025 by a lapsed salary from a vacant veterinary‑technician position.

Land‑use and planning actions included calls for public hearings on proposed Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendments. Planning Director Deborah Hensminger asked the board to call a public hearing on March 18, 2025, to amend Chapter 8 (childcare‑home definitions) and to call a second March 18 hearing to amend multiple UDO chapters (7, 8, 9, 19 and 20) to reflect recent changes in state law (noted as S.L. changes and specific Senate bills). The board voted to schedule those hearings.

The board also adopted two proclamations under recognitions: one commemorating the bicentennial of Lafayette’s farewell tour and one setting a March 2025 observance for National Vietnam War Veterans Day; both proclamations were adopted by voice vote after presenters summarized the texts.

Two resolutions related to Moore County Schools — a request on teacher allocations and a resolution honoring the Civil Air Patrol — were added to the agenda earlier in the meeting but the board agreed to table those resolutions to the March 18 meeting to allow for wider public notice and attendance.

Appointments approved by the board included Aaron Honey to the Voluntary Agricultural District Board (term through Oct. 31, 2025) and Robert Lupski to the Moore County Board of Health (three‑year term expiring March 31, 2028).

Other routine business included approval of the consent agenda and the addition of three items to new business early in the meeting. Commissioners used voice votes for most motions; the transcript records motions carrying but in many cases does not include roll‑call tallies.

Speakers at the meeting included county staff who presented the items and various commissioners; the record shows public participation during the rezoning item and public comments. The board concluded with commissioner comments, reminders about local fire safety amid drought conditions, and an apology from one commissioner for earlier public comments made at a prior meeting.

A complete list of motions and recorded outcomes from the meeting follows under “Actions.”